The official 2015-2016 Dallas Mavericks season watch thread

[jpotter33]

There's still an outside chance that Dallas could miss the playoffs.

If Dallas would lose out, Utah wins at least two of their remaining three games, and Houston wins out, then there could be a three-way tie where Dallas would lose the tiebreaker.

Even if Utah won out, Dallas lost out, and Houston won out, then Dallas would lose the tiebreaker to Houston.

The schedule is actually favorable toward Dallas missing the playoffs, too, but it will all depend upon who rests their guys down the stretch:

Dallas - @ LAC, @ Utah, vs SAS

Utah - @ Denver, vs Dallas, @ LAL

Houston - vs LAL, @ Minnesota, vs Sacramento

[chilidawg]

There's still an outside chance that Dallas could miss the playoffs.

If Dallas would lose out, Utah wins at least two of their remaining three games, and Houston wins out, then there could be a three-way tie where Dallas would lose the tiebreaker.

Even if Utah won out, Dallas lost out, and Houston won out, then Dallas would lose the tiebreaker to Houston.

The schedule is actually favorable toward Dallas missing the playoffs, too, but it will all depend upon who rests their guys down the stretch:

Dallas - @ LAC, @ Utah, vs SAS

Utah - @ Denver, vs Dallas, @ LAL

Houston - vs LAL, @ Minnesota, vs Sacramento

It's possible, but Houston seems like they're imploding.  I give it a 1% chance of happening.  538 says Mavs have a better than 99% chance of making the playoffs.

Suns winning and moving the Nets into the 3rd slot takes the sting away from the Mavs making the playoffs.

[jmen788]

That outside chance still exists that the Mavs miss the playoffs, so I will cling to that until it still exists lol. BUT if they make the playoffs, the pick might actually go to 17 if Memphis loses out and they both finish 4 games over .500...

[jpotter33]

Mavs at Clippers just starting. Clippers playing all of their guys to get continuity with Griffin, and they're up on the Mavs 2-1 in the season series.

This very well could come down to the last game of the year for the Mavs, who unfortunately will be playing San Antonio who is likely to rest their main guys.

[Boris Badenov]

Mavs at Clippers just starting. Clippers playing all of their guys to get continuity with Griffin, and they're up on the Mavs 2-1 in the season series.

This very well could come down to the last game of the year for the Mavs, who unfortunately will be playing San Antonio who is likely to rest their main guys.

I wouldn't assume this, I did a quick check of the last few years and it seems like sometimes Pop rests his guys 2-4 games out, and then plays full strength in the last game.

I didn't do the full investigation (i.e. of which years seeding really mattered) but it gave me hope.

[jpotter33]

Mavs at Clippers just starting. Clippers playing all of their guys to get continuity with Griffin, and they're up on the Mavs 2-1 in the season series.

This very well could come down to the last game of the year for the Mavs, who unfortunately will be playing San Antonio who is likely to rest their main guys.

I wouldn't assume this, I did a quick check of the last few years and it seems like sometimes Pop rests his guys 2-4 games out, and then plays full strength in the last game.

I didn't do the full investigation (i.e. of which years seeding really mattered) but it gave me hope.

That would be awesome, because that would greatly increase the chances of Dallas missing the playoffs. As long as LAC takes care of business today and Utah takes care of business tomorrow night at home, then we should have a pretty decent chance of SAS knocking them off in the last game of the season. Our biggest worry is probably Houston winning out. Even with a decently easy schedule in vs LAL (up 5 at the moment), @ Minny, and vs Sacramento, they still might choke and not win out, which would put Dallas in the playoffs no matter what.

[jpotter33]

All good so far -

Houston beat LAL in Houston

Dallas lost to LAC in LA

Utah tied with Denver in Denver.

It's not absolutely necessary that Utah wins in Denver, but they'd have to win their next two for sure.

[saltlover]

All good so far -

Houston beat LAL in Houston

Dallas lost to LAC in LA

Utah tied with Denver in Denver.

It's not absolutely necessary that Utah wins in Denver, but they'd have to win their next two for sure.

Wizards won too. If the Mavs miss the playoffs and the Wiz win out, it would be a coinflip between those two for pick #12 (or maybe #13 pending Chicago.)

[jmen788]

Regarding the Mavs pick, last night went pretty much perfectly.

The game tonight (DAL @ UTAH) scares me because the Mavs have Deron Williams back, may be getting Barea back, and they always seem to win games like these that they shouldn't... BUT if the Jazz can PLEAAAASE take care of business, then there is a real shot at pick 12 or 13 pending the outcomes of the Rockets last two games and the Wizards last two.

On the flip side, the Mavs could actually get the 5 seed in the west if they win out, Memphis loses out, and they finish tied in the standings with the Blazers.

[saltlover]

Regarding the Mavs pick, last night went pretty much perfectly.

The game tonight (DAL @ UTAH) scares me because the Mavs have Deron Williams back, may be getting Barea back, and they always seem to win games like these that they shouldn't... BUT if the Jazz can PLEAAAASE take care of business, then there is a real shot at pick 12 or 13 pending the outcomes of the Rockets last two games and the Wizards last two.

On the flip side, the Mavs could actually get the 5 seed in the west if they win out, Memphis loses out, and they finish tied in the standings with the Blazers.

Scares is an interesting word. It's a game we need them to lose, period, scary or no.  Good news is it's at Utah, so advantage Jazz.  Also, it will be interesting to see how Deron performs in a back-to-back.  He's not healed, just recovered enough so that he can manage his pain.  He played 29 minutes yesterday -- I would be surprised if he goes that many tonight.

It's the Grizzlies who scare me.  That team is an infirmary unit, and their final two games are against the Clippers and Warriors.  I'd like to keep the Mavs pick at no worse than 16.  The Warriors are going for the record win, so here's hoping the Clippers rest everyone on Tuesday.  Portland should be able to beat the Nuggets if seeding is on the line, so I'm less worried about the Mavs getting that high.

[jpotter33]

The more I watch Dirk, the more I can't stand him. He complains about every single call that doesn't go his way, and he expects every single call to go his way because he's "Dirk." And he's pretty mouthy. I'm sure me pretty heavily rooting against him for our pick the last several months has something to do with this disdain for him, but, man, he just ticks me off every time I watch a Dallas game anymore.

[jpotter33]

Dallas up 4 at the half.

[trickybilly]

Utah doing a great job of crapping the bed

[Kane3387]

Pick is looking like 17. Could be 20 with absolute bad luck. Remember record tie breakers don't matter. If a team finishes with the same record as another team than coin flip comes into play to decide draft order.

What a shame since two weeks ago it was looking like it could be pick 12.

[trickybilly]

Ingles has to be the slowest player in the league but his court awareness is impressive