When it comes to this intra-Texan, Southwest Division rivalry, much of the past four or five years have been defined by Maverick futility and getting shredded by human buzzsaw and perennial MVP candidate James Harden and his Houston Rockets.
Well, Harden and his cool beard have found greener pasture in Brooklyn, and the Southwest is now firmly in the Mavericks control. Dallas has a superstar of their very own in Luka Doncic, and the team has hopes of breaking through its recent spate of first round playoff exits. Houston, on the other hand, is firmly in rebuild mode.