Roundtable: Best First Round Matchup for the Dallas Mavericks

With the Dallas Mavericks fighting to secure a last spot in the playoffs, which team would be the best first round matchup for Dallas?

The Mavericks go into Utah on Monday night with only one number on their mind…one. Dallas needs just one more victory (or a Rockets loss) to secure a spot in the postseason.

With the 5-8 seeds out West in total fluctuation going into the last couple of games, the Mavericks find themselves looking to finish anywhere from the 5th seed to the 8th seed, with the possibility of missing the playoffs all together still in the back of their minds.

Dallas was winners of six straight games before their loss to the Clippers on Sunday, but still find themselves looking like a mobile hospital unit heading into the last two games of the season. Arguably the Mavs MVP of the past couple of weeks, J.J. Barea. found himself sitting out on Sunday with a groin injury but looks to return on Monday night in Utah.

All hands will be on deck for both teams on Monday nights as both the Jazz and Mavericks are fighting each other for one of the last couple of spots. Regardless of the outcome on Monday night, the Mavs will face San Antonio on Wednesday night in what could be a game to determine their playoff hopes or not.

So if the Mavs do limp into the playoffs, who could they face?

The top four seeds out West are pretty much locked in with the Warriors and Spurs taking the top two seeds, followed by the Thunder in third and the Clippers in fourth. No matter who the Mavs would get matched up with, the odds would not be in their favor, but is there a team that you would prefer Dallas matchup with? A team that you think the Mavs might have a slight chance against?

Our staff makes their picks…

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