How in the Heck Did the Dallas Mavericks Make the Playoffs?

Well Maverick fans back in October, did we dare think our Mavs would be were they are now?   A respectable six-seed in a very, very wild West.  

Heck no!  

Starting the season 2-7, 0-4 at home:   

The Mavericks were so consistently, inconsistent this season.  They were either blown away by opponents, or got their bottoms handed to them.  

Starting out we couldn't win at home , we couldn't win on the road.  Plain and simple we just sucked.   

Facing opponents missing their star players, should have been a given win.  Right?  Not if you were the Dallas Mavericks.  That seemed to be the recipe to certain victory against the Mavericks, this season.  

Injuries to key players:  

Jerry Stackhouse missed all of the regular season to a foot injury, and is questionable for the post-season.  Deaven George is out for the season, after knee surgery.   

'Round the mid-season mark the Mavericks became short handed, literally, when six-man candidate Jason Terry broke his hand.  Thankfully, his recovery was quicker than anticipated. 

An injury plagued Josh Howard, has been the real nemeses of this team.  With a bad left wrist and ankle, causing him to miss thirty-one games over this season.  Getting him back, the real Mavericks can finally be seen.  Keeping him healthy enough to play, is the key to the Mavericks post season success.

So just how did the Mavericks make the play-off?  

Had anyone bothered to to looked at the Mavericks individual players stats, they would have found an interesting trend.  Most of the player individually, were having career best, or near best season.  I'm looking at this, shaking my head, wondering "why can't the Mavs pull it together?"

Yeah, Dirk is only the No. 4 scorer in the league, but he's still our MVP.  With Josh being out so much, the scoring responsibility was squarely on the German shoulders of Dirk Nowitzki.  Not bad for a 30 year-old, eleven year player. 

Speaking of old players, ever heard the phrase work smarter not harder?  I think that is Jason Kidd's mantra.  He is amazing to watch on offense, especially since he is calling the plays.  He' is even more fun to watch on defense. 

Kidd's timing is so precise, too.   He knows just how to pick his moments, and strike to make that needed defensive play. 

If ever a season the Maverick needed a six-man, it was this one.  Yes, oh yes, the JET really was on the runway.  Jason Terry is the runaway favorite for the NBA's six-man award.  Being consistent as a scorer, made it all possible. 

Solving the riddle of the missing two-guard:  Somewhere along the season, the Mavs found their elusive defense.  Antoine Wright made his case, and won the starting two-guard spot.  Doing so by guarding Kobe, LeBron, Granger, and the Likes.  If he wasn't doing a good job, coach Carlisle would put him back on the bench.  I'll get to coach Carlisle in a moment.  

Role players finding their places:  Jose Juan Berea, Brandon Bass, James Singelton, and Ryan Hollins makes up the core of the Mavericks bench.  Lead by sixth-man candidate Jason Terry, have all had their hands in helping to get the Mavericks to the playoffs.  They will need to be rock-solid in the post-season.

A new commander and chief:  In his first year as head coach of the Mavericks, Rick Carlisle has shown a lot of flexibility.  Before the halfway mark of the season, he gave the play calling to point-guard Jason Kidd. 

Carlisle has also shown a wilingness to pull players that are not producing.  Sending a clear message to his players, make the most of your time out there. 

The J-Ho factor:  As I already mention Josh missed thirty-one games through out the season.  It wasn't until the final two weeks of the season, that we got him back.  He is by no way 100 percent, but we'll take anything he can give us. 

And that is the J-Ho factor for the Mavericks.  Without him the Mavericks have only two scorers, that can be expected to put up 20-plus points.  The really good teams got away with double teaming Dirk and Terry to death. 

Now that Josh is back, we have that third scoring threat.  His presence has spread the defense more evenly. 

Fantastic support staff:  The Mavericks staff of assistant coaches, trainers, and doctors, are the best owner Mark Cuban money can buy.  Kudos to the trainers and team doctors, for the speedy recovery of Jason Terry's broken hand.  Double kudos, for keeping Josh together, in the face of needed surgery.  

I'm looking back over this season, scratching my head in disbelief, as to how far our Mavs have come this season.   The big question to be answered, starting Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs.  Just how far will the Mavericks go?