Editing Dallas Mavericks (section)

====2006–2007: Nowitzki wins MVP====
After an end to their playoff run in 2006, the Mavericks sought retribution in the new season. After a 0–4 start, the Mavericks went on a historic run and posted a 52–5 record over their next 57 games. They finished the [[2006–07 NBA season|regular season]] with a record of 67–15, good enough to be tied for sixth place all-time, first in the league, and the number 1 seed in the [[2007 NBA playoffs|Western Conference playoffs]]. [[Dirk Nowitzki]] had a dominant season, further cementing his place as one of the game's elite players; he won his fifth consecutive Euroscar during the season and was named the NBA MVP at its end. [[Josh Howard]] was named to the all-star team.

However, the first-place Mavericks were defeated in six games by the eighth-seeded [[2006–07 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]]. This outcome is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/news/billrussell_postseason.html#070501 |title=NBA.com: NBA.com Blog: Bill Russell |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |access-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111103422/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2007/news/billrussell_postseason.html#070501 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Mavs were exposed defensively, and the Warriors systematically dismantled the Mavericks by exploiting match-ups and preying on Dirk Nowitzki's weaknesses. The Mavericks went 67–12 against the rest of the league and 0–3 against Golden State on the year. The Warriors were coached by [[Don Nelson]], the immediate past manager and coach of the Mavericks. He had been appointed head coach of the Warriors in the 2006–07 mid-season.

Nowitzki's winning of regular season MVP honors and his team's first-round exit created an awkward dilemma regarding the MVP trophy ceremony. Traditionally, MVP awards are given to the winner in a ceremony between the first and second rounds of the playoffs. It is believed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2866994 |title=Mavs' Nowitzki will receive MVP trophy next week |date=May 11, 2007 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-date=October 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001015233/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2866994 |url-status=live}}</ref> that the league opted to put some distance between the MVP presentation and the Mavericks' elimination against the Warriors. By the time Nowitzki collected his MVP award, nearly two weeks had elapsed since the Mavs were ousted.