West is looking more and more comfortable handling the ball, demonstrating superb passing skills to go along with his jump shot. With point guard Jason Kidd out with a back injury, West and Jason Terry have been filling in and getting more minutes on the court. Some fans in Dallas may have worried that West might have a problem playing with some passion, but if anything, West’s hard-nosed style and considerable skill has quieted any reservations about his attitude. He is a welcome addition to last year’s championship team.
Odom, too, has shown to be a good team player and is seen often supporting the team with big smiles and excellent play on the court. He has that first game with the L.A. Lakers marked on his calendar, when he will return to Los Angeles to prove his value to the team that allowed him to be picked up by the Mavericks just before the season started.
Team Chemistry
As an observer of team chemistry, it is impossible not to notice the Mavericks are coming together for another run at the championship. Coach Rick Carlisle is to be credited for his “team first” mentality. He has the notches on his belt to show it after successfully guiding the Mavericks to their first ever NBA championship a year ago.
Wednesday night’s game against the Boston Celtics will test the Mavericks greatly. Their chances for victory in Boston will be slim, but fans have to like where the team is headed.
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