The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

Dallas Mavericks: An honest breakdown of the season schedule

By Kohl Rast

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 24: J.J. Barea #5 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on February 24, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 24: J.J. Barea #5 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on February 24, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 20: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on March 20, 2018 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 20: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on March 20, 2018 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

March

Total games: 15

Home games: 6

Away games: 9

Games against Eastern Conference opponents: 5

Games against Western Conference opponents: 10

Game to watch: The 2018-19 NBA MVP could be a number of different players, but I feel like this is finally the year for the New Orleans Pelicans forward/center, Anthony Davis. Davis has proven time and time again that he is one of the best in the game and had a great case for the award last year had Harden not done what he did.

Dallas plays New Orleans on March 18th and some combination of Harrison Barnes, DeAndre Jordan, Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith and Luka Doncic will try to stop the unstoppable. I’m not sure that we can stop him, but hopefully we can do enough with the rest of the guys to keep it close. Pels will probably take it, but I think it’ll be close.

Easiest game: I have the Sacramento Kings on here twice, which I feel like makes them look a lot worse than they actually are. The Kings may not be the most talented team, but they do have some good players that can do great things on the court. Dallas plays them this time on March 26th.

It is not so much about who they are or what they can do, but I feel like Dallas matches up well with a Kings team that seems to be set on tanking for another year. De’Aaron Fox is a great player, as well as Willie Cauley-Stein, Marvin Bagley III and Yogi Ferrell. The Mavs should still take this one easily though.

Hardest game: I talked earlier about the Golden State Warriors being the hardest matchup for Dallas in November and, even though it seems obvious that they would be the hardest game anytime anyone plays them, the March 23rd matchup is a whole different animal.

By March, it is expected that DeMarcus Cousins, considered the best center in the NBA, will be back. It is not easy to come back from an achilles tear as Mavs fans know, but that does not change the fact that having him available immediately makes the team better. Could be a tough night for the Mavs.

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