Dallas Mavericks

Beginning as an expansion franchise in 1980, the Mavericks didn't fare well at the outset, but surprisingly were in playoff contention within two years, and made the playoffs with a sixth-place finish in 1983, thanks to draft picks Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, Derek Harper and Jay Vincent, as well as journeyman Brad Davis. Continuing to draft wisely with picks like Sam Perkins, they continued their playoff appearances, managing to take the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Finals in 1987.

The 1996-97 season brought a number of changes to the team that formed the foundation of their later success. Michael Finley arrived in a trade with the Phoenix Suns, and Don Nelson was hired as general manager. The additions of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash in 1998 seemed unspectacular at the time, but it was the combination of those two and Finley that propelled the Mavs to their first playoff appearance in eleven years in 2001. The trio, known as the "Big 3" by the media, formed the nucleus of what was then the best offense in the league, but defense was still the problem as they crashed out of the playoffs that year, as well as the next three.

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Hot Games
Cotton Bowl | Dallas Stars | SMU Mustangs Football | Texas Longhorns Football |

 

American Airlines Center | House of Blues- Dallas | Morton Meyerson Symphony Center |

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