TENTH SEED

Yes! The Mav fans anticipated another trip to the finals and this time winning the NBA championship. Great expectations!  But now, the Dallas Mavericks fans are disgruntled and many have left the building.

Perhaps, you read the articles. With so many online news stories regarding the worst trade in NBA history, you are probably aware that Nico Harrison traded our star player Luka Dončić, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the finals last year and who was the MVP, and that the team was built around, for Lakers' Anthony Davis. The trade took place during the late hours on the 1st of February. 

On Sunday morning which was the 2nd of February and happened to be Groundhog Day, my eyes read the trade news posting, but my mind refused to believe the appallingly shocking and unbelievable statement. Questioning the validity of the post, it was Groundhog Day not April Fools Day.

Honestly, my first thoughts were that the news was fake or someone's bad joke. Unfortunately, the news was true and left me feeling extremely blue. Experiencing heartbreak of what could have been. Why? Because Luka would have been cleared to play within six days, with the trio, Luka, Irving, and Thompson, in the starting lineup, the Mavs would have won games and moved up in the standings. Now, we are the tenth seed, and who knows for how long? The Suns are poised to take over that spot.

Indeed, the Dallas Maverick's fans contemplated another journey to the finals but one secret trade foiled that possibility. 

Therefore, the fans have a right to voice their displeasure. The fans purchase the tickets, buy the team's merchandise, and patronize their food vendors. Fans support their sports teams. It's that simple. What was Nico and the new management thinking?

Is Nico the Grinch who stole Christmas? If your Christmas present was going to the finals and winning the NBA championship, the answer is a resounding, "YES!" The fans had expectations and rightly so. Understandably, the trade felt like their team's chance to make the finals hadn't been lost but stolen.

Right after the trade, mouthing "Fire Nico," caused fans to be removed from the stadium during a Dallas Maverick game. According to recent articles, people are chanting, "Fire Nico," at the basketball games; however, so far they haven't been extracted from the stadium. 

Besides Dallas basketball games, fans chanted "Fire Nico," at the Dallas Stars hockey games, at FC Dallas soccer games, and even at the Medieval Times restaurant that offers a dinner show with staged tournaments such as sword-fight and jousting.

On the other hand, the Laker's fans chant, "Thank you, Nico!"

During the past month and two weeks, the Mavs have lost more games than they have won. Since the trade, the team suffered through and was cursed by injuries. With all the injuries, Jason Kidd, the coach, barely had eight healthy players for a game. In that game, one of the players was injured and the team was down to seven players. The players are professionals stepping up and moving forward putting the trade behind them. What the team lacks is height, they make up by playing with lots of heart. Unfortunately, that doesn't always win games.

Naturally, Irving and Luka bonded, and their chemistry powered and pushed the team to the Western Division Championship last year watching them play was exciting and amazing. After the trade, Irving was left without his friend and compadre. Irving was left to lead the team. He did that and more. Irving's shooting stats were fabulous until he was injured. Sadly, a knee injury will keep him out until next year. With Irving injured, that left Thompson to lead the team.

Last Summer, Thompson was added to the team to help Luka and Irving. Thompson could use Gafford's and Lively II's help, but they are out on the injured list too.

At an after-game interview, Thompson, when asked, said, "They are playing small ball."  

Why, small ball? Their big guy is out injured. The guy Nico traded for. The big guy is Anthony Davis. Davis played his first game as a Mav on the 8th of February putting on an impressive show, but left early with an injury.

Sunday, the 16th of March, the Mavs hosted the Philadelphia 76ers. JP Washington was back on the court after being out for several games with an injury. You could tell by the way Washington played that he was happy to be out on the court. It was great to see him playing too. At halftime, the Dallas Mavericks lead by four points. 

A glimmer of hope, until the second half. While my knowledge of Philadelphia's team is limited to one player. That player was Grimes, who was traded to the 76ers shortly after the Luka trade. Grimes scored 28 points against his former team.

Shortly after the Luka trade, we learned that Nico traded Grimes for Martin. I am not the only one who was disappointed and baffled by Nico's decision.

Of course, the Grimes for Martin trade hasn't been the earth-quaking story that the Luka trade for AD, Anthony Davis, has been.

Watching Grimes play for Dallas before the trade, he came through with three-point shots and contributed a lot to the team's wins. That's why it was mind-blowing, to say the least when the trade made the news.

As mentioned earlier, the Mavs had a four-point lead at the half, the Mavs played hard, but in the end, they came up short and lost by five points. 

With fourteen more games before playoffs, fans are bewildered and disgruntled. There are lots of rumors and speculation on what the Mavs should and shouldn't do. If they don't have eight players, there is a real and apparent possibility of the Mavs having to forfeit games. Who knows how this season will end? No matter what happens next, Nico and the Mavs' new management are all about the money and an embarrassment to the team's fans and the NBA.

If Mark Cuban owned the team, I am sure the trades wouldn't have happened. That leaves me with one question:

Mark, why did you sell the Dallas Mavericks?