It wasn’t a great first week of the 2017-2018 season for the Dallas Mavericks.  Injuries on the court, tragedy off the court and a winless first three games.  Not exactly like they drew it up.  

Each Monday on Dallas Sports Fanatic this season, there will be a recap of what happened last week and a preview of the week ahead for the Mavericks.  Also, there will be a stock report of the two players whose stock is up or down that week.

Week One Record: 0-3
10/18: 117-111 L vs Atlanta Hawks
10/20: 93-88 L vs Sacramento Kings
10/21: 107-91 L @ Houston Rockets

Dallas was very fortunate to open up the season with two games at home against two teams projected to compete for the worst record in the league.  They didn’t take advantage of it at all.  Springy Hawks and Kings teams beat up the Mavs on the offensive glass to take down Dallas with late second-chance baskets to put them away.  

The latter two games saw the Mavericks trying to win without the likes of Dennis Smith Jr, fresh off his impressive debut (16 points and 10 assists), and Devin Harris.  Add that to the team still being without the services of Seth Curry, and the team’s supposed strength of capable guards suddenly became a weakness.

Stock Up
J.J. Barea: 13.7 PPG, 6 APG and 47% 3P%
The 33-year-old should just start being referred to as “Ol’ Reliable.”  With Seth Curry and then Devin Harris and then Dennis Smith Jr being unavailable, someone had to step up in the backcourt for Dallas and J.J. has done that and then some.  Whether it has been shooting from the outside or getting to the basket, Barea has provided a scoring spark Dallas has desperately needed to even remain remotely competitive through their first three games.  His role will be slightly decreased once this team is healthy, but it’s good to  know he still has efforts like this in the tank.

Nerlens Noel: 9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG
The big man had an incredible season opener effort with a 16 point, 11 rebound double-double in just 20 minutes.  The next two games weren’t as great, but he’s struggling to get more than 20 minutes per game from the hard-headed Rick Carlisle.  One would have to think that if Noel consistently got 30 minutes, he’d be able to show off exactly what it takes to get the max contract he demanded this summer.

Stock Down
Dirk Nowitzki: 7.3 PPG, 29% FG%
Please, please, please don’t let this be the version of Dirk Nowitzki that Mavs fans are forced to have burned into their memories.  

Nowitzki simply hasn’t been able to hit his shots on offense at the clip expected and isn’t enough of a force on the glass to play too many minutes for a team that already struggles so much in the rebounding department.  It’s a small sample size, but it’s hard not to be worried about what the Big German has left to offer at age 39.

Harrison Barnes: 19 PPG, 33% FG%
The lethal isolation game that served Barnes so well last season has completely deserted him through the first three games of the regular season.  Countless Mavericks possessions so far have ended in a contested mid-range jump shot from Barnes clanging off the rim.  Again, it seemed to work well for him last year, so he probably won’t go away from it soon, but it’s not pretty right now.

To his credit, Barnes has come out more aggressive and willing to put the referees in a tough spot by driving to the basket.  He has averaged 7 free throw attempts per game through the first three games; up from 4 attempted a night last season.

Week 2 Schedule
10/23 vs Golden State Warriors (1-2) 7:30 PM
10/25 vs Memphis Grizzlies (2-0) 7:30 PM
10/26 @ Memphis Grizzlies (2-0) 7:00 PM
10/28 vs Philadelphia 76ers (0-3) 7:30 PM

It doesn’t get any easier for the Mavericks.  They face going 0-4 right in the face when they host the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.  The Warriors could be without superstar Steph Curry after he pulled the stunt below in Memphis on Saturday night.

Steph Curry, the NBA's aw-shucks, humble superstar—who's just so wholesome & loveable—threw his pacifier directly at a ref & got ejected. pic.twitter.com/R4nb9PFPrE

— Brad Ripka (@bradripka) October 22, 2017

As of late Sunday night, no disciplinary action had been announced for Curry’s actions.

The Mavs will then play the rare home-and-home with the Memphis Grizzlies who are off to a good start after forcing Steph Curry into frustration during their victory over the Warriors on Saturday night.

Dallas will close out the week with a Saturday night home matchup with the currently winless 76ers.  Trust the process.  That’s all that can be said, right?

.@dallasmavs injury update: Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee effusion) & Devin Harris (personal reasons) are questionable Mon. vs. Golden State.

— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) October 22, 2017

Stay tuned to Dallas Sports Fanatic for injury updates leading up to tip-off Monday night.