This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Dallas MavericksOverall: 24 Title track: 22 Ownership: 34 Coaching: 16 Players: 42 Fan relations: 24 Affordability: 32 Stadium experience: 22 Bang for the buck: 44 Change from last year: -2The Mavericks havent managed to get out of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs since they won the 2011 NBA title, but Mark Cubans franchise continues to fare well in these standings. Only the Spurs, Cavaliers and Grizzlies rank higher among NBA teams.Whats goodCoach Rick Carlisle remains the Mavs best asset, according to fans (hes ranked 16th overall and fourth in the NBA), and for good reason. Carlisle has only one NBA Coach of the Year honor -- from his first season as a head coach, in 2001-02 with the Detroit Pistons -- but hes earned the right to be considered at the top of the tier below Pop among the leagues coaches. The Mavs are 661-471 in eight seasons under Carlisle, whose brilliance during the 2011 title run deserves to be mentioned in conversations about the best postseason coaching performances in recent memory. Dont believe us? Ask LeBron James.Whats badNot much. The Mavs got above average marks in every category. They ranked lowest in bang for the buck, at 44th, and that might bother Cuban, who takes great pride in not raising the prices of the cheapest seats at the American Airlines Center. He relates to those fans because he fell in love with the NBA while sitting in the nosebleed sections of old Reunion Arena -- back when he had a loud voice but not billions of dollars. Another source of pride for the Dallas owner: The Mavs new, state-of-the-art practice facility, which opens this fall, was built without a penny of public financing.Whats newThe Mavs didnt move drastically in either direction in any category, demonstrating the consistency that this franchise is known for. The biggest changes: dropping 10 spots from 22 to 32 in affordability (though ticket prices are actually $6 below the league average) and moving up seven spots from 49 to 42 in players. Mavs fans can thank Kevin Durant, whose decision to go to Golden State led directly to Harrison Barnes and Andrew Boguts coming to Dallas, for saving the Mavs from a miserable summer after they again missed out on their initial top targets in free agency.Next: Oklahoma City Thunder?| Full rankings Günstig Schweiz Schuhe China . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Nike Schuhe Schweiz . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. http://www.airmaxoutlet.ch/ . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Günstig Air Max Schweiz . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Air Max Schweiz . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. ARLINGTON, Texas -- The ever-changing roster of the Texas Rangers figures to have a new look when the club begins a pivotal four-game series against Cleveland on Thursday at Globe Life Park.Texas, which is in first place in the American League West despite getting shutout four times this month, will try to add some pop to the offense as outfielder Carlos Gomez is expected to be added to the roster in time for the series opener.The former All-Star was released by Houston on Aug. 18 after a dismal start to the season. Texas signed Gomez two days later and sent him to Triple-A Round Rock, where he hit .308 in three games with a pair of extra-base hits and two RBI.Texas isnt expected Gomez to be a savior for an offense that has struggled this month despite adding Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Beltran. Hes not guaranteed a starting spot in an outfield that has two fixtures in Nomar Mazara and Ian Desmond.But Gomez, who was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014, was worth the risk for Texas despite his .210 average in 85 games with Houston this year.Texas manager Jeff Banister is hoping getting dumped by American League West rival Houston serves as motivation for Gomez.For a player of his caliber, for a team to not want you, then not be claimed, has to be a wake-up call, a punch to the nose, if you will, Banister said. Hes still passionate for the game. Can still run, throw, hit for power. He has an opportunity to show the rest of the baseball world that hes still a relevant player, with a team that has a lot to play for.The firstt-place Indians have a lot to play for, too.dddddddddddd The only team with a better record in the AL than the Indians is Texas. Cleveland comes into the series 5-5 in its last 10 games and losers of consecutive games in Oakland.While the Indians have a 5 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central, they know theyve got to get things going against a Texas team that is 39-20 at Globe Life Park and leads Seattle by 6 1/2 in the West.Like the Rangers, Cleveland is in an offensive downturn. The Indians scored three runs in their three games against Oakland.Hopefully we just had like three days of amnesia, Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. Those things happen. Its not fun when it does, but it happens. Fortunately we won one game 1-0, but we have to give them some (the Athletics) some credit. They did a number on us.While the Indians may not be hitting the ball well, the series in Texas will provide one Cleveland player with a chance to play where hes had a lot of success. Mike Napoli helped the Rangers to the World Series in 2011 and to the playoffs last year before signing with the Indians. This series will be the first for him in Texas since the postseason.Its a place that Ill always love, Napoli said. But Im going there to compete and try to help our team win in any way. Ive got a lot of friends on the other side, but when I step across the lines its time to compete and try to win. ' ' '