NBA Northwest Division

Dirk is Worried About the Mavericks. Are You?

​The Dallas Mavericks fell apart in the fourth quarter last night in Utah. In the last 12 minutes they had more turnovers (7) than baskets (5). Not good. A lead vanished into a four-point deficit and, ultimately, a blowout loss to a Jazz team playing without Carlos Boozer. Yikes. That's three ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Yo La Tengo, Times New Viking at the Granada Theater

Yo La Tengo, Times New VikingGranada TheaterJanuary 30, 2010Much better than: staying home watching the Mavericks lose to the Blazers.Will Von BoltonClick here for a slideshow from Saturday night's show.​A sold-out crowd got out of the cold weather and into the warm confines of The Granada Theater ... More >>

Georgia on His Mind: New York Times Profiles Carter's Tyrone Ellis, a National Hero Overseas

Tyrone Ellis​Tyrone Ellis's pro basketball career in the U.S. didn't amount to much: 10 pre-season minutes played for the Minnesota Timberwolves in October 2006, during which he didn't score a single point. Also on his resume: a single-season stint, in 2001-'02, in the NBA's D-League, during which ... More >>

Happy Basketball! Do You Believe in These Dallas Mavericks?

Dirk looks excited about the season. You?​Last time we saw our Dallas Mavericks it wasn't pretty was ugly. Jason Terry was flopping (only 15 points per game), the defense was floundering (surrendering 115 per game) and owner Mark Cuban was flapping (his gums at Kenyon Martin's mom) in ... More >>

The Mavericks' French Misconnection Marks More of the Same on Draft Day

Mavs Trade Down, Try Not to Fall Asleep

Trade proposal: Mavs Man and tonight's 24th pick for these two prospects?Like the Dallas Cowboys did a couple months ago, the Dallas Mavericks have made the decision to fortify their roster via quantity, not quality. But in an NBA Draft that features Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet, James ... More >>

Whitt's End: 5.15.09

Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Of the Texas Rangers' hot start - they are 20-14 compared to 14-20 last year - the most amazing feat is pitcher Matt Harrison's back-to-back complete games. If you're looking for Nolan Ryan's st ... More >>

Opponents Can't Defend Dirk Nowitzki. So Richie Whitt Will Do It.

Mavericks-Nuggets: A Requiem in 5 Predictable Parts

No Jason Terry. No Gatorade dump. Hindsight, they say, is 20/20. Sometimes, unfortunately, so is foresight. On Friday, May 1 I picked the Denver Nuggets to eliminate the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Last night it came to pass, in the form of Nuggets 124, Mavs 110. Dirk Nowitzki was as grit ... More >>

Your Dallas Mavericks: Now What?

Danny Bollinger Was this block/fall Jason Kidd's last stand as a Maverick? The body was still warm. The emotions, still raw. But when it comes to the Dallas Mavericks, Charles Barkley doesn't give a damn. "They got problems," the rotund, ridiculous TNT analyst said last night in the min ... More >>

Mavs-Nuggets: Irrationally Optimistic Game 5 Preview

Stay classy, Kenyon Martin's girlfriend. Stay classy.Let's keep this short and sweet, as I'm scurrying off to Las Vegas this morning to accept a CLIO Award. (No, check that, they're whispering in my ear that my schedule actually calls for an Observer staff meeting in Uptown.) Guess the a ... More >>

Nowitzkis 119, Carmelos 117

Better late than never, a happy tune.Now that, my friends, was a basketball game. A playoff basketball game, with everything on it. Delicious. Considering they still won't win this series, the Mavericks had every reason to fold. And after the week he's had, Dirk Nowitzki had every reason ... More >>

Attention K-Mart Shoppers: He's Still a Thug

I was waiting for Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to apologize. But to CBS 11 camerman Bill Ellis, not Kenyon Martin's mom. He issued an "I'm sorry" to her? For what exactly?! As you probably know by now, I detest peer-pressure, politically correct apologies. I'm not suggesting Cuban's cybe ... More >>

Dallas Mavwrecks: Series, Composure Both Lost

So much for winning. And so much for losing with class and dignity. Yes, unequivocally, the Mavericks got screwed in Saturday's Game 3 loss to the Denver Nuggets. (We didn't need - or really want - an admission by the NBA to confirm that.) But despite the team's latest case of Whine Flu, i ... More >>

Mavs-Nuggets: Irrationally Optimistic Game 3 Preview

Danny Bollinger Bite the bullet, Josh. Or your jersey. Whatever works.Before Game 1: Doubtless. After Game 1: Defiant. Before Game 2: Determined. After Game 2: Depressed. Before Game 3: Desperate? Delusional? Dead? Fine, then you tell me. For my prediction of Thuggets in 5 to remain in play, ... More >>

The Mild-Mannered Mavericks Are Infected Again By Chronic Case of Whine Flu

Thuggets 2, Mavwimps 0

Dirk and his miniscule help have lots of questions to answer.Already being out-jumped, out-run, out-dunked and out-funked, the Dallas Mavericks last night became a desperate team suddenly out-manned. And after another thorough loss to the Denver Nuggets - this one 117-105 in Game 2 of the NBA ... More >>

Nuggets-Mavs: Irrationally Optimistic Game 2 Preview

Danny Bollinger Dirk Nowitzki has a case of the old-school Bird Flu. Certain that my prediction of Thuggets in 5 is spot on, my head is bursting with pride. But desperately wanting my Mavericks to pull the upset, my heart is breaking with pain. Before tonight's pivotal Game 2 at De ... More >>

Dallas v. Denver: Nuggets in 5

Mavs' fans, prepare to be nauseated.I sincerely hope I'm wrong about this, but I have a feeling we're all about to get really pissed. Watching the most athletic - and by far the most animated and arrogant - team in the NBA knock the Dallas Mavericks out of the playoffs could be very ... More >>

Kidd vs. Devin: Tweaking the Hindsight?

