Alright, let’s talk about the 2014 Mavs. That season, the 2013-2014 one ending in ’14, sticks in my mind for a few reasons. I’d decided to really get back into following them closely that year, more than just catching scores.
Getting Started Watching Them Again
So, I made it a point. Tried to catch most games on TV, or at least keep up with the highlights and chatter online. It wasn’t like some complex project, just, you know, committing to watching the team properly. They had brought in Monta Ellis, which was interesting. Pairing him with Dirk Nowitzki seemed like it could be fireworks or a mess, honestly. You never know with those big moves.
Following the Season’s Flow
The process was pretty straightforward: check the schedule, tune in when they played. Some nights it was easy, background noise while doing other stuff. Other nights, especially closer games, I was glued to it.
Key things I remember watching unfold:
- Dirk was still Dirk. Just amazing to watch him operate, even as he was getting older. Still the main guy.
- Monta Ellis really did bring energy. He had that “Monta have it all” vibe sometimes, taking wild shots, but man, he could score. It made the offense pretty explosive.
- Jose Calderon was running the point. Solid, maybe not flashy, but he could shoot.
- Vince Carter off the bench! That was fun. Still had moments where he looked like vintage Vince.
- The team could score, like, a lot. Games were often high-scoring shootouts. Defense? Well, that wasn’t really their strong suit, felt like they were often just trying to outgun the other team.
It was a bit of a rollercoaster. They’d look great for a stretch, beat good teams, then drop a game you thought they should win. Typical regular season stuff, I guess. But the offense was generally fun to watch night in and night out.
The Playoff Push and That Spurs Series
Then came the playoffs in spring 2014. They ended up as the 8th seed, drawing the San Antonio Spurs. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gave them much of a chance. The Spurs were a machine that year, went on to win the whole thing.
But watching that series, game by game, was something else. They didn’t just roll over. They fought hard. I remember setting aside time for every single game, couldn’t miss it.
That first round was the real story:
- Game 3. Vince Carter hits that unbelievable corner three at the buzzer to win it. I jumped off the couch, yelled probably. Just an incredible moment.
- They pushed the Spurs, the eventual champs, to seven games. SEVEN. As the 8th seed.
- Every game felt close, intense. It wasn’t just Dirk carrying; everyone chipped in. Monta had big moments, Brandan Wright played well, Devin Harris gave good minutes.
Losing Game 7 was tough, sure. You always want your team to win. But honestly, after that series, I wasn’t even that mad. It felt like they’d overachieved, showed incredible heart against a way better team on paper. It was impressive to watch them battle like that.
Looking Back
So yeah, that 2014 Mavs experience, mostly the end of that 13-14 season, was memorable. Not because they won a title, but because they were exciting, had some great moments, and showed real grit in the playoffs when it mattered. Watching them go toe-to-toe with that Spurs team was the highlight. Just a solid, fun team to follow that year, and that playoff series was pure unexpected drama.
