Anyone else concerned about the Mavs?

[Aremid]

Took us to 7 and now have a deeper more stacked well coaches team.

[Robz4000]

Nine times out of ten last year's series doesn't go past five games. RC caught Pop completely off-guard with his defensive strategy, the Spurs weren't geared up for the postseason and didn't take the Mavs seriously, and other little things went the Mavs' way. They're better this year but still have flaws the Spurs can exploit (poor perimeter defense, poor PG play, unproven bench as compared to last year). Spurs also have Dirk somewhat figured out in his old age. If they meet in the postseason this year I see Spurs in 6, health permitting.

[spursparker9]

Got to get Tiago back first

[scanry]

The Spurs looked off entering the playoffs. I remember the Spurs easily beat the Mavs in the regular season despite missing a few players.

Despite everything the Spurs could've dispatched them in 5 had Carter not made that 3 pointer.

[spursparker9]

Just watched some highlight of Mavs vs Lakers.

Fucking Midget JJ Barea look like he is revived

[BatManu20]

Mavs offense is the best in the league (statistically), and the additions of Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons make them significantly better than last year's squad.

They still have their weaknesses, but if they have HCA, they're a very real threat imho.

[Uriel]

I'm more worried about OKC, tbh.

[Proxy]

I think they're a great team... not sure how we should look at last year's playoffs though. I remember Dirk commenting on how he felt Carlisle's game plan caught SA off guard, but that the team slowly adjusted every game.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

I wouldn't worry that much unless their defense gets better. Just looking at the roster, they don't have any stand-out perimeter defenders and their only good rim protector is Tyson Chandler. Their back-up wings don't really look good either. I'd rather the Spurs not meet them in the playoffs again but they're much less worrisome than a healthy Thunder squad. They don't hit the Spurs' main weakness (athletic teams that can disrupt/overwhelm the Spurs aka the Thunder).

[z0sa]

Definitely. Mavs are legit.

[exstatic]

Defense wins championships

Dallas DRtg 106.5 #16/30 (even with Tyson Chandler :rollin)
SAS DRtg 97.9 #1/30 (without Tiago)

[Chomag]

Not worried but mavs are going to be tough to beat again this year. You would have to be a pretty big homer if you think not.

[Biernutz]

Ask again in about 65 games away.

[Richie]

I'm more worried about OKC, tbh.

There's a good chance they won't make the playoffs and if they do, that #1 spot may be a curse.

[itzsoweezee]

Mavs and Warriors are both going to be ridiculously tough. Hopefully the Spurs' offense comes back to what it was last year because great defense alone will not be enough.

[mavsfan1000]

There's a good chance they won't make the playoffs and if they do, that #1 spot may be a curse.
I'm guessing if they do make the playoffs, they could end up anywhere between 6-8. Not much difference in the standings between these teams I predict.

[Leetonidas]

Portions is garbage and Chandler isn't a spring chicken anymore. Mavs will get butt raped by the Spurs in the playoffs. Dirk wants no part of Splitter again imho

[DesignatedT]

Too early to be concerned about anyone tbh but of course they are going to be a really good team come playoff time as long as health permits. So much can change from now to then though. Every team is an injury away from being irrelevant.

[Cry Havoc]

The only reason that was even a series last year is because Vince Carter played literally the best post-season basketball of his life. Dude was bombing away from 3 every time he got the ball. He isn't there anymore, and even if he was, he couldn't pull that shit again.

Without VC, that series ends in 5 anyway. With Chandler/Parsons, it might (might) go 6. We absolutely wrecked them in Game 7.

[100%duncan]

I am honestly not scared of anyone. If the Spurs don't repeat it will either be because of health or choking.

[SnakeBoy]

Assuming okc doesn't make the playoffs, I think the mavs are the only team that has a shot at challenging the Spurs in a seven game series. I'm not really concerned but it'll be a very tough series.

[timtonymanu]

They'll be worrisome cause they are Carlisle coached team but I'm not worried about them if we are fully healthy.

Splitter knows how to contain Dirk. Portions is a regular season player (got outplayed by Nic Batum in the first round). Their defense is still awful on the perimeter. The Spurs wont take them as lightly as they did last season.

Tbh, I'm more scared of Houston. Yes they have McHale and Harden's game doesn't translate well in the playoffs. But their defensive trio of Howard/Ariza/Beverly is going to be a lot to handle. Plus just how they match up with the Spurs.

OKC is still the biggest threat but hopefully they are tanking.

[tlongII]

The Mavs suck.

[Malik Hairston]

Mavs aren't scary at all, tbh..they look great right now while Dirk and Chandler are healthy, but as we saw last year, Nowitzki had no legs left in the playoffs..

- No decent starting PG
- Outside of Harris and Wright, no decent bench players
- No perimeter defense

Once the Spurs figured out their defense last year, and Pop adjusted the perimeter matchups, the Spurs destroyed them in game 7..

There's really no threat in the West, the top is lacking in great teams now that OKC is probably going to miss the playoffs..if the Spurs' get healthy and start clicking again, it's going to be like the 2008/2009/2010 Lakers and 2013 Spurs, where there's only 1 great team in the West and a bunch of other "good" teams..

[Gutter92]

Rvd3lPnVb9E

[urunobili]

Of course. They're for real

[SpursFan86]

Look at the teams they've beaten:

Jazz
Pelicans
Celtics
Jazz
Kings
76ers
Timberwolves
Hornets
Wizards
Lakers

They lost to us, got blown out by Portland, and lost to Miami.

I originally predicted Dallas to be a 5-7th seed, and I stand by that. Let's wait to see how they play against better opponents before getting worried. As of now I don't consider them a legitimate threat.

[Blue Duck]

I'm a total homer, and yes I am worried about the mavs........and the thunder.........and the rockets........and tiago's calf.....and Patty's shoulder......and the economy........and Isis....., and illegal immigration and social security........and drought.........etc.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

No they will be a step worse on defense this year.

[Sean Cagney]

Definitely. Mavs are legit.

^^^^^^^

[SpurPadre]

Durant and Westbrook coming back within a week maybe: http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nba/245368/durant-westbrook-look-good-at-practice

So yeah, Thunder scare me more than the Mavs but they scare me too. Teams that concern me:

1. Thunder
2. Bulls
3. Cavs
4. Mavs
5. Rockets
6. Warriors

[024]

Depends, if they can round out their defense to be top 10 (which shouldn't be too hard), then they are legitimate contenders. Their offense is already clicking on all cylinders and they have the rest of the season to figure out their defense. Yes, they will be very tough to face in the playoffs.