30 Teams in 30 Days: Dallas Mavericks

Our three-day weekend in the "Lone Star State" for this installment of our continuing series of NBA team previews, "30 Teams in 30 Days", wraps up with a preview of the Dallas Mavericks, who added a solid shooter to the fray as they look to find a way to get back into form this upcoming season down in Big "D".

Last season's record: 49-33(8th in Western Conference/4th in Southwest Division; Lost to SA 4-3 in Western Conference 1st Round)

Head Coach: Rick Carlisle(13th season, 569-399 overall; 288-188 with DAL)

Arena: American Airlines Center(19,200)

Website: mavs.com

The 2013-14 edition of the Dallas Mavericks struggled at times during the previous season, but managed to do just well enough to lock down the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 49-33 mark for a team that's led by perennial all-star Dirk Nowitzki.  In the first round of the 2014 Western Conference Playoffs, they had a tough hill to climb, against their in-state rivals, the San Antonio Spurs, and the big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.

Dallas putted up at fight during the series, but in the end, it was too much Spurs, as San Antonio would win the series 4-3, on their road to winning it all in the 2014 NBA Finals.  This season, Dallas would get some help, in the form of Chandler Parsons, who spent the last couple of seasons with the Houston Rockets to join an roster that wants to put their disappointing first round performance behind them and look forward to seeing what's in store in the 2014-15 season for Rick Carlisle's club.

In short, the Mavericks are focused on one thing: Trying to bring home another NBA title to Dallas.  The talent is already there, but can they put it together on the floor? Only time will tell.

Upcoming team previews in the "30 Teams in 30 Days" series

• Monday: Oklahoma City Thunder
• Tuesday: Denver Nuggets
• Wednesday: Utah Jazz
• Thursday: Phoenix Suns