Why The Mavs Can Still Make The Playoffs

Pondering the possibilities of the Dallas Mavericks to make the playoffs.

Even with Chandler Parsons out for the rest of the season, the Dallas Mavericks can still make the playoffs.

by Rodney Fisher

Four teams all vying for the last three playoff spots in the Western Conference. What do the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and Portland Trailblazers have in common? They are all losing.

The Mavs high hopes for securing a #5 seed have collapsed since the All-Star break. Poor bench play, an experimental small lineup, and the poor play of their young nucleus of Parsons and Wes Matthews have been the biggest factors. The news that Parsons will miss yet another playoff run for the Mavs is not the death blow most fans think it is.

Looking back at how the Mavs played at the beginning of the season, you see them taking advantage of a jump-shot heavy league with Zsa Zsa Pachula surprisingly becoming an instant double-double. Keep in mind that he barely missed being the only Maverick to make the All-Star team by fan vote. For whatever reason, he has been relegated to the bench but with Parsons out the hope of running a small starting lineup with Dirk playing the five does not work.

Add in the emergence of one Saleh Majri, the 28-year old NBA rookie. He is not next great Big Man, but has shown enough flashes to twist Rick Carlisle's arm to start. This could get the Mavs back to playing the winning basketball they played prior to the All-Star break. Maybe.

Missing Parsons is not like missing Dirk. Sure they will have to rest Dirk a few games to preserve him, but he us playing great basketball right now. Now Wes Matthews can get back to playing offense on the perimeter and shooting the three. Deron Williams can put-up-or-shut-up if he wants to really reestablish himself in the league as an elite point guard. Everyone, including Javale McGee, will have to make a major contribution.

The other three teams in the hurt are facing their own problems. Houston, currently on a three game losing streak, is nursing their own injury plagued squad and dealing with a new coach with a fractured locker room. Utah has some tough games against San Antonio, Golden State, Clippers, and the Mavs to break the 1-1 series tie. The Blazers young squad led by Damon Lillard is fiery and quick, but how much can one man do.

This is the opportunity for the Mavs to galvanize as a unit and make the playoffs. An eighth seed, no matter the team, will be the sacrificial lamb for the Golden Warriors, but making the playoffs is the standard for Mavericks basketball.

Do you think the Mavs can still make the playoffs?