Did everyone have a relaxing Memorial Day weekend? BBQ? Pool? Pay homage to fallen troops?

Ok, now that the formalities are out of the way, I wanted to take a minute to lay you down on the couch.

NO not like THAT you pervert. My (fake) therapist couch. You know, the one in my very fancy office that has many leather-bound books and smells of rich mahogany.

A lot happened for you this weekend, didn't it? You were forced to watch your big and little brother playing a fun game and you weren't even invited to play with them. How did that make you feel? Were you jealous? Disgusted? Indifferent?

And then, as if that weren't enough, you were forced to watch your high school bully pick on the old man who lives down the street. That must have been traumatic. It's never easy to stand by and watch something so ugly over which you have no control.

So tell me.

How are you feeling?

Ladies, Gents, Everyone in between.

We've come to this.

There are like a bajillion of you who belong to this site. That's an official number. Don't question it.

So somebody PLEASE tell me why we have SO FEW COMMENTS on these posts? I've got guys on here who are spending literally WEEKS putting together amazing pieces for you to read. Did you see Alan Smithee's draft piece? Have you been following adisudarshan's posts about available free agents? Like this one? Or even this one?

That is some high quality shizz if you ask me.

And I'm going to assume you asked me.

I know you have opinions on the Mavericks, otherwise you wouldn't even be here. Chances are, they're better than my opinions. I'm not asking you to write a thesis here. I'm just asking you to take part. Be one of us! Share your thoughts and feelings! They don't have to be profound or even relevant.

Well maybe stick to the topic you're commenting on, if you can.

It's going to be a looong summer and the only way to survive it is if we stick together.

I'm turning off the joining delay, so rather than having to wait a day you can comment as soon as you join. Just please be respectful of your fellow fans and don't say anything that's gonna make Mama Bear mad.

So stop lurking and start living!!!

We're biased. Totally. But it's always nice when the league recognizes the hard work and dedication of the Big German. That's why we're pleased as punch that Dirk Nowitzki has been named to the 3rd team All-NBA. This marks the 12th season IN A ROW that Dirty has made the list in some form or another. The only other dude to join him the past 12 years is Kobe Bryant.

According to a tweet from Followeezy, this is the third time Dirk has made the third team. He was named to the second team 5 times and the first team 4 times.

Ever humble, Dirk said this:

"It is an honor to make the All-NBA team again," Nowitzki said in a statement released by the team. "To be named among the best players in this league is always still very humbling for me. I also appreciate the opportunity to represent my teammates and the Mavericks organization on this list."

Oddly enough, he and Blake Griffin were the only two players from any of the three All-NBA teams to not receive a single first-place vote.

What's up with that?

The folks over at SBNation Dallas are taking a look at some draft prospects for the Dallas Mavericks next season. The first one on their list is Terrence Ross of the Washington Huskies.

His explosiveness lets him get to the rim pretty much at will on college defenders. Unlike his teammate Tony Wroten, Ross creates separation when he gets by his man; once he beats his man, they will not recover. When he's not getting clean by his man, Ross has a suddenness he uses to create separation for a jump-shot with a silky and consistent release. He's smooth and consistent shooting off the dribble going left or right, and his range extends to the NBA 3 point line. When he gets open looks from three, he will knock them down.

Defensively, he still has some work to do. He moves well laterally and has the foot quickness to stay with pretty much anyone at the college level. He seems to lose focus and get caught off-guard from time to time, but it would be wrong to characterize it as a lack of effort -- Ross plays hard, eagerly chasing the fast break after a steal looking for clean up baskets. He plays the passing lanes well and has the burst to intercept telegraphed/lazy passes. On the defensive end he simply needs to anticipate better in on-ball defensive situations to fulfill his potential on the defensive end.

For the complete rundown on Ross, click here.

Whether or not you're willing to admit it, marketing can have a massive effect on your daily life. How many times do you find yourself whistling along to a commercial jingle and then using that company because of their great campaign? (Seriously, if you're also guilty of this please tell me because sometimes I feel insane for knowing the words to the Empire Today song...) Also I realize there's a difference between marketing and advertising. I just couldn't actually tell you what it is.

Aaaanyhoo, SBNation's resident snark expert Jon Bois has been doing a series on the worst slogans in sports. Today, he addressed the NBA's sublime marketing skills. And by sublime I mean a little bit on the sad side. Do any of us actually really latch on to those seasonal catch-phrases? For example... can you name this year's slogan for the Mavs?

Go ahead, think about it for a minute. I'll post the answer after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

It was meant to be the beginning of a 'rebuilding' season. The fact that we made the playoffs defied expectations. The Thunder were the better team this time around, and the Mavericks deserve some credit for refusing to go out quietly. It stings like hell, but hey. We won the championship last year. So it won't ever sting quite so badly as it once did.

Still, we feel you.

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder

WHAT: Let's just not be to pessimistic, ok?

