Dirk wrote:... With that said, I look at the home games and feels like they're all winnable given how this team looked the past two games. They won't win them all of course, but feels like the Mavs can beat any of those teams.
Who are the teams that are definitely worse/out of the playoffs in the West besides the Warriors?
Going into the year, I only looked at Phoenix, Kings,Pelicans and OKC (if they didn't compete) as definitely being worse than the Mavs.
I think San Antonio and Portland will miss the playoffs this year. Going into the season, I think there was some question about San Antonio making the playoffs. People saying things like "might this be the year?", but defaulting back to "It's the Spurs. The streak won't end this season." Ugh, yeah it will. No more Timmy, Tony, Manu, or Kawhi. The Spurs are bad. DeRozan and LMA don't work well together. They're out imo. Unless maybe they retool big time at the trade deadline.
Portland is out too imo. That's a team everyone had penciled in for a playoff spot. That's big because it opens up one more spot for the Mavs. Carmelo isn't going to make the difference. I kinda feel like Carmelo would of helped the Mavs, because we're so weak at our 3rd scorer. But, I think the extras that come along with Melo would of made it not work. I can't really put my finger on it, but POR hasn't got it going this year. It just seems like no Zach Collins, no Nurkic, and Whiteside on the court are all big time negatives for them. I think by the time they get it together, they'll have dug a hole too deep for them to dig out from.
Memphis won't make the playoffs. Not as competitive as the West is. OKC won't make it. I don't even think the Thunder Front Office wants to make it; nor should they want to make it. New Orleans has too many injuries & is too young imo.
I think you have to seriously wonder if Minnesota and/or Phoenix will hang around. I think both of those teams are 50/50. Sacramento is in the same boat imo. I think the Mavs are in that boat too. I like the Mavs chances the best because they have the best player among those 4 teams. Luka gets them in imo.
I can't really see LAL, DEN, HOU, LAC, or UTH missing the playoffs. Maybe LAL or DEN if they have major injuries come their way, but that's unlikely.
That leaves 3 spots. It's between DAL, SAC, MIN, PHX, and maybe POR, SAS or NO surprise us and jump back in the race.
Mavs are in the best position, though. They have a chance to build a lead. They could potentially be 8-10 games over .500 at the All Star break if they play well and get a little luck on their side. They could be sitting with the 5th or the 6th seed in the West. Could make the Buyers or Sellers question real easy on the front office. Which, for the Mavs, it's Buy no doubt, but if they're 8 games over .500 and 6th in the West at the trade deadline, makes the FO more inclined to feel comfortable buying a bigger piece.
MIN, PHX, SAC, POR, SAS, and NO all have serious work to do in order to have a record over .500 and a good seed in the West in hand by the All Star break. From a Mavs' perspective every game vs those 6 opponents is like NFC East games for the Cowboys. Division games. VERY Important. Swing games for the Mavs.
Oh & I think the Mavs are significant dogs vs BOS. The Celtics have 5 days off before that game. The Celtics handled the Mavs the best of any opponent so far, and Tatum was awful in that game. Granted KP laid an egg too, but that's the one game so far this year where I thought "Mavs probably won't win this one". But, I agree with the rest. Mavs have a shot in every game. As long as 77 is on the floor, the Mavs have a good shot!
