Dallas Mavericks: Should Mavs Fans Plan on a 2018 Playoff Run?

With a new NBA season quickly approaching, fans around the league are ready for another 82-game season of basketball. Will the Dallas Mavericks be rewarded with a playoff spot when the regular season comes to a close?

After making the playoffs (but losing in the first round each time) in four of the past seven seasons, Dallas Mavericks fans have higher hopes due to a new, revitalized team. Here is a look at the Mavs’ playoff record since the 2011-12 season.

2011-12

Division Rank: 3rd

Result: First round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (0-4)

2012-13

Division Rank: 4th

Result: Did not qualify for playoffs

2013-14

Division Rank: 4th

Result: First round loss to the San Antonio Spurs (3-4)

2014-15

Division Rank: 4th

Result: First round loss to the Houston Rockets (1-4)

2015-16

Division Rank: 2nd

Result: First round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-4)

2016-17

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Division Rank: 5th

Result: Did not qualify for playoffs

2017-18

Division Rank: 4th

Result: Did not qualify for playoffs

The additions of all-star center DeAndre Jordan, rookie and projected superstar Luka Doncic, and other players will hopefully add to their chances of being able to make it beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The last time the Dallas Mavericks were able to win a series, you ask? 2011 — the same year they won the franchise’s first NBA Championship, beating LeBron James and the Miami Heat in six games.

For quite some time, the Mavericks did have a pretty long streak in terms of qualifying the playoffs, making it for 12 straight seasons (from 2000 to 2012). That streak was broken in the 2012-13 season when Dallas (who had 41 wins that year) fell four games behind the Houston Rockets, who ended up being the 8th seed in the Western Conference.

However, that is the past, and Mavs fans are sick of hearing about Dallas’ one-and-done track record in the playoffs. That said, the Southwest division is difficult, with Houston, San Antonio, and New Orleans all winning more games than Dallas last season.

The Mavs’ number of wins have decreased every year since the 2014-15 season, with 50 in 2014-15, 42 in 2015-16, 33 in 2016-17, and 24 last season.

In order to make the playoffs next year, the Mavs’ biggest key is being more consistent when on the road.

The Mavericks lost 32 of their 41 road games last season. That’s a road win percentage of about 22 percent (give or take). If Dallas is only able to win one out of every five away games next season, their chances of making the postseason are toast.

It is possible that Dallas is able to knock off the Pelicans, who lost Demarcus Cousins (Warriors), Rajon Rondo (Lakers), Jordan Crawford, and others in free agency. Heck, maybe even the Spurs, if they tank next year. Dallas does have a shot to make the playoffs for the first time in the past two seasons. To do so, they need to make every game count.

Even though the Dallas Mavericks finished with a bad record last season, things are looking up. Dennis Smith Jr., Luka Doncic, Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes, Dirk Nowitzki, and DeAndre Jordan are players that certainly make for a good list on paper.

Next. Do the Mavs have too many ball handlers?. dark

The question is, however, will they all be able to click when the season is underway?

Published on 08/04/2018 at 23:14 PM
Last updated at 08/04/2018 at 23:14 PM

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