FanPost

Is This It?

After watching a crushing defeat in the playoffs, I decided to take the optimistic approach to the offseason, and at the time, it was the only option other than admitting this team will, every year, do the same thing and let fans down again. Of course, "letting fans down" is a relative feeling as it means something different to everyone.

I understand that only one team wins the championship every year. It is a privilege to obtain a ring. There are worse situations in a sports life. Just as easily as witnessing a decade of making the playoffs, I could have watched the Mavs trudge through a decade of mediocrity with an owner who does not care about winning, but who cares about profit only. Thankfully, this has not been the case, and this city has experience a decade of winning, even if it does come attached with an empty feeling.

That empty feeling grew a little bit during the offseason as the time came when free agents chose their homes, and three of basketball’s top players decided to combine their collective brain in order to give a derogatory gesture to the rest of the league, and in particular, fans of the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers. That was their right, as individuals who let outside influences tell them where to go, and what to do more often than not. This collusion told us that, much like real life, nothing is certain in sports unless you are playing the game. Players will do what they want, inevitably, and we will always be the spectators who follow their tweets, who have no control outside of the internet.

On that same internet, we read absurd rumors, and ways that the team could improve, but most likely will not, from people who rely on big names along with elaborate plans to sensationalize their words, and keep eyes on a web page while our hopes rise, without giving us a parachute for the inevitable fall. The cycle continues, every offseason, because no one wants to admit the truth – sometimes you get Lebron James, and other times you get Alexis Ajinca.

Aside from the addition of Mr. Ajinca, the Mavs made some changes to their roster during this offseason. They used addition by subtracted in the Dampier trade while getting rid of future obligations, and perpetuating the idea that Tyson Chandler could be moved for a difference maker, while one or two may already be on the roster. If his summer league performance is any indication, management made a good decision in this year’s draft by trading money for Dominique Jones, but he might be handcuffed to the bench at any moment if Carlisle does not like what he sees from the rookie, much like Rodrigue Beaubois in his freshman campaign.

The plan was to improve for next year, obviously, and while it appears now that the roster is all but set for the upcoming season, fans of the Mavericks are left to ask, "Is this it?"

Probably, but there’s always next year.

Reader submitted. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of our editorial staff.