Dallas Mavericks: Breaking Even Without Razors

Dirk and Mavericks have agreed not to shave until they break the .500 barrier.

It may not get them to the playoffs, but it’s a hell of a story for a team in desperate need of a gut check.

Presumably led by NBA veteran swingman Vince Carter and co-signed by point guard and former lottery selection O.J. Mayo, the Dallas Mavericks agreed to grow a beard until they reach .500.

Look out hockey, your traditional ‘NHL playoff beards’ are about to be trumped.

The mutual agreement amongst players is a welcome sight for Dallas fans. At 21-28 and 49 games left in the season, technically they aren’t that far away. A four or five game win streak, a couple of wins here and there, and by Game 65 the Mavericks just might break even.

The Ledger doubts it. It’s a viable goal, but improbable.

It’s not lack of faith, more so reality.

With 33 games remaining, Dallas has too many games against very good teams down the stretch. LA Clippers (1), LA Lakers (2), Brooklyn (2), San Antonio (1), Houston (2), OKC (1), Boston (1), and Chicago (1). Safe to say 11 sure losses over the next 2 months.

With Dallas’ inconsistent play thus far, it leaves just 22 games to get the beards off. This is the water-downed NBA, so crazier things can happen. Doable, but improbable.

So if it doesn’t happen, if they fail to reach .500, do the Dallas Mavericks bury their bearded faces in the sand as they have most of the season?

Absolutely not.

By agreeing to such outlandish braggadocio, the Dallas Mavericks have reached a level of unprecedented success yet to be seen this season.

Teamwork. Something even cheap skate owner Mark Cuban’s slush fund can’t buy.

Fans have been subjected to terrible team play, questionable defense, and lackluster ball protection. What little film the PR department has been able to add to the 2012 highlight reel has been subjected to isolated individual play.

With the ‘Grow The Beard Until We Get Above Water‘ deal, players instantly solidified a critical piece missing since the their 2010 NBA title run.

They became a team.

Regardless if Dallas reaches .500 this year, they struck a deadly blow to mediocrity.

The Ledger hopes Dallas reaches .500 sooner rather than later. Picturing replica ZZ Top members sprinting up and down the court is a scary thought.

The longer the beards get, the further away breaking even gets. Breaking even however, becomes secondary to the team bonding Dallas’ roster will experience over the next month or so. Better team play means a batter team product on the court.

It will not guarantee wins. It will guarantee unity. Something not evident during these trying times.

For a team stuck in neutral with little hope of making the playoffs, breaking even just may be the best thing that happens to the Dallas Mavericks this season.

A silly part of me hopes the beards stay put. It would mean the Dallas Mavericks never reach their unified pinnacle, but at the very least, we’d see a unified squad thirsting for a team win every night.

Put away the razors boys!