The Mavs are about as good as we are, which is saying a lot since they're an 8-4 West Coast team. We played them super close and were a victim of some awful officiating. The only reason we lost though is that they are just a more veteran team and used that to their advantage down the stretch. I think Stevens will have a better career than Carlisle, but he did get out coached last night in the 4th.
I'm just glad that these games are interesting again this early in the season. It's been 3 seasons of waiting out bad contracts and low-level tanking. We should be actually competitive as of next year.