Playoff chase thread - Page 2 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

bunkmoreland · 03-09-2015, 02:50 PM

I think we're capabale of beating any team in a series except for Golden State.
But every team in the West is just as capable of beating us.
I agree with Party that Portland is the team I hope we get.

Melonhead · 03-09-2015, 03:25 PM

Portland/Houston is our only chance but that means getting and retaining the 6 seed. We'll get destroyed by 1 or 2 seed.

mavsfan1000 · 03-09-2015, 03:29 PM

We don't want Portland. Aldridge would kill us. Definitely Houston would be easiest.

LSMF · 03-09-2015, 03:45 PM

I'm not sure if we can beat any of the other WC teams in the playoffs right now. We really have to get better soon.

Helicopter34 · 03-09-2015, 05:42 PM

I would prefer to play Memphis first, then Houston, and then Portland. I'm considering the teams we can most likely split two road games with.

bilease · 03-09-2015, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helicopter34

I would prefer to play Memphis first, then Houston, and then Portland. I'm considering the teams we can most likely split two road games with.

I think Houston is a pretty good matchup for this Mavs team, we played well in in the 3 regular season games (won the last one, shouldve won the first and the 2nd was pretty close too). Without back to backs (which all our regular games against Houston happen to be...), with Harden probably not getting every ridiculous call in the post season and a D-League level coach in McHale competing against the best coach not named Popovich, I'm pretty confident we can beat the Rockettes in no more than 6 games.

Memphis could be pretty tough, but as someone already pointed out their games are usually close and with our new center-rotation we have much better chances than during the first games of the season, Wright and Smith looked like amateurs against the Memphis bigs, Stoudemire and even Sarge should do much better (if needed, not sure how much time hed play in the playoffs).

Only team Id actually like to avoid in the first round are the Warriors, dont have to worry about Spurs and OKC in the 1st round anyway. If this team can build some chemistry and Dirk gets out his slump, I like our chances against almost every team. This year it seems like any team in the west has a chance to advance against anybody.

DavidDaMonkey · 03-09-2015, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilease

If this team can build some chemistry and Dirk gets out his slump, I like our chances against almost every team.

I think you might want to sit down. I've got some news for you that you may find uncomfortable....

bilease · 03-10-2015, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidDaMonkey

I think you might want to sit down. I've got some news for you that you may find uncomfortable....

Im guessing you mean his play fits his age right now? I dont think so. Hes averaging like 12 points over the last 4 weeks, you cant tell me that from last season until now (or from the first 2 months of the season until now) he aged so much, his average dropped almost 10 points.

This month he's shooting 37% so far, last month he shot 28% from 3. Thats not age, because nobody ages so much from one season to the next. Or one month. Its a shooting slump. Sure, the vintage Dirk is gone, but hes still better than his recent games. 4 points against Atlanta in 25 minutes, only 2 made field goals. Dont think Dirk is so bad that this is the play we can expect from him, or need in the playoffs.

Games in march:
5-12
5-16
5-13
5-13
He hasnt made more than 5 Field Goals this month, and it doesnt matter how many attempts he takes. Even his rebounding has dropped 30% during these games. Im totally fine with his season average of around 18ppg, but recently he isnt even close to that (and his recent shooting isnt helping).

twelli · 03-10-2015, 07:02 AM

I think Dirk is just tired.

Twenty4sevenn · 03-10-2015, 07:32 AM

I'd have more faith in Dirk coming into these playoffs if he hadn't put up a stinker in last year's playoffs. This isn't the Dirk that can just turn it on and off anymore.

DevinHarriswillstart · 03-10-2015, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twelli

I think Dirk is just tired.

You can really notice this with the defensive lapses. But hey, Dirk is a geezer by NBA standards and has had to carry multiple Mav teams on his back. I'm just happy we have a team now that doesn't rely so heavily on him.

rimrocker · 03-10-2015, 10:59 AM

I'm wondering if all of the teams in the WC are wanting to play the Mavs the first round based on our lack of success in the west this year.
Being the least feared team in the POs might be to our advantage.

dirt_dobber · 03-10-2015, 11:21 AM

I remember a lot of teams wanted us back in 2011 ;-)

LSMF · 03-11-2015, 08:08 PM

How can we even be sure this team is going to make the playoffs?

EricaLubarsky · 03-11-2015, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSMF

How can we even be sure this team is going to make the playoffs?

Statistically looks unlikely that we could miss the playoffs, but I suppose it's possible.

Twenty4sevenn · 03-12-2015, 07:26 AM

Right now, we're closer to the 3 seed (3 games) than we are the 8 seed (4 1/2 games).

As bad as it's been, we're still in a good spot. We just have to find a way to sort our problems out sooner than later.

Romus · 03-12-2015, 09:59 AM

We must be no pessimism, we made the PO.
It's the taking part that counts

sefant77 · 03-12-2015, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helicopter34

I would prefer to play Memphis first, then Houston, and then Portland. I'm considering the teams we can most likely split two road games with.

Memphis is a bad matchup because of their elite frontcourt. And they are able to play gritty playoff defense.

Houston and Portland are our best matchups by far.

MavzMan · 03-12-2015, 03:39 PM

1. Portland - Chandler defending Aldridge and contesting every single shot gives us our best chance.
2. Memphis - Gasol/Zbo will be unstoppable with Dirk having to guard either one now.
3. Houston - They are very beatable but I just don't want to watch a series of Harden flopping and going to the line 25+ times.
4. Warriors - When is the draft?

