Dallas Mavericks Clinch Playoff Spot With 101-98 Win Over Suns
The Western Conference gauntlet is shaping out for the postseason, and as of last night we know the Dallas Mavericks will be participating in the NBA Playoffs for the 13th time in their last 14 seasons. The Mavericks overcame a double-digit deficit midway through the third quarter behind guard Monta Ellis (27 points) and Dirk Nowitzki (23 points). Dallas will play their final game of the regular season against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, but their ticket is punched. Memphis, now just a half game ahead of Phoenix, will play the Suns for the final playoff spot in the West on Monday night.
This isn’t the same kind of Mavericks team that put together one of the hottest recent Finals runs in 2011, but they’re still dangerous for different reasons. First and foremost, signing Monta Ellis in the offseason has proven to be the offensive spark Dallas needed to supplement Nowitzki and make this team an honest threat. While Rick Carlisle’s 2011 group was deeper with more outside shooting and experience, he now has a more dynamic individual scoring threat from the perimeter in Ellis. The key task for Dallas, likely to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, will be defending. Carlisle enlisted something of a match up zone during their 2011 run, which may take form again to shake things up. In a conference where high possession scoring is widely themed, these Mavericks will have to try and take advantage of the pace of playoff basketball and utilize their new perimeter weapon to the fullest.
