Never mind the fact that forward Dirk Nowitzki may be finished for the season after crumpling to the floor with a high ankle sprain. Never mind the fact the Mavs can’t seem to buy a win against teams with a .500 record or better, Dallas has bigger problems.
First, owner Mark Cuban mortgaged their future to bring in aging-star Jason Kidd in a keeping up with the Joneses West Conference deadline deal. More vital to the team’s success is getting Kidd and teammate Josh Howard on the same page. Since the trade the two have looked like characters in separate novels.
The team chemistry between the future Hall of Famer and the slashing small forward doesn't exist. In their first 11 games together, Howard has averaged nearly 15.5 points per game, roughly four points under his season average and has been shooting over 6 percent worse from the floor.
Their two respective styles should have meshed. Kidd has superior court vision and a knack for passing while Howard is at his best heading toward the hoop. Coach Avery Johnson has not shown much concern saying the two will click.
But for Dallas fans and for Johnson’s sake, they better click quickly or the Mavericks could be watching the playoffs from home, an unfathomable thought at the start of the season.
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