Mavericks 118 Hawks 109: Game 1 Review

As openers go Mavericks 118 Hawks 109 was about a good start as the team and its fans could of hoped for. Though far from perfect the Mavericks were able to see a lot of things that  should make for a successful season if they continue.

Monta Ellis' 32 points were the most ever for a Maverick in his team debut and his two-man chemistry with Dirk Nowitzki (24 points) was exceptional. Though he did not shoot the ball well Jose Calderon showed the point guard play the team often lacked last year by dishing out 11 assists. Vince Carter continued to show why he is still one of the best sixth men in the league by pouring in 21 points off the bench. The center duo of Samuel Dalembert played well combing for 13 points and 14 rebounds and old reliable Shawn Marion chipped in with 12 points and 8 boards.
Dallas was able to do what they want on the offensive end, shooting 57% from the field and 11-24 from three. The only black mark on offense were 20 turnovers including 7 from Ellis, but that shouldn't be a long-term worry as the team will grow more comfortable playing together.
Defense however was a different story as the Mavs had trouble stopping the penetration of Jeff Teague (24 Points, 9 assists), which led to plenty of easy baskets. This will probably continue to be an issue for the Mavs against quicker point guards but hopefully something they can improve on as the season continues. On the bright side Dallas was able to control boards by a 42-33 margin.
That the Mavs played well on offense and struggled some on defense shouldn't come as a big surprise to anyone. We know they are going to have score plenty of points to win a lot of game. The good thing is they are perfectly capable of that as we saw last night. They key will if they can make the defense just O.K. because it's hard to see them being especially great on that side of the ball. But if the Mavericks  are able to combine a great offense  with an average defense they could be able to take that a long way this season.
It was just one game out of 82, but there was a lot to like from this opening night victory. The play of newcomers such as Ellis and Calderon was very encouraging, and the old standbys of Dirk, Marion and Carter showed they still have plenty left. So get ready for what looks to be an exciting and entertaining season for the 2013-14 version of the Dallas Mavericks. 

Team Leaders
Points: Ellis, 32 Rebounds: Dalembert, 9 Assists: Calderon, 9
Player of the Game: Ellis
Quote of Note: “I just took what the defense gave me,” . “If they sagged off, I took one or two dribbles and pulled up. If they stayed with me then I got past them, attacked the basket and got to the free-throw line. When they closed in I was able to find shooters. That’s what Coach [Carlisle] wanted me to do, so I did it.” Monta Ellis
Next Up: The Mavs play their first road game of the season as they take on Dwight Howard, James Harden and the Rockets, Friday at 7 pm in Houston.