RealGM

We could play any of these 4 teams depending on how the rest of the RS plays out. We could finish as high as 3 or as low as 6 which takes PHX and MEM out of the running. I assume most of us would prefer HC advantage but if you could choose an opponent, who would you want the Mavericks to face in the 1st round?

Personally I would prefer GSW because they have an abundance of injuries currently and are in freefall. Even if Steph comes back, he won't be 100% and they have zero shotblocking or size to take advantage of our frontcourt. I can see Draymond defending Luka well but even he looks really hobbled right now. It would also be a great story in the media as it would be easily painted as the "passing of the torch" series. While I'm a mffl, I'm also a basketball fan and that's a series I would be ecstatic to watch.

It's unlikely Mavs will face GSW. It looks like it's going to be Utah with a slight chance on getting Denver or maybe even T'wolves. Out of all three, i would prefer Denver. Abuse Jokic with Luka PnR and you're half way there.

Archx wrote:It's unlikely Mavs will face GSW. It looks like it's going to be Utah with a slight chance on getting Denver or maybe even T'wolves. Out of all three, i would prefer Denver. Abuse Jokic with Luka PnR and you're half way there.

I think it's still a possibility but if I were a betting man, I agree that Utah or Denver seems more likely.

Denver would be my 2nd. I know Jokic will obliterate our frontcourt but I think if we let him get 40-50 points and stay at home with the rest of the team, I like our chances. I don't see Jokic having the cardio to be able to play 40+ minutes of offense carrying AND defending Luka's PnR every possession. It's too much to ask of him. This changes if Murray and MPJ comes back and looks like at least 80% of themselves but as of right now, that does not seem to be the case.

I would prefer DEN. Pretty much 0% chance Murray is back for the 1st round. MPJ was supposed to be back by end of March, but he didn't play tonight. Even if MPJ comes back next game, he's on a minutes restriction and won't be back in mid-season form by the start of the playoffs.

You take Joker away from the current DEN active roster, and it's an S show. The rest of that roster can't stretch the floor (minus Forbes who plays 17 mpg), they can't hit FTs, and they never finish Joker's passes. He's a 1 man show. That doesn't work in the playoffs, as we've seen with Luka the past 2 playoffs.

Mavs vs DEN is a ticket to round 2 imo.

As another poster said I really don't see GS happening so give me Denver.

Sent from my SM-G960U using RealGM Forums mobile app

ejs78 wrote:As another poster said I really don't see GS happening so give me Denver.

Sent from my SM-G960U using RealGM Forums mobile app

I believe Warriors falling to 6 is not that unlikely. They have brutal schedule, Suns, Kings and teams playing for playoffs/play-in. They can easily go 1:5, considering how bad they're playing at the moment.

Mavs won't be favoured against anyone, but it's a tossup against DEN.
Last team I want to face is the Jazz, the Warriors, then Wolves, then DEN.

Sent from my SM-N986B using RealGM mobile app

Bob8 wrote:

ejs78 wrote:As another poster said I really don't see GS happening so give me Denver.

Sent from my SM-G960U using RealGM Forums mobile app

I believe Warriors falling to 6 is not that unlikely. They have brutal schedule, Suns, Kings and teams playing for playoffs/play-in. They can easily go 1:5, considering how bad they're playing at the moment.

It'll come down to Curry, if he's back after the Jazz game then they are 3/4, if not, yeah, it's totally plausible, they lost all their game since he went down except Miami, when the HC was fighting their star.

Dont really care tbh. Want to get 3rd tho, want to avoid suns til wcf, cause u never know

I'll take either the Jazz or the Nuggets. The reason being, that both teams have atrocious perimeter defenders.
The Jazz in particular have looked so mentally soft as of lately.

Warriors and to a lesser extent the Wolves, have rangy, tough, & physical defenders that will make life tough for our ball handlers.

Is anybody else concerned about GSW dropping to 6th & the Mavs facing a healthy Steph in round 1?

DJ_3_Ball wrote:Is anybody else concerned about GSW dropping to 6th & the Mavs facing a healthy Steph in round 1?

Me.... I think GSW is the best team in the west.

41Dirk41 wrote:

DJ_3_Ball wrote:Is anybody else concerned about GSW dropping to 6th & the Mavs facing a healthy Steph in round 1?

Me.... I think GSW is the best team in the west.

If they're firing on all cylinders, they kinda are. They looked pretty good tonight even though they lost a close one to PHX.

Klay has not impressed, but Jordan Poole has. Draymond played great tonight, and Steph has a sprained ankle. It doesn't sound like it's all that serious. In fact, he might be back for the last game or two of the season as a warm up for the playoffs.

I really don't wanna see GSW in the 1st round. I think the Mavs steamroll DEN or UTAH. Let GSW get in the 4/5 matchup & let PHX and GSW duke it out in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

I'd much rather see the Mavs face MEM in the 2nd round or maybe even an upset like Minny. We could have a favorable path to the WCF... but probably not if we gotta face a healthy Steph in round 1. Geez. Makes me nervous.

Assuming Curry will come back relatively healthy when the playoff start, the obvious choice will be DEN. Honestly, DEN w/o Murray and MPJ can't beat any of the WEST top 6 team (PHX/MEM/DAL/GSW/UTAH/MIN) in a 7 game series.

People are underrating the Jazz, the Jazz combine 2 of the worst matchups for the Mavs, elite rim protection, and 4 lights out shooters on the perimeter, and another one off the bench, Jazz are my least favourite matchup, Mavs need to go absolutely nuts from 3 to beat them.

KhalilS wrote:People are underrating the Jazz, the Jazz combine 2 of the worst matchups for the Mavs, elite rim protection, and 4 lights out shooters on the perimeter, and another one off the bench, Jazz are my least favourite matchup, Mavs need to go absolutely nuts from 3 to beat them.

I don't believe there's a lot of difference. Jazz on paper look good, but they're psychologically the worst. Jokic on the other hand is a master of close games. Mavs just need to secure 3rd place.

Yeah, 3rd seed and 50+ wins is a huge psychological advantage, for the 1st time in Luka's NBA career. Mavs are no longer an underdog, that's the only reason Utah is where they are, roster wise they are 2nd to the Suns only, they are dysfunctional, but you never know when they can pull it off.

BIll Simons and his sidekick mention that facing Utah would be favorable to the Mavs. Jazz have small perimeter players that can be bullied. Gobert, over the course of a series, can be neutralized.
;ab_channel=BillSimmons