The2011–12Dallas Mavericks season was the 32nd season of the franchise in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The Mavericks entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated theMiami Heat in six games in the2011 NBA Finals. They were attempting to win back-to-backNBA Finals, but wereswept in the first round of theNBA Playoffs by theOklahoma City Thunder (the team that the Mavericks defeated in last year's Western Conference finals in five games) in four games. The Thunder would go on to lose to theHeat in theFinals in five games.
Following their championship-winning 2010–2011 season, the Mavericks entered the offseason with six free agents; only one of those six players returned to play with the team in 2011–2012. Starting centerTyson Chandler was traded to the New York Knicks in a three-team sign-and-trade deal;[3] the Mavericks received guard Andy Rautins in return[4](in addition to a 2012 second-round pick and a traded player exception) and waived him shortly thereafter.[5] Forward Caron Butler signed a three-year deal worth $24 million with theLos Angeles Clippers.[6] On December 14, reserve guardJosé Juan Barea announced that he would join theMinnesota Timberwolves.[7] On December 19, reserve forwardPeja Stojaković announced his retirement.[8] GuardDeShawn Stevenson signed a one-year deal withNew Jersey.[9] Backup forwardBrian Cardinal re-signed with the Mavs.[10]
The Mavericks lost their first preseason game to theOklahoma City Thunder, with bothDirk Nowitzki andJason Kidd sitting the game out. With Kidd and Nowitzki back in the lineup but withoutJason Terry (illness),[19]Vince Carter andDelonte West they also lost the second and last preseason matchup against the Thunder. The Mavericks ended the preseason with a 0–2 record.
The 2011–12 NBA season began on December 25, 2011, and ended on April 26, 2012. Due to a lockout agreement, the season consisted of 66 games, rather than the standard 82. The Mavericks entered the season as defending champions. At the conclusion of the season, their record consisted of 36 wins and 30 losses. They finished seventh in the Western Conference and third in the Southwest Division.
The Mavericks opened their series againstOklahoma City Thunder on the first day of theplayoffs. The game was close throughout and the Mavs took the lead by seven with 2 minutes to go.Dirk Nowitzki turned the ball over several times in the crucial stretch and the team stayed scoreless on four straight possessions. With nine seconds to go, the Mavs had a one-point lead, whenKevin Durant hit a shot that bounced a couple of times on the rim and backboard and fell through with 1.5 seconds to go.Shawn Marion's attempt for a half court shot came too late and the Thunder took Game 1.[20] Game 2 was closeout again, even though the Mavs were down by 16 in the first half. They came back and took the lead in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was much of a freethrow contest,James Harden made all of his late in the game and both, Nowitzki andJason Terry missed his threes. Terry had two tries to send it to overtime, but missed. Thunder were up 2–0.[21] The Thunder took a commanding 3–0 lead after their blowout win in Game 3.[22] Despite having a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter the Mavs lost by six in Game 4 and were swept.[23]
Shawn Marion fractured his left little finger during the opening game against theMiami Heat but did not miss a game.[32] Marion was ill but played against thePhoenix Suns.[33]In a game againstSan Antonio,Jason Kidd was subbed out with under a minute to go in the first quarter and went straight into the Mavs' locker room and was diagnosed with a lower back injury and did not return to the game.[34] He missed the game atNew Orleans[35] and two more games.[36] He then missed the game at home againstMilwaukee[37] before returning versus theSacramento Kings.[38]Vince Carter injured his left foot, x-rays showed that it was a sprain.[39] He missed the next four games.[40] He returned againstUtah.[41]Dirk Nowitzki sat four games because of a sore knee.[42]Delonte West was out against Utah due to a harmstring injury.[41] Kidd left the Game versus Utah due to a strain calf[43] and missed more than a week.[44][45][46] Marion injured his knee againstOklahoma but did not miss a game.[47] He,Lamar Odom andBrendan Haywood, the latter two missed the game against Oklahoma, returned to play againstIndiana.[48]Jason Terry andRodrigue Beaubois were out against theDenver Nuggets.[49] Terry joined the team atNew York.[50]West went out against the Nuggets before halftime and had fractured, dislocated finger and missed 4–6 weeks.[51]Nowitzki left the game againstMemphis with a back injury and was listed day-to-day but returned for the next game.[52]Brandan Wright missed the game against Utah due to a concussion.[53]Haywood sprained his ankle at Oklahoma.[54] He sprained his knee againstCharlotte and missed five games.[55][56]Marion missed three games with a sore left knee.[57][58] Kidd and Odom both missed the Game against theClippers, Kidd with a groin injury which kept him out for a week and Odom was ill.[59] Odom returned against Memphis, one game later.[60] Beaubois missed the games at theLos Angeles Lakers and Jazz due to a right calf strain. He returned the next game against Houston. He dislocated his finger againstChicago but was able to return to the game.[61]
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