MEMPHIS -- Dirk Nowitzki, a man prone to pessimism, noted after his Dallas Mavericks extended their winning streak to six games that they had played a relatively easy schedule.
Nowitzki knew that was about to change, pointing to this week’s four-day road trip with stops in Oklahoma City, Memphis and San Antonio as a potential measuring stick for the Mavs.
No grand conclusions should be drawn from a couple of November games, but the Mavs are well aware that they have a lot of work to do if they’re going to establish themselves as a legitimate threat to do playoff damage in the West.