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Dallas Mavericks: Top 5 Most Important Opponents This Season

By Kohl Rast
Apr 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Justin Anderson (1) reacts after hitting a three point shot during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Justin Anderson (1) reacts after hitting a three point shot during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) during the fourth quarter of at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Blazers won the game 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) during the fourth quarter of at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Blazers won the game 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers

The Mavericks have already kind of taken the backseat to the youthful, explosive Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum headline this Portland team that took over the 5th spot and knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs last year. They are a dangerous team.

In the past, the Mavericks have had mixed results against the Blazers. When Lillard slows down a little bit, they are beatable, but when he is at his best, they are near unstoppable. Al-Farouq Aminu also plays for the Blazers, one of the Mavs players from a few years ago.

If Dallas is going to have success over Portland this year, it could be really good for the morale of the team. The Blazers are one of the few teams that are almost assuredly going to be in the Western Conference playoffs. Last year, the Mavs kind of got by beating a lot of the non-playoff teams and just enough above .500 teams to make the postseason.

Next: Oklahoma City Thunder

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