Dallas Mavericks Face Crucial Three Game Stretch

The Dallas Mavericks have lost their past two straight games as they set their sights on the final three games before the All-Star break…but could it get worse?

The Mavericks season to this point has been a weird one to say the least, but a type of weird that has had numerous storylines.

We seen the newly signed (recovering) Wesley Matthews stay true to his word and make his debut on opening night. Chandler Parsons took weeks and even months to get to playing more than 30 minutes a night. Zaza Pachulia and Deron Williams are having their best seasons in recent memory. Oh, and this Dirk Nowitzki guy continues to defy the odds and carry the team on his back.

After finding themselves being counted out before the season even started, the Mavs find themselves sitting in the 6th spot in the West with a 28-24 record. Something that has surprised many people across the league.

But are the Mavs on the verge of spiraling downwards?

Over the last eight games, the Mavs have lost five of them. What are the three teams they beat? Suns, Nets, and Lakers (and the Lakers win took a late shot from Nowitzki to win the game).

Continuing the trend of quality wins, this is the list of all 28 wins for the Mavericks this year…

Suns (3), Lakers (3), Pelicans (2), Clippers (DJ return), Rockets, Sixers, Celtics (2), Jazz, Nuggets, Blazers, Wizards, Knicks, Grizzlies, Nets (2), Bulls (2), Bucks, Warriors (No Curry), Kings, Wolves (2).

Not too many impressive teams on the list huh?

Sitting at the current standings in the league, only NINE (including Curry-less Warriors win) of the 28 Mavericks wins have been against playoff teams. Doing your math, that means 19 out of the 28 wins have been against non-playoff teams in the league.

Now there is obviously the health of Chandler Parsons and the recovery of Wesley Mathews that has played into this, but you would be lying if you said this wasn’t worrisome. On a good note, at least the Mavs are taking care of the must-win games.

So coming off two straight loses, the Mavs find the Rockets on their heels as they are seeming to come together after the acquisition of Josh Smith. The Rockets now sit just 1.5 games back for the 6th spot with the Blazers looming behind that just 3 games back from the Mavs.

With that being said, the Mavs turn their attention to the last three games before the long-awaited all-star break next weekend. The only problem is the Mavs have to face the second best team in the league in San Antonio, the team ahead of them in the standings in the Memphis Grizzlies (on a back-to-back), and a surging young Utah Jazz team who is tied with the Blazers for the 8th spot in the West.

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The road won’t be easy, but the Mavs desperately need to make a statement over these next three games before the break. Beating the Spurs will be a tough hill to climb, but the Mavs desperately need victories against the Grizzlies and Jazz.

If the Mavs could beat the Spurs it would be a huge statement win for the Mavs and a boost to their confidence. But even if they fall to the Spurs, winning two of their last three should pay dividends to their confidence heading into the break as the rest up and prepare for the stretch run.

What happens over the course of the next three games could impact the makeup of the roster come the trade deadline. If the Mavs lose two or more of these next three games it could inspire management to push even harder at changing up the team. If the Mavs have a couple of huge wins over these next three it could inspire management to keep the band together and make a final push all together.

Next: Making Sense of the Parsons and Carlisle

Either way, these next three games for the Mavs are not just ordinary games, they could be a turning point in the season…let’s hope for the best.