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 6:30pm CT

HOW: TXA21 | TNT

THE STORY: A couple of things could happen tonight. Dallas could be the first champions to be swept in the first round since... wait for it... the Miami Heat. Or they could be the first team in history to come back from an 0-3 deficit and win it all. OR they could win tonight, get our hopes up, and then head back to OKC and get eliminated there. Or in any of the two games thereafter. I'm not gonna put my money on anything so I can just sit back and enjoy the high-caliber basketball that's been played between these two teams. Say hi to the folks over at Welcome to Loud City if you feel so inclined.

LET'S. GO. MAVS.

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder

WHAT: we must protect this house?!

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 8:30pm CT

HOW: TNT | TXA21

THE STORY: Someone once said 'game 3 is game 7". If that doesn't get your heart racing... that doesn't surprise me. It's kinda weird, but Jason Terry said it so YEAH! And someone else said it's not a series until someone loses at home. Also kinda meh. We're not so good at these motivating cliches. Look. The games have been damn close, just like we knew they would be. We're watching incredibly entertaining basketball that far outdoes any of the other lame series going on right now. And we won the championship last year. So let's keep things in perspective. Hop, skip and maybe even jump over to Welcome to Loud City.

And hey. Let's go, Mavs!

WHO: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: It took another last-second shot for the Thunder...

WHERE: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

WHEN: 8:30pm CT

HOW: TXA21 | TNT

THE STORY: There's no question that when these two teams play each other, absolute magic happens. For whatever reason, they come together to create beautifully entertaining basketball. Sometimes Dallas comes out on top, sometimes Oklahoma City does. On Saturday, the game was insanely close and it took another phenomenal, last-second shot from Kevin Durant to give the Thunder their game 1 victory. Does this mean we should all curl up in the fetal position and give up? Despite the appeal of that option, if anything, I think it means we shouldn't count the Mavericks out just yet. Delonte West was feeling quite sick. Dirk Nowitzki didn't have a particularly great game. Jason Terry disappeared in the fourth. These are all things that should change this time around and could improve their chances tonight. Say hi to the folks at Welcome to Loud City.

C'mon, Mavs.

WHO: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: The beginning of the playoffs. How are we already here again?

WHERE: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

WHEN: 8:30pm CT

HOW: ESPN | TXA21

THE STORY: WALP. We've made it back again. This time instead of facing OKC in the WCF, we get them round 1, and they have home court advantage. There's been a TON of coverage on our beloved site, so make sure you peruse all the articles we've posted in the past few days. It's hard not to be a little pessimistic about this one, but if we've learned anything about being fans of the Dallas Mavericks, it's that nothing ever goes the way we think it will. Take a trip over to Welcome to Loud City to learn more about the Thunder.

LEGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOO!!

We had ourselves a little get-together with JA Sherman over at Welcome To Loud City in preparation for the first round playoff series between these two Western Conference foes. For my (much shorter) answers to Sherman's questions, click here! Many thanks to an awesome SBNation hoops blog over there at WTLC.

How much do OKC fans take this Dallas series personally? Over the last three years, the Mavs have always had to Thunder's number. Do fans feel like this series is OKC's chance to dethrone their I-35 big brother?

It is true that the Mavericks have been a hurdle the Thunder have sought to get over for quite some time. There have been a number of games, both in the regular season and the playoffs, where it looked like the Thunder were primed for wins only to see the veteran Mavs club catch them in the end and walk out of the building with a win. They weren't crafty or sneaky or anything like that. They simply had/have a great sense of the pacing of a game and know that there will always be opportunities that present themselves and it is the team's job to be prepared to capitalize.

I think Thunder fans take the rivalry personally because it has been this way for so long, but unlike some rivalries, I don't think it brings with it any animosity or ill will. In fact, what impressed me most about the Mavs run last year was the way that your players and coach actually were the first to defend the Thunder youngsters when the media started to get overly critical of Durant and Westbrook. I distinctly remember Shawn Marion standing up for Russell Westbrook when the media got it in their minds that Russ was the Thunder's own arsenic, and I thought that was such a noble thing on the part of Marion. He didn't need to do that, but the Mavs valued the competitive nature of OKC enough that he felt it necessary. It was honestly one of my favorite moments in a series that was pretty tough to watch.

Continue reading this post »

This preview is part of an SB-Nation hoops league-wide effort, so cruise over to the other playoff team blogs and check out some fantastic previews! And for more info on the first round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, visit Welcome to Loud City.

Team Record: 36-30

How would you describe the Mavericks in the regular season? A shit show. Seriously, Khloe and Lamar? Are you kidding me? The Mavericks had their fair share of distractions this season. Add to that the whole 'defending the title' thing and you've got a recipe for a weird season. Every team gives you their best because you're the defending champs. Everybody scrutinizes your every success and failure. With great power comes great responsibility, or some such cliche. That being said, the Mavs made the playoffs for the 12th straight season. With this condensed schedule, that's not bad for a team who's entire roster was alive when Kennedy was shot.

