41 Questions to Make the Offseason Go Faster – #11 Through #2
Because even when there’s no basketball, there’s always something to talk about.
The dog days of the NBA offseason are here. Trades have slowed to a trickle, free agency rumors are mostly about training camp invites, and the only highlight videos on social media are from overseas leagues or vintage replays. But if you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan, there’s still a way to fill the void: good old-fashioned basketball debates.
This is part four of our 41 Questions series our way of passing the time and keeping the conversation alive until the real action returns. If you missed the earlier installments (#41 through #12), you can find them on the Mavs Moneyball homepage. Today, we’re jumping into the countdown with questions #11 through #2. These are the heavier hitters — the kinds of topics that can spark passionate arguments in the comments section or keep you talking deep into the night.
#11 – Referee Bias: Real or Convenient Excuse?
Let’s be honest: it’s real.
Not in the conspiracy-theory, “the league is against us” sense, but in the simple, human sense. Referees are people, and people have memories, preferences, and occasional grudges. If a player has spent years showing up an official, making sarcastic comments, or rolling their eyes at every whistle, do we really think that official is going to forget?
Mavericks fans know this feeling well. Mention names like Danny Crawford or Tony Brothers, and you’ll likely get an eye-roll followed by a story about a night when every call seemed to go against Dallas. Back in the days when Mark Cuban was at his most outspoken, the tension between the Mavs and certain referees was practically its own subplot every season.
#10 – How Important is Veteran Leadership to Winning?
Critically important.
The NBA is a league of talent, but it’s also a league of experience. Playoff basketball is an entirely different animal from the regular season — the pace slows, every possession matters, and players are tested mentally as much as physically. Veterans who have been there before can steady the ship when the seas get rough.
Yes, we’ve seen young squads like the Oklahoma City Thunder make deep playoff pushes, but even they had a sprinkling of older players to guide the way. The young legs may run the fast breaks, but the veteran voice is usually the one calling the huddle.
#9 – Coach vs. Players: Who’s Responsible for What?
This could be its own series, but here’s the short version:
The coach is the architect. They design the game plan, make adjustments in real time, and ensure that every player is prepared for the moment. The players are the builders. They buy into that plan and execute it under the lights.
If the coach can’t inspire confidence, the blueprint falls apart. If the players can’t execute, even the most brilliant strategy becomes useless. Success is a partnership, and the best teams are the ones where both sides trust each other completely.
#8 – Greatest NBA Player of All Time?
Michael Jordan.
Others have put up gaudier career totals, but Jordan’s resume is absurd when you factor in how little time he needed to accomplish it all. Everyone ahead of him on the scoring list played hundreds more games. He was a perfect 6–0 in the Finals, never letting a series even reach a Game 7. He led the 72-win Bulls, won MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year, and turned teammates into champions.
The argument will rage forever especially with the LeBron James camp making a strong case but Jordan’s peak remains unmatched in both dominance and cultural impact.
#7 – Gameday Superstitions or Rituals?
Some fans wear the same jersey. Others eat the same meal.
Me? I’m not big on superstition, but I do tend to watch games from the exact same spot. I’m also surprisingly quiet during the action no yelling at the TV, no wild celebrations. I like to think I’m keeping distractions away, as if my focus might somehow translate to the team. Irrational? Sure. But fandom is nothing if not a little irrational.
#6 – The Most Unusual Thing You’ve Done to Show Your Mavs Fandom
Two memories stand out.
First: driving from Boston to Philadelphia just to see back-to-back Mavericks games against the Celtics and 76ers. (For the record, I was already in the Northeast this wasn’t a cross-country road trip, but it was still a bit of a haul.)
Second: wearing a Michael Finley jersey under my graduation gown. Did anyone else in the audience know? Probably not. Did it make me feel like the ceremony was my own personal championship celebration? Absolutely.
#5 – Give One Player a Trait That Would Exponentially Increase His Value
Easy: Cooper Flagg, and the trait is experience.
The rookie already has the physical tools, the skill set, and the mentality to make an impact. If you could somehow inject five years of NBA knowledge into him overnight, he’d go from promising prospect to instant All-Star.
#4 – If the Mavericks Moved Cities, Would You Still Support Them?
Yes.
My loyalty is to the franchise and its history, not just the city name on the jersey. That said, Dallas is home. The thought of the Mavericks moving is unsettling, and I hope it never happens. Some things in sports should be constants, and the Mavs in Dallas is one of them.
#3 – Favorite Player on the Current Roster?
This roster is full of likable personalities, from P.J. Washington’s toughness to Naji Marshall’s grit. But my pick is Kyrie Irving.
He’s not without flaws none of us are but I respect the way he holds himself accountable and works to be a better teammate and person. You can see the effort he puts into building trust in the locker room. That kind of presence is invaluable over an 82-game season.
#2 – Top Five Most Significant Events in Franchise History
In no particular order:
- Drafting Dirk Nowitzki and watching him develop into a legend.
- Trading Luka Dončić a seismic move that redefined the team’s direction.
- Winning the 2011 NBA Championship against the Miami Heat’s “Big Three.”
- Breaking up the Three J’s (Jamal Mashburn, Jim Jackson, Jason Kidd) in the late ’90s.
- Mark Cuban buying the team and injecting a new energy into the organization.
We’re down to just one question left in the countdown — and trust me, it’s a big one. Stay tuned for the final part of our 41 Questions series, and in the meantime, share your own answers in the comments. After all, the offseason might be quiet, but the conversation doesn’t have to be.
Leave a Reply