The 2004–05 NBA season was the Mavericks' 25th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Mavericks acquired Jason Terry from the Atlanta Hawks, and Jerry Stackhouse along with rookie Devin Harris from the Washington Wizards. The Mavericks got off to a fast start winning seven of their first eight games, holding a 35–16 record before the All-Star break. At midseason, the team acquired Keith Van Horn from the Milwaukee Bucks. However, on March 19, head coach Don Nelson stepped down and former Maverick Avery Johnson took over Nelson's duties for the remainder of the season. Under Johnson, the Mavericks won their final nine games of the season, finishing second in the Southwest Division with a 58–24 record, good for fourth place in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Mavericks lost the first two games against their in-state rival, the Houston Rockets, but managed to defeat them in seven games. The semi-finals against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns pitted Nowitzki against former teammate Steve Nash, who was named league MVP following the season. The Mavs would eventually lose the series in six games.[2] Following the season, Michael Finley signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs and Shawn Bradley retired.
For the season, the Mavs added an alternate green uniform, similar to the 1980s road uniform. They were designed by rapper Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and remained in use until 2009.
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