What are the Mavericks' strengths? Are there any areas that concern you? Dirk. Freaking. Nowitzki. Have you seen the guy? He's pretty good at basketball. That, and the fact that we have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Sure, our bench may not be as consistently amazing as it was last season, but we still have Jason Terry and Ian Mahinmi and Brandan Wright and Vince Carter and Brian Cardinal. Off the bench. Areas of weakness? Yeah, old knees. Tired legs. Mental fatigue. Pretty much the same thing everyone else will worry about. That, and our three-headed monster at center isn't as monstrous as we would like.

What is your likely playoff rotation? Who is likely to see their
minutes increase? Who might fall out of the rotation completely? Playoff rotation is probably going to be pretty damn similar to the regular season- Rick Carlisle isn't that crazy. Nowitzki, Kidd, Marion, West, Haywood. Terry and Carter will join Mahinmi and Wright off the bench. Facing a team like the Thunder, we will definitely need the defense to stop the young guns, so I imagine West will get some good floor time along with Marion. The biggest unknown is Rodrigue Beaubois, who showed signs of life as the season wound down. If he sneezes funny, he gets benched. But he's fast as hell and long and freakishly athletic, so he might be a big help against the young Thunder squad. It will come down to how Rick is feeling about the French at any given moment.

Who is most likely to step up their level of play? Do you have a
potential "breakout" peformer this postseason? I can't wait to see Delonte West and Vince Carter. I think both of them have their reasons to work extra hard. West needs to prove to Dallas that he wants to spend a lot of time there, and that he's worth paying. Carter wants a ring. He's not getting younger, and he's probably feeling like he hasn't lived up to his potential. He friggin dunked over a dude. In the Olympics. Who does that?

How far can you realistically see Dallas advancing in the playoffs? Guh I hate this question. You know, if we can get past the Thunder, I think we can make it to the 3rd round. Or hell, win it all. I don't know. This is the Dallas Mavericks. Anything is possible.

WHO: The Atlanta Hawks host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: Last regular season game!

WHERE: Philips Arena, Atlanta. GA

WHEN: 7:00pm CT

HOW: FSSW | League Pass

THE STORY: Welp. If we win and Denver wins, we get the tie-breaker and the 6-seed. If we lose and Denver wins, we get the 7-seed. The Hawks are playing for home court advantage, and they'll do so without Al Horford. Jason Kidd is resting tonight to be ready for the playoffs, which begin either Saturday in Oklahoma or Sunday in Los Angeles. Pop on over to Peachtree Hoops for Atlanta's coverage.

And for the last regular time this season, LET'S GO MABS!

WHO: The Chicago Bulls host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: Likely a playoff-like game since the Bulls are, you know, good.

WHERE: United Center, Chicago, IL

WHEN: 7:00pm CT

HOW: FSSW | ESPN

THE STORY: Dallas registered a pair of home wins, both securing their playoff berth and giving them a teensy bit of momentum. They've been playing great team basketball as of late, which is a good way to end the regular season. The Bulls are struggling a bit without Derrick Rose, who is back in the starting lineup tonight. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry will both be taking a prescribed day off, but everyone else seems set to take on the Eastern Conference leaders. For more information on the opposition, visit Blog a Bull.

MABBBBBBS!

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Golden State Warriors

WHAT: Well it's not urgent anymore, so that's nice.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 7:30pm CT

HOW: FSSW | League Pass

THE STORY: /wipes brow. Thanks to our win over the Rockets, followed by the Rockets' loss to the Hornets, the Dallas Mavericks will make their 12th-straight playoff appearance. All we have left is to sit and wait to find out where we're seeded. So while these next three games aren't must-win, it never hurts to have some momentum heading into the post-season. Golden State is depleted at the moment, missing David Lee and Stephen Curry, and maybe more. They've also lost six in a row. Hopefully tonight will be a nice, easy game for both teams. It's been a long season. Stop by Golden State Of Mind for more info on the Warriors.

Take it easy, Mavs. You're in.

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Houston Rockets

WHAT: We just gotta win 2 more games and we're in, right?

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 7:30pm CT

HOW: KTXA21 | League Pass

THE STORY: These two teams are struuuuuggling. Dallas has lost two big battles in a row, Houston four. The positive here is that Dallas has beaten the Rockets both times they've played this season, adding cushion to their 1 1/2-game lead over Houston in the playoff seeding. Fatigue will definitely play into the game tonight, seeing as how the Mavs played back-to-back overtime games for just the fourth time in franchise history this weekend. They also have a tough stretch of games coming up, so getting a win in tonight is pretty important. Fortunately it looks like Rodrigue Beaubois will be back in the lineup tonight. Drop in on The Dream Shake for Rockets coverage.

Try to keep hope alive, y'all.