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:24 PM

Damn...watching the Spurs take care of the Cavs.

Mavs need to learn something from the Spurs because our only chance of any success is to play within a system as a team considering we don't have a superstar.

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:27 PM

Wow...posted too soon.
Irving is unbelievable...just tied it at the buzzer.

Common Cavs...

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:32 PM

Love this time of year...other games are actually fun to watch because they have a lot of meaning for the Mavs.
Really need Cavs to pull this one out.

Sorry if I'm making this thread into Cavs/Spurs game thread but this is a hell of a game to watch.

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:35 PM

51 for Kyrie so far...dude is taking over and unbelievable.

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:37 PM

Good God...55 for Irving.

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:41 PM

Yes...Cavs by 5 with 33 seconds left.

rimrocker · 03-12-2015, 11:54 PM

Ok...win tomorrow night puts us back to 6 and close to 5.
Need to put it together tomorrow night.

dirt_dobber · 03-13-2015, 05:49 AM

Nice to wake up to finding out - Rockets, Grizzlies, Spurs all lost.

Twenty4sevenn · 03-13-2015, 07:16 AM

We're now tied for 6th seed.

We're 4 1/2 games from 2nd in the West.
We're 4 1/2 games from 8th in the West.

MavsFTR · 03-15-2015, 12:25 PM

Playoff implication games today: HOU vs LAC and POR vs TOR.

Melonhead · 03-15-2015, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavzzz

We have to avoid the 7th and 8th seeds. Gotta do whatever it takes to face either Portland or Houston

Schedule is too difficult. Think Spurs get 6th seed unless we sweep them.

Thunder
Grizz
Suns
Spurs
Spurs
Pacers
Thunder
Rockets
Warriors
Suns
Nuggets
Lakers
Jazz
Warriors

I see one gimme in there (lakers). The rest just hope to go .500 against the rest of that schedule.

Underdog · 03-15-2015, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melonhead

I see one gimme in there (lakers). The rest just hope to go .500 against the rest of that schedule.

Suns-Nugs-Lakers-Jazz should be an easy stretch - no reason we can't take all four in a row.

MavzMan · 03-16-2015, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Suns-Nugs-Lakers-Jazz should be an easy stretch - no reason we can't take all four in a row.

And warriors may be "resting" the last game if they have the #1 locked up. Have no idea how Kerr will handle that situation.

tsar · 03-16-2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Suns-Nugs-Lakers-Jazz should be an easy stretch - no reason we can't take all four in a row.

Jazz have the best record since the All-Star break. The team can't sleep on them even the least. Check this out:

Jazz NBA ranks (per gm) since All-Star

#1 DefRtg
#1 REB%
#1 PIE
#1 BLK
#1 Opp FGM
#1 Opp 3PT%
#1 Opp DREB
#1 Opp REB
#1 Opp BLKA
#1 Opp PTS

Rudy Gobert last 10 games.... points, rebounds, blocks
vs DET - 10-19-2
vs HOU - 19-22-4
vs NYK - 10-14-4
vs BKN - 4-11-2 (5 assists as well)
vs PHI - 9-15-2
vs BOS - 10-16-3
vs MEM - 15-24-0
vs MIL - 12-10-3
vs DEN - 10-8-6
vs LAL - 16-14-3

Dude is LEGIT.

Melonhead · 03-16-2015, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Suns-Nugs-Lakers-Jazz should be an easy stretch - no reason we can't take all four in a row.

Suns are scrapping just like us. You cant sleep on the Nuggets. They just beat Hawks, Warriors(rest), and Pelicans in double OT. Jazz have the best record in the West since the Allstar break. Just saying you cant sleep on these teams. They should win them all, but I wouldnt be surprised if they dropped one or two of those.

Underdog · 03-16-2015, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsar

Jazz have the best record since the All-Star break. The team can't sleep on them even the least. Check this out:

Jazz NBA ranks (per gm) since All-Star

#1 DefRtg
#1 REB%
#1 PIE
#1 BLK
#1 Opp FGM
#1 Opp 3PT%
#1 Opp DREB
#1 Opp REB
#1 Opp BLKA
#1 Opp PTS

Rudy Gobert last 10 games.... points, rebounds, blocks
vs DET - 10-19-2
vs HOU - 19-22-4
vs NYK - 10-14-4
vs BKN - 4-11-2 (5 assists as well)
vs PHI - 9-15-2
vs BOS - 10-16-3
vs MEM - 15-24-0
vs MIL - 12-10-3
vs DEN - 10-8-6
vs LAL - 16-14-3

Dude is LEGIT.

What I see are some great stats against the absolute worst teams in the league... That might also explain why the Jazz are on a tear.

rimrocker · 03-16-2015, 10:52 PM

GSW has a huge advantage (they created for themselves) by being able to coast into the POs while the rest of us will be in a dog fight for position or to even make it in.

MFFL · 03-17-2015, 11:44 AM

The East is CRAZY right now. 4 teams within a half game for the final two playoff spots

dirt_dobber · 03-17-2015, 12:17 PM

going to be interesting to see tie-breakers come into play

tsar · 03-17-2015, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

What I see are some great stats against the absolute worst teams in the league... That might also explain why the Jazz are on a tear.

I think you're under selling how well they are playing right now. Will be a tough team to beat and a good test against a good defensive team.

Underdog · 03-17-2015, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsar

I think you're under selling how well they are playing right now. Will be a tough team to beat and a good test against a good defensive team.

After the last two games, forgive me if I'm not exactly shaking in my boots about playing against the Utah freaking Jazz.