Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers: NBA teams which will benefit from a shortened season: Part 2
Dallas Mavericks:
Dallas Mavericks emerged as the NBA champions last season after thrashing Miami Heat in the finals courtesy of team performance and the big guy Dirk Nowitzki. Mavericks since taken over by Mark Cuban have been performing exceptionally
well and for last few seasons, they often got close but unfortunately were knocked out by other team in the conference semi finals or finals. Their long awaited dream was fulfilled when they managed to grab the championship after 31 years.
Early in 2000s, Mavericks offense was blessed with a trio of Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley that became the cause for team’s success in coming years. They made it to Western Conference Finals in 2001 and 2003 but
were defeated by San Antonio Spurs on both Occasions.
Dallas faced a major setback when Steve Nash decided to move to Phoenix Suns in 2004 however Nowitzki and Finley continued with their brilliance and did not let team to deteriorate. In coming years, Finley left the team too and
left it all to Nowitzki to lead the team ahead.
After few years of struggle, Dallas again managed to find a trio like they had earlier in the form of Nowitzki, Kidd and Tyson Chandler. Took a while for some cohesion to develop between these players but when it did, Mavericks
never looked back and emerged as one of the best teams in NBA.
After last season, chemistry between the trio augmented which will carry onto the upcoming season. Compared to other teams who have been completely changed (new players and management) and would take time to adjust, they won’t
be helped by shortened season at all. Dallas can take advantage of this.
Also the fact that Kidd, Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic, the other outstanding player from Dallas are in 30s now and shortened season can provide their legs enough time to rest and this might give them a chance to emerge as winners
again.
Portland Trail Blazers:
The only team that gave reigning champions Dallas Mavericks tough time last season was Portland. Portland is loaded with talented players in the form of LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Greg Oden and Brandon Roy however there
is one problem that has caused team to progress further.
Most of the players in team are not able to perform to their potential because they are surrounded with injuries most of the time. Last season, they would have performed outstandingly in the playoffs if it wasn’t for Greg Oden’s
and Brandon Roy’s injury.
If this season is a shortened one, though there is no guarantee these players will be able to stay healthy, but further injuries might be avoided which would mean Portland will be a tough competitor for any of the teams.
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