Editing Dallas Mavericks (section)

====2001–2005: Run-and-gun Nellie ball====
[[File:Victory Plaza 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Mavericks began playing at [[American Airlines Center]] in 2001.]]
The [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]] was an excellent season for the Mavericks, with a 57–25 record and many sellout crowds. This season also saw a change in logo and colors, changing from the cowboy hat logo and green to a new horse logo and blue, almost on the same colors of fellow Dallas-based team, the [[Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys]]. Also, the team gained sleeker uniforms. Another blockbuster trade sent [[Juwan Howard]], [[Tim Hardaway]], and [[Donnell Harvey]] to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for [[Raef LaFrentz]], [[Nick Van Exel]], [[Tariq Abdul-Wahad]], and [[Avery Johnson]]. The Mavericks also made several attempts to sign the [[Utah Jazz]]'s star [[Karl Malone]]. The Mavericks swept the [[Kevin Garnett]]-led [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] in the [[2002 NBA playoffs|2002 playoffs]] but lost again in the second round to the [[Chris Webber]]-led [[2001–02 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento Kings]].

But it was only in the next season that the Mavericks finally broke through. The team started the [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03 season]] with a 14–0 record, which was one win shy of tying the NBA record set by the [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94]] [[1993–94 Houston Rockets season|Houston Rockets]] (15–0). The Mavericks finished with a 60–22 record in the regular season, impressing fans and critics with their sparkling offense. Since acquiring the "Big Three" of Nowitzki, Finley, and Nash, the Mavericks were a Western Conference power in waiting.<ref>{{cite news |title=Worst to First |url=http://www.nba.com/features/mavericks_timeline_030408.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=April 9, 2003 |access-date=June 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618031126/http://www.nba.com/features/mavericks_timeline_030408.html |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Finally, they led the team to the conference finals against the [[San Antonio Spurs]]. However, with the series tied 1–1, Dirk Nowitzki, the team's leading scorer, suffered a knee injury in game three that kept him out. This injury further worsened the Mavs' front-court depth problems (both of their backup centers were injured for the entire series), and the Spurs took the series in 6 games.

In [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04]], two blockbuster trades were announced. The Mavericks acquired [[Antawn Jamison]], [[Danny Fortson]], [[Jiří Welsch]], and [[Chris Mills (basketball)|Chris Mills]] from [[Golden State Warriors|Golden State]] in exchange for Nick Van Exel, [[Evan Eschmeyer]], Popeye Jones, [[Avery Johnson]], and [[Antoine Rigaudeau]]. Another high-profile trade sent Raef LaFrentz, Chris Mills, and Jiří Welsch to Boston for [[Antoine Walker]] and [[Tony Delk]]. Although the team struggled with chemistry, the Mavericks comfortably qualified for the playoffs. With the trio Nowitzki-Finley-Nash and [[NBA Sixth Man of the Year]] Jamison, the Mavericks continued their reputation as the NBA's best offensive team. Notable were two rookies, [[Josh Howard]] and [[Marquis Daniels]], who made an immediate impact. However, the Mavericks were eliminated quickly in the [[2004 NBA playoffs|2004 playoffs]], losing in the first round to the [[Chris Webber]]-led [[Sacramento Kings]], a better defensive team. The Mavericks management had to re-evaluate their strategy.

The [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]] saw trades which (among others) brought in robust center [[Erick Dampier]], combo guard [[Jason Terry]], speedy rookie point guard [[Devin Harris]], scoring machine [[Jerry Stackhouse]], and defensive stalwart [[Alan Henderson]]. Although the loss of All-Star Steve Nash via free agency visibly hurt the Mavericks' offense, the new acquisitions strengthened the team defense. The run-and-gun style of former times changed into a more balanced style of play. At the All-Star break, the Mavericks acquired [[Keith Van Horn]] for Calvin Booth and Henderson, the latter resigning only days later. Nowitzki added his third consecutive Euroscar during this season as well. On March 19, longtime coach Don Nelson stepped down, and his assistant Avery Johnson succeeded him. Under Johnson's tutelage, the Mavericks' defense became more vigorous, and they quickly qualified for the [[2005 NBA playoffs|2005 playoffs]] with an impressive 58–24 record. The Mavericks defeated the [[Houston Rockets]] in Round 1 of the playoffs in 7 games but then lost to the [[Phoenix Suns]] 4–2, led by former Maverick star [[Steve Nash]].