MAVS NEWS:

[mvossman]

Sometimes it sure does feel (already!) that the explanation is simple: "Clank, clank, I'm a tank!"

If we look at the recent past, the Mavs have always talked of winning and blue skies ahead -- even when they are tanking their butts off. So even if they talk about being great, I'm more focused on what they do rather than what they say.

Of course, they have not started tanking this early, in the past. But this will be their last opportunity for a great pick for some time, and some draft analysts are speaking of this draft class as historically good -- so if you want anywhere near the front of the line, you MUST start losing early. Is it possible they are headed that direction? 

Or are they just muddling along dealing with injuries and a total lack of chemistry? (Not only has much of the roster changed, including the engine that drove the play, but the coaching staff and system has completely changed as well. Not a good formula for winning, but with lots of confusion and no continuity, maybe....)

Its hard to imagine the directive from up top is to tank.  That seems like it would be an admission of failure for the "win now" trade.  The move would be to fire Nico (letting as much of the blame as possible fall on him) and reload across the board, but I don't know what the threshold is to pull that trigger.  

I think the reality is that your last paragraph is accurate, combined with a head coach who has never prioritized wins and losses early in the season regardless of the context.