Staff Writer Aurelia Han gives a run-down on how Dallas sports teams are doing, what they need to work on and things you should look forward to.

Dallas Cowboys:

Only about halfway into the season, the injury-riddled team has lost more games than they did all of last year. Key players that were forced to take the sidelines due to injuries include quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant, but Bryant made his anticipated return on Sunday, Nov. 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Even with Bryant, the Cowboys have struggled all season with lack of production from the offense which then puts pressure on the defensive line. The defensive line, led by controversial player Greg Hardy, has made immense improvements from last year, but with the struggling offense, the Cowboys are subject to late game meltdowns. The biggest problem, however, is the quarterback. Romo with a fractured collarbone is expected to have another three weeks before he can return. Good news for Cowboy fans: he will start practice this week and is starting to throw the football. But until Romo returns, the team is switching between backup quarterbacks Matt Cassel and  Brandon Weeden who both must step up to the plate which they have yet to do. Cassel’s conservative throws and in general predictable plays against the Seahawks Sunday night allowed for the Seattle defense to stop plays. But thanks to a weak NFC East division, the Cowboys with a record of 2-5 are not out of the playoffs yet. But the window is closing, and if they don’t get one more win before the return of Romo, the season will be over before he can work his magic.

Dallas Mavs:

The start of a new season gives promise to the Mavs. Dallas said goodbye to Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis last year, but new faces, including John Jenkins and Javalee McGee, bring excitement to the fan base. However, as Dirk Nowitzki’s production continues to decline with age, the team must stop relying on him and must find a star that can replace him. So unfortunately, this may mean Dallas should not aim to make the playoffs so that they can get a good draft pick this summer. As a whole, the Mavericks also need to work on getting easy shots, being strong in the lane and improving rebounds. The team also welcomed back Chandler Parsons Sunday, Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers after a six-month hiatus due to a hybrid microfracture surgery on his right knee. Fans can also expect to see Coach and Hockaday dad Rick Carlisle for a few more years as they are now closing in on a new contract that will last until the 2020-2021 season. The win against the Lakers also marked his 340th coaching win with the Mavericks which sets a new record, surpassing Don Nelson’s 339 wins, for the franchise’s history. Overall, the Dallas Mavericks must find a new team identity as Dirk’s physical capabilities diminish.

Dallas Stars:

The Dallas Stars have an impressive 9-2-0 start and lead the Western Conference with their young and fast team. Notable players include forwards Radek Faksa and Mattias Janmark and goaltender Antii Niemi, who has made some key saves. With the Stars spending nearly $10.4 million on goaltending, Niemi and fellow goalie Kari Lehtonen must put up better numbers than they did last year. Effective goalkeeping will allow the Stars to win games and show their faces in the playoffs. Defenseman Jason Demers is also proving to be a consistent member of the team and a nice surprise both defensively and offensively. The Stars, like many other Dallas teams, have also lost key players to injuries, including Brett Ritchie who will be out for three to four months due to wrist surgery. But luckily, Dallas has made a notable improvement in third-period resilience from last year, and they are finally showing poise and confidence. Last year, they would consistently lose games in the third period, but now the team has learned how to regroup after losing a lead. A lot of this confidence and calmness comes from Johnny Oduya and Patrick Sharp, two players who won the Stanley Cup last season. However, the Stars do need to work on cleaning up little plays before the playoffs next spring. Stars fans have a lot to look forward to this year, and if the team can keep the momentum they started the year with, they will be looking at a very successful season.

Texas Rangers:

Losing three straight games to get knocked out of the playoffs, the Rangers’ season ended in heartbreak. Big names like Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre failed to produce when it counted the most. During the final loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, after a crazy and drama-packed seventh inning where Ranger Rougned Odor stole home after Blue Jay catcher, Russell Martin, hit the bat of Ranger’s right-fielder Shin Choo, the Jays’ fans booed and threw bottles, and tensions were high. However, Blue Jay Jose Batista hit a three-run homer which secured Toronto the game, and the Ranger’s season was over. However, overall the Rangers had a rather successful season. They became one of the top teams in the league even after they started with what looked like the franchise’s worst starts, and they successfully clenched the American League West. But there are even higher hopes for next year as the Rangers will be rallied around strong pitchers including Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish who was injured all season due to torn ligaments in his right elbow. Fans can also look forward to see Joey Gallo and Delino Deshields grow in their second and third years respectively in the major league level. And as the World Series ended this past weekend, new Rangers manager, Jeff Banister, is in the talks for manager of the year.

Aurelia Han – Staff Writer