Storylines to watch in the 2023-2024 Mavs season

Driving the news: The Mavs kick off the 2023-2024 season in San Antonio tonight against the newly Wemba-nized Spurs.

Last season: After a deep postseason run in 2022, Dallas finished last year with a losing record and missed the playoffs.

The big picture: It's incumbent upon this franchise to win at least one championship during Dončić's tenure, so the Mavs spent the offseason trying to solidify the team's ailing defense.

• Dallas drafted 7-foot-1 power forward Dereck Lively II in the first round and traded for former Celtics star Grant Williams and former Kings center Richaun Holmes.

Storylines to watch: All eyes will be on Dončić and Irving. How will they play together? Will Irving's sometimes-eccentric offcourt behavior be a distraction?

• The Mavs also added former Utah Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen to their staff. He played a big role in the development of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Can he help Dallas' fledgling D?

• If the team gets off to a rough start, how long will Jason Kidd last as head coach?

Expectations: Las Vegas oddsmakers have the Mavs as the ninth most likely team to win it all this year.

• But wise North Texas resident and former Mavs-killer Shaquille O'Neal predicts the Mavs will win this season's championship.