The Malaise in Dallas - S66 Preseason Presser
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 3:02 am
The stadium is half empty for the last preseason game. On the big screen, an advertising campaign highlighting this year's rookie of the year candidate Dominitrix Johnson and the future all-star Scoot Henderson play overhead. The ad goes on to tout some free agency pick-ups that they swear will be good. It promises that this year, defense will be emphasized, and just you wait, we'll be good this year.
But no one is paying attention. All eyes are on the ticker strip under the big screen ad, which displays the preseason record-- 1-5. Here we go again. Dallas fans have seen this before, and they are sick of it. The promise of a playoff birth; just to watch their team tank all year so that the GM can pick up the next hot prospect. The prospects look good on paper, but they take forever to develop. Hence the losing year after year. Worse, they have seen rookies traded away just before they become good. (Hackney)
The few fans that are left in the stands talk about how the problem this year and every year is that they have never had a true passing point guard. At least since the days of He Hor, and he was only on the team for half a season. They heard rumors that the GM was considering bringing him back this offseason in free agency at the ripe old age of 37. (You know the CP3 signing type of deal. Wait, isn't he 38. God that CP3 part of the podcast was funny) Oh, the dream of a good point guard.
The fans talk about their point guard woes, but deep down, they know the real problem is the GM. He has missed in free agency over and over again. Player development is been absent from this team since he got here. He promises that this time around, things will be different-- player development will be emphasized. But no one believes him. They know he spends time trying to cobble together the league's misfits and unwanted. The aging superstar on his last good season or the g/g player he knows will go blue.
When the fans leave the stadium, they are greeted by a giant billboard that reads: " If you want to know what it feels like to win, come join the show," with the headshots of Safi Fino-A-Laself Paolo Banchero flanking Johnny Davis. Just past the billboard are the street vendors selling NBA merchandise. The true fans just leaving the stadium pick up their Mavs shirts there. But they notice that the Lakers gear is nearly sold out. There might be more Laker fans in Dallas than Mavs fans.
On the radio on the way home from the game, the host announces that they have a special guest, the GM of the Mavs, if anyone wants to call in with questions, but the malaise in Dallas has left the switchboard empty up until this point...
But no one is paying attention. All eyes are on the ticker strip under the big screen ad, which displays the preseason record-- 1-5. Here we go again. Dallas fans have seen this before, and they are sick of it. The promise of a playoff birth; just to watch their team tank all year so that the GM can pick up the next hot prospect. The prospects look good on paper, but they take forever to develop. Hence the losing year after year. Worse, they have seen rookies traded away just before they become good. (Hackney)
The few fans that are left in the stands talk about how the problem this year and every year is that they have never had a true passing point guard. At least since the days of He Hor, and he was only on the team for half a season. They heard rumors that the GM was considering bringing him back this offseason in free agency at the ripe old age of 37. (You know the CP3 signing type of deal. Wait, isn't he 38. God that CP3 part of the podcast was funny) Oh, the dream of a good point guard.
The fans talk about their point guard woes, but deep down, they know the real problem is the GM. He has missed in free agency over and over again. Player development is been absent from this team since he got here. He promises that this time around, things will be different-- player development will be emphasized. But no one believes him. They know he spends time trying to cobble together the league's misfits and unwanted. The aging superstar on his last good season or the g/g player he knows will go blue.
When the fans leave the stadium, they are greeted by a giant billboard that reads: " If you want to know what it feels like to win, come join the show," with the headshots of Safi Fino-A-Laself Paolo Banchero flanking Johnny Davis. Just past the billboard are the street vendors selling NBA merchandise. The true fans just leaving the stadium pick up their Mavs shirts there. But they notice that the Lakers gear is nearly sold out. There might be more Laker fans in Dallas than Mavs fans.
On the radio on the way home from the game, the host announces that they have a special guest, the GM of the Mavs, if anyone wants to call in with questions, but the malaise in Dallas has left the switchboard empty up until this point...