Let's Keep It Positive

Allright, as upsetting as the past month has been, let's try and put the Dallas Mavericks' recent plummet into some perspective.

Last season the Mavs won 19 of their last 21 games and nine in a row to close out the season...they lost in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semis (2nd round). The year before that? Dallas went 10-2 in the last 12, a good finish, but lost in Game 5 of the 1ST ROUND! So where does the positive come in? Right here.

In 2002-2003, arguably the greatest single season in Mavericks history, Dallas went 9-6 down the stretch but advanced to Game 6 of the Conference Finals. The only other time the Mavs have made it further? Game 7 of the 1987-88 Conference Finals, but that year they didn't win 60 games.

So, looking back over the past month: Dallas is a .500 team, 7-7 in the last 14 games, two losing streaks after having one all year before that and losses to Orlando and Golden State. Not only that, the San Antonio Spurs are slumping as well, but Dallas couldn't take advantage. Once again the "bad guys" will win the division by probably a single game.

Go back and change one game...1 STINKING GAME...in the last 79 and we'll win the division. 3 losses to Golden State, inexcusable. A 2-point overtime loss at Milwaukee, seriously? Two losses to the Lakers, the horrible, good-for-nothing Lakers in the span of a week, gimme a break. An overtime loss AT New York, quite possibly the worst team in the last decade (OK now I'm exagerrating).

But all is not lost. This fan is very encouraged by the fact the team plummeted in the season's waning moments of '02-03 only to advance within one game of the NBA championship series. We'll find a way. Avery always finds a way. And after this highly upsetting month, the Dallas Mavericks will prove all the naysayers wrong once and for all.
mr