Mavericks 2016-17 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions
The Dallas Mavericks would love to make at least one more championship run before the Dirk Nowitzki era comes to a close. The lingering question is whether they can put enough talent around the stalwart forward to make a serious run at the Western Conference elites.
Full Schedule: NBA.com
Although the front office made some additions during the offseason, highlighted by Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut, it's unclear whether there was much net gain. That's because Chandler Parsons and JaVale McGee exited as part of the roster retooling.
So let's check out all of the key information for the Mavs after the league's schedule release. That's followed by a look at some high-profile matchups and a prediction for how Dallas' season will go.
2016-17 Details
Season Opener: Wednesday, October 26 at Indiana Pacers (8 p.m. ET)
Championship Odds: 100-1 (via Odds Shark)
Top Matchups
First Home Matchup: November 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET
It's unfortunate, albeit unsurprising, the longtime rivalry between Nowitzki and Tim Duncan didn't take center stage one last time before the Spurs superstar decided to retire. The teams had some intense battles over the years and those two were always at the center of it.
They also represent the end of an era alongside Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. They were three franchise cornerstones who remained with a single organization for their entire career, pushing aside the temptation to seek greener pastures in free agency, a rare move in today's sports world.
While Bryant was always at the forefront under the bright lights of L.A., Duncan and Nowitzki were content operating in the shadows of superstardom. Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram believes their exits from the NBA will also be similar:
Yet, while the days of Nowitzki vs. Duncan are over, the in-state rivalry will endure. San Antonio dominated the Southwest Division last season, winning it by 25 games. Dallas probably needs to close that gap quite a bit to make the playoffs this season.
The middle portion of the West—from No. 4 behind the Spurs, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers to around 10th and 11th—should be highly competitive with expected improvement from the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans. Better in-division performance, starting with the Spurs matchups, would go a long way for the Mavs.
Golden State Warriors
First Home Matchup: March 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET
The Warriors were already the ultimate litmus test in the Western Conference after advancing to the NBA Finals each of the past two seasons. They simply solidified that status by adding Kevin Durant to an already star-studded roster.
Dallas won the first meeting between the sides last season. They proceeded to lose the final three, however, and gave up at least 127 points in each of those games. The Mavericks must be much better defensively this season and Golden State will be the biggest test of that progress throughout the season.
Beyond that, the Dubs also represent the Mavs' biggest hurdle en route to another championship, and it's likely to remain that way for as long as Nowitzki hangs around. Yet, owner Mark Cuban thinks the "superteam" concept is good for the NBA, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
"They become the villain," Cuban said. "Just like when LeBron James went to Miami, I loved that there was a villain. They become the villain. I'm fine with that. Everybody's going to root for them to lose."
Of course, his opinion may change if the Mavericks enjoy a better-than-expected season only to get steamrolled by the Warriors in the playoffs. But the general idea that it's a positive to have a chief villain for other fanbases to loathe should prove correct once again.
Dallas doesn't have enough talent to keep pace with Golden State during the regular season. That said, those matchups will still be some of the best on the schedule and it wouldn't be a total surprise to see the sides face off in the postseason too.
Record Prediction
All things considered, the Mavericks are probably a slightly better team than they were last season. Barnes should take a noticeable step forward with a more involved offensive role and Bogut is an upgrade at center, assuming he can stay healthy.
The level of difficulty in terms of making the playoffs in the West has also increased though. As mentioned, teams like the T-Wolves and Pelicans should force their way into the mix alongside last season's eight playoff teams and the Utah Jazz, who just missed out.
That doesn't necessarily mean the Mavs will need a better record to get into the playoffs. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Warriors and Spurs come back to Earth a bit and the teams at the bottom of the conference are going to take a beating. There are just more foes to battle in the final weeks.
Dallas President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson told Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News that he's hopeful the front office's concerted effort to target younger depth players will pay off during the long season.
"All of our young players are going to have an opportunity to [have an] impact," he said. "We're really comfortable with the mix of young and old."
Ultimately, it's possible to make a reasonable argument the Mavericks could make a five-game swing in either direction from last year's 42-win campaign based on your feelings of their offseason moves, a potential return to form by Deron Williams and the current state of the Western Conference.
The bottom line is they should remain in the thick of the playoff race until the latter stages of the season, and then it comes down to how well they play in those final few weeks. A .500 record is a middling projection and could be enough for them to sneak in to the postseason.
Prediction: 41-41
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