2008-2009 Season Reflections…

What were your expectations for the Mavs coming into the 2008-2009 season?  After a Finals collapse followed by two consecutive first round playoff exits, my cup, needless to say, was half empty.

The 2008 first round playoff exit courtesy of Hornets hurt.

The 2007 first round playoff exit courtesy of the EIGHTH seeded Golden Nellies ruined my summer (not to mention the ever constant baseball mediocrity in Arlington).

The part about the 2006-2007 debacle that stung the most wasn’t the fact that a 67 win team ungracefully bowed out of the tournament without much of a fight, nor was it that it was the first time that a #1 seed had been ousted by a #8 seed since the first round was expanded to a best-of-seven series.  It was the fact that the only first round opponent that had a chance of beating the Mavs (and stopping Dirk for that matter) was the man who made that version of the Mavs…Don Nelson.

But without a doubt the 2005-2006 meltdown was the most gut wrenching.  I guarantee you it still haunts many Mavs fans like it does myself.  So close to being up 3-0 and so close to bringing that Larry O’Brien trophy to Dallas.  If, if, if…but alas D-Wade and Shaq took home the hardware.

Back to the question…what were your expectations for the Mavs coming into the 2008-2009 season?

Coming off a 51-31 campaign that led to a seventh seed and the ill fated matchup with the Hornets, the brain trusts that make up the Dallas Mavericks’ front office only saw a need for one change.  The scapegoat for the consecutive first round exits was Avery Johnson.  It was Avery’s fault that Jason Kidd couldn’t run a halfcourt offense.  And supposedly Avery had “lost the team.”

Adios Avery.  Enter Rick Carlisle.

I’m not saying getting rid of Avery wasn’t the right move.  But the fact that he was seen as the only problem caused me to lose sleep.  It was obvious that this team needed more than a tweak at the bottom of the roster and a coaching change.

The same core of players that failed the past two seasons were expected to flourish and possibly contend for the title under Carlisle.  That seemed like a hopelessly optimistic mindset to me.

Let’s ask the question one more time… what were your expectations for the Mavs coming into the 2008-2009 season?

If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that you could guarantee that the Mavs would win 50 games and one playoff series I would have taken that in a second.  Realistically, that would be an extremely successful season for this squad.

Let’s keep it real here.  Rewind to Wednesday April 15, 2009.  It is the 82nd and final game of the Mavs’ season.  The tightly contested Western Conference seeding had yet to be determined.  In order for the Mavs to obtain the best case scenario sixth seed, they needed to beat the Rockets and needed the Hornets to best the Spurs in San Antonio.

The Mavs took care of business and took down the Rockets 95-84.  Give the Mavs credit…they did what they needed to do to take the sixth seed and earned their 50th win of the season.  Now it was time to root for the hated Spurs.

The Spurs and Hornets swapped the lead throughout the game but NOLA had the lead when it mattered, up three with mere seconds left.  Things looked grim the Mavs.

Enter former Mav Michael Finley.

It’s the Spurs final possession of the regular season…or is it?  Finley hits a prayer of the 25-foot variety to send the game into overtime.  The Spurs went on to top the Hornets 105-98 in the extra frame thus giving the Mavs the sixth seed.

If Finley had missed the shot at the end of regulation who would have been the Mavs’ first round opponent you ask?  Quite simply…the lovable Denver Nuggets.

At the Ball, we always keep it real.  The Mavs were a miracle shot away from yet another first round exit.  Let’s face it…getting the Spurs in the first round was as good as an early Christmas gift.  The Spurs were banged up (understatement) and quite frankly they got really old, really fast.  In all reality, the Mavs probably couldn’t have beaten any other Western Conference playoff team in a seven game series.

All of the semantics aside, the Mavs had a successful season.  They got the first round monkey off their back and reached the all important 50 win mark.  The coaching change did not turn out to be a disaster.  Our favorite German (sorry Detlef Schrempf) was once again spectacular and remains the most underrated player in the game.  Jason Terry earned Sixth Man of the Year honors.  Brandon Bass proved that he needs to be on this team next year.  JJ Barea showed us that he is a capable backup point guard.  Unfortunately, Josh Howard once again failed to stay healthy and Erick Dampier confirmed that he is just one of many overpaid players in the Association that needs to find a new home.

All in all, the Ball was pleased with the season.  Now it’s time to reconfigure this roster and prepare for next year.

Do you think it was a successful season or am I wearing blue and green shaded glasses?  Let me know.

Peace.  Be good.

Tags: Avery Johnson, Brandon Bass, Dallas Mavericks, Detlef Schrempf, Dirk Nowitzki, Don Nelson, Dwayne Wade, Erick Dampier, Golden State Warriors, Jason Terry, JJ Barea, Josh Howard, Michael Finley, New Orleans Hornets, Rick Carlisle, San Antonio Spurs, Shaquille O'Neal