© getty
DALLAS MAVERICKS (40-29)
Form: The negative run (1-5) was ended in time, but recently things went in the other direction again (5-1), the highlight of which was the dramatic win against Denver. It showed what Dallas is capable of as they didn’t make threes that night either. The offensive engine has been humming for weeks, and the Mavs have now held their opponents under 105 points in three of four games. As fickle as this team is, they can beat anyone in the playoffs with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Worries: It remains unclear what the Mavs’ best lineup is. Who ends up playing alongside Irving and Doncic? Against Denver it was the jumbo lineup of PJ Washington, Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber. However, it was borderline because Washington and Kleber are simply not hitting anything from outside at the moment. Of the remaining rotation players, only Dante Exum (45.5 percent) and Derrick Jones Jr. (42.3 percent) have cracked 35 percent since the ASG, which could be too little. Tim Hardaway Jr.’s slump also continues (36.2 percent FG).
- Wichtige Head-to-Heads: Clippers (1-2), Pelicans (2-2), Kings (0-2), Suns (2-1), Lakers (2-1), Warriors (2-0)
- Strength of Schedule: .472 (Platz 28)
- Back-to-Backs: 3
- Remaining key games: Kings (A), Kings (A), Warriors (A), Warriors (H)
- Games against teams with a negative record: Jazz (H), Jazz (A), Rockets (A), Hawks (H), Rockets (H), Hornets (A), Pistons (H)
Prediction: Dallas has its fate in its own hands. Even a split in Sacramento could be enough, as the Mavs have by far the easiest remaining program of all the West teams. In games against teams with a negative record, Dallas is 21-5, bettered only by the Clippers and Denver in the West. Seven such games are still on the program. There are only five home games left, but there are still a lot of work to be done away from home. But what is a problem: With the same record, Dallas has to win both games in Sac-Town, after which the conference record would be decided; Dallas is currently four wins short. 48-34 (7th place in the West)
2024-03-20 08:49:47
#playoff #race #crazy #west #Dallas #Mavericks #fate #hands