I still - as always - wouldn't have pulled the trigger on Jason Kidd and two No. 1 draft picks, etc. for Devin Harris and Antoine Wright, etc. But I'll admit, Kidd has been better than any of us expected. And today - as the Mavericks prepare to enter the second round of the NBA P ... More >>

The Mavericks Mark the 25th Anniversary of the Wackiest Game in Franchise History

Relax Mavs Fans, Dallas' First-Round Loss Won't Be to the Lakers

The Mavs have successfully avoided the noid, better known as Kobe Bryant.While you were sleeping, the Dallas Mavericks officially succeeded in their lil' game of Avoid The Noid. Thanks to the Lakers' blowout of the Utah Jazz late last night, the Mavs won't open this weekend's NBA Pl ... More >>

Sheepish Mavericks 96, Shitty Timberwolves 94

Because the Mavs beat one of the worst teams in the NBA, they may get to avoid playing the best. Embarrassing that the Dallas Mavericks had to pull a leftover Easter rabbit out of their hat last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Center. But in this economy ... sorr ... More >>

How the Dallas Mavericks Can Avoid the Lakers

Not saying Dirk and the Mavs are sitting pretty. But they have a chance.About a month ago in this cover story Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told me his team didn't fear a first-round NBA Playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. "The Lakers don't intimidate us at all," Cuban maintains ... More >>

Don't Rush Josh

Sad - and surprising - that your Dallas Mavericks are reduced to trying to hold on to 8th place in the Western Conference over their final nine games over two weeks. But with that gut-gouging home loss to the Denver Nuggets last Friday night, I think they fumbled away any realistic chance of mo ... More >>

NBA Fines Mark Cuban $25,000. Why Bother?

The NBA is a bunch of nit-twitts. Over the weekend the league fined Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $25,000 for his "criticism" of officials via Twitter, the real-time social network that allows schmucks like you and me to be flies on the walls of the rich, famous and exhibitionistic. Or to s ... More >>

Not Tweet: Mark Cuban's Collecting $25,000 NBA Fines 140 Characters at a Time.

Earlier today, the National Basketball Association lifted $25,000 from Mark Cuban's pocket for comments Twittered after Friday night's game against the Denver Nuggets. Tweeted the Dallas Mavericks' owner, "how do they not call a tech on JR Smith for coming off the bench to taunt our player on the gr ... More >>

The Maddening Mavericks

Danny Bollinger The forgotten one?I give up. I admit, I expected the Dallas Mavericks to lose at Phoenix, lose at Portland, beat Golden State and get blown out by the Lakers. I went 0-4. In typically unpredictable, unsettling fashion, they went 2-2. I'll go on Channel 52 tonight at 6:30 - fi ... More >>

Dear Cynical Mavericks Fans: Ya Nevuh Know.

Danny Bollinger What if he stays hot for four months? Could happen.Look, I can be as jaded as anyone. Cynical. Smartassy. Surly. Down right skeptical. Especially - in case you haven't been paying attention - when it comes to the Dallas Mavericks. But tonight's last night's 93-89 victory in P ... More >>

Your Dallas Mavericks are the Second-Best Team in the NBA ... Sorta

Lotsa triumphs. Zero trophies.While twiddling my thumbs waiting for the Mavericks - or anyone - to make a significant, deadline-beating NBA trade, I wondered just how good Dallas has been this millenium. Calculator 10 minutes elbow grease = Yahtzee! Answer: Damn good. Second-best good. Fr ... More >>

Whitt's End

*In 2009, I'm going to change. Totally change. I'm going to develop an appreciation for sour cream, reality shows and Brett Favre. I will start tipping 20% to every waitperson because, after all, that's what I'm supposed to do. I will be understanding of white pickup trucks that tailgate ... More >>

Even The Portland Trailblazers Are Doing The Stanky Legg. No, Seriously. Look.

I stumbled across this the other day on Youtube, and, yep, that's right; it's the Portland Trailblazers' rookies, earlier this year, being hazed somewhat by the veteran players on the team and being forced to dance to Them GSpot Boyz's "Stanky Legg" at a preseason scrimmage. I kid you not.Perhaps t ... More >>

Your ’08-09 Dallas Mavericks: Still Good. Still Not Good Enough.

Man, I Used to Love James Donaldson. Seattle Is Super Lucky.

Uh. Oh.

The Beginning of the End?

"Dirk, You're Out." Sounds Better When Heidi Klum Says It.

The Return of the Kidd

Deal or No Deal?

Another Reason For Dallas Sports Fans To Be Pissed Off

Donnie Doolittle

Insert Knife Here. Twist.

C'mon, But What About Rodney McCray? Or Fat Lever? Or Alex English?

Premature Evacuation

Caution: Knee jerks hopping off Mavs' bandwagon

Hoop Dreams Come True

In Dallas, Even the Fans Play "D"

All Net

The Mavs gets Jazzed

Caution!

The Mavs win because they're a rare combo: freewheeling and careful

Back to the Future

For Dirk, Don and the Mavs to compete with the Lakers, they'll have to look to an unlikely source for inspiration: the late-'80s teams of Mark Aguirre and Dick Motta

Best Sports Moment

Dallas Mavericks beat Utah Jazz in playoffs