DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Lots of Dallas Mavericks fans are freaking out on Twitter due to the team's recent six-game losing streak. If you're not one of them, just trust me, I've seen it.
Thankfully, for those fans who are freaking out about the team's struggles, they beat the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night to end their losing skid.
If that didn't make you feel any better, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined the GBag Nation today on 105.3 The Fan to ease your concerns.
The Mavericks had high expectations placed upon them entering the season. Star point guard Luka Doncic was crowned as the favorite to win league MVP, and the team was expected to make a jump into contention in the loaded Western Conference.
The team got out to a decent 4-4 start without star big man Kristaps Porzingis, who was nearing a return from offseason knee surgery.
And then COVID-19 happened.
The Mavs lost five of their key rotation players for several games due to an outbreak within the team, and their record suffered because of it.
The team has finally made it through the tough stretch and had their full roster available to them for the first time of the season in Monday's loss to the Suns.
With a record of 9-13 and the entire roster back to full strength, Cuban says he's feeling very optimistic that you'll see a much better basketball team on the floor.
"I'm expecting us to play really well and to stay healthy for these next 50 games. There's still 50 games left, and there's a lot that can happen. There's no reason to panic, there's no reason to change our expectations," Cuban said.
"We lost that game when Devin Booker hit a last-second shot, and you start to see some of it (better play). Then last night, you start to see even more of it. And realize four of those guys really aren't in the type of shape they are going to be in going forward. Now, it gets a little bit easier because we have seven home games in a row. Even when we travel, for the guys who are healthy, you're stuck in a hotel room. You're not allowed to leave except to go pick up your meal, you go and maybe have a Zoom call if you can't do a shootaround. And then go to the game, travel somewhere else, and do it all over again. Every team is going through that, but there's a lot more to this season than people realize.
"So to answer your question, I'm still very positive, and I still think there's a lot of good things (ahead for us). Now, with this homestand, we have some continuity where guys can come in and work out. In two weeks, we'll finally have two days off in a row, and we haven't had two days off in a row in forever. And being able to just go to your own house, sleep in your own bed, act a little normal inside your own house, is huge for our guys."
Cuban also discussed Luka Doncic's future in Dallas, the team's three-point woes, and more. Listen to the entire interview below.
