This was the low point of the Mavericks’ season. Not just the 107-97 loss to the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers, and not just the blown 13-point halftime lead, but one moment with 11.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, when I looked around the American Airlines Center and saw more purple-and-gold jerseys than blue ones, when what had been a staunchly pro-Lakers crowd all night now fully outnumbered the remaining Mavericks fans. That was the season’s low point. Or, at least, the lowest one yet.



Dallas is an average team which will improve its record from last season by double-digit wins; it’s important to keep that in perspective. It’s also a team whose starting five doesn’t work. This is a transition season for the Mavericks, one where Dirk Nowitzki is being sent into retirement with as much pomp as can be mustered given his lackluster play – :'( – and one where Dallas wanted to determine how good Luka Doncic could be...