Should Mavs consider tanking to 6th or 7th seed to avoid first round matchup with Clippers?

[Rodwilliams]

No one wants to be in the play in but at the same time no one wants to face Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers in the first round either. Kawhi is arguably the best playoff performer when healthy. Luka is great too but Kawhi has alot of help on his roster as well. I wonder if Mavs will consider losing to drop down to 6th or 7th to avoid clippers.

[Dirk]

We only tank to keep our picks.

Should the Clippers tank to avoid Luka, Kyrie, Exum, PJail Washington?

[lambchop]

Luka has always looked good against the Clippers in the POs and that was without Kyrie and this stronger roster.
Best case scenario would be for them to face OKC, but IMO if they tank, they risk facing Denver in the 1st round. So I'd rather stick with LAC.

[Homer38]

No

[Pelly24]

I think they would beat the clippers. I don't think the clippers can guard Luka or Kyrie, but the mavs have people that can guard harden and pg, and the clippers aren't doing well as of late

[Petergrifindor]

They need to win them.

Revenge.

[ChipotleWest]

We're very close to clinching at least 6. I wouldn't do it to avoid Clippers per say, but I'd do it to make sure Luka is 100% healthy (he's had a nagging knee injury) just sit him once we clinch top 6. Who cares if we get 6th, but don't want 7th and have to be a play in.

[og15]

Sounds like a terrible plan. If they can't beat this Clippers roster with their poor defense, then it's not like they are going to do anything in the playoffs anyways.

[ChipotleWest]

Saw a graphic that it's 95% that Mavs will face Clippers.

[leolozon]

The 6th seed is certainly better than the 5th seed considering that the Nuggets are 1st too. The Mavs probably won’t tank, even if they should sit Luka and Kyrie some games. One is injured and the other is injury prone.

Still, there’s something wrong if having a lower seed gets you better match ups. I wish the league did something about it. Letting the top seeds choose their match ups is an easy solution. So could be reseeding in the 2nd round. Like that tanking for the 6th seed wouldn’t potentially make you avoid the 1st seed.

Let’s make the RS count more.

[mademan]

Not to tank, but after clinching 6, they should shut down Lukai and let the chips fall where they may. Theyre playing multiple tanking teams, so they'll probably still end up 5 tho

[NyKnicks1714]

Should they tank? No, probably not.

But 6th is easily more desirable than 5th if Denver holds onto the top seed. Clippers/Nuggets is a much harder path than MIN/OKC...and unlike Denver, MIN and OKC can realistically lose in the 1st round, so Dallas would have a shot at home court in the 2nd round.

[mademan]

Should they tank? No, probably not.

But 6th is easily more desirable than 5th if Denver holds onto the top seed. Clippers/Nuggets is a much harder path than MIN/OKC...and unlike Denver, MIN and OKC can realistically lose in the 1st round, so Dallas would have a shot at home court in the 2nd round.

If Denver catches a hot Suns or Mavs, they can definitely lose in the first round. Especially if Murray keeps being in an out like he has been all season

[NyKnicks1714]

Should they tank? No, probably not.

But 6th is easily more desirable than 5th if Denver holds onto the top seed. Clippers/Nuggets is a much harder path than MIN/OKC...and unlike Denver, MIN and OKC can realistically lose in the 1st round, so Dallas would have a shot at home court in the 2nd round.

If Denver catches a hot Suns or Mavs, they can definitely lose in the first round. Especially if Murray keeps being in an out like he has been all season

Well obviously in this scenario Dallas wouldn't be playing them, lol. But yes, I do think PHX is the only team that has a decent chance against Denver in the 1st round. Not a great one though. Lakers/Warriors/Kings/Pelicans do not, but I can see the Lakers or Warriors upsetting OKC or MIN.

[Maverick41]

I can understand tanking to avoid playing the Nuggets. Tanking to avoid player the Clippers? No.

[Harry Garris]

I think the Mavs should want this matchup, actually.

Since the last time these two teams matched up in the playoffs, which the Mavs very nearly won and the Clippers needed arguably the greatest individual first round playoff performance of all time from Kawhi to scrape by, the Mavs are now a better team... and the Clippers are in my opinion significantly worse now than they were in 2021.

[One Last Shot]

Every higher seeded teams in the West should try to tank or win just to avoid Mavs in the 1st Round of playoffs.

[MrGoat]

I wouldn't say tank but I'll actually be very annoyed if Luka suits up in their next game

[ChipotleWest]

Should they tank? No, probably not.

But 6th is easily more desirable than 5th if Denver holds onto the top seed. Clippers/Nuggets is a much harder path than MIN/OKC...and unlike Denver, MIN and OKC can realistically lose in the 1st round, so Dallas would have a shot at home court in the 2nd round.

If Denver catches a hot Suns or Mavs, they can definitely lose in the first round. Especially if Murray keeps being in an out like he has been all season

Denver has an easy schedule and is likely to get 1 seed while Mavs almost have top 6 locked up. It's very unlikely to two meet in the first round. Second round is certainly possible.

[Yuri36]

I think the Mavs should want this matchup, actually.

Since the last time these two teams matched up in the playoffs, which the Mavs very nearly won and the Clippers needed arguably the greatest individual first round playoff performance of all time from Kawhi to scrape by, the Mavs are now a significantly better team... and the Clippers are in my opinion worse now than they were in 2021.

Fixed it for you