Dallas Mavericks: ESPN predicts the Mavs to finish 9th in the Western Conference

The Dallas Mavericks were predicted to finish ninth in the Western Conference with a 41-41 record by ESPN. Plus, why the Mavs will make the playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks supporters will have regular season basketball to watch on Oct. 23. The Mavs host the Washington Wizards to open the year. Their 15-man roster appears set. Training camp will begin on Oct. 1. Knowing all those dates means the season is almost here.

While fans wait, they can enjoy plenty of prognostications and projections about the upcoming season. Here is the latest.

ESPN predicts Mavs 9th in West

ESPN kicked off their annual predictions with a look at the season’s standings. They polled their panel of experts to create the list. ESPN has the Dallas Mavericks in ninth finishing exactly .500. The Mavs miss the final playoff spot by two games in their predictions.

It was noteworthy that ESPN predicted the Nuggets to have the best regular season record in Western Conference. They also had the new-look Lakers finishing fifth.

Pelton says Mavericks most underrated

In a companion piece, ESPN experts were asked to choose the most underrated and overrated teams in each conference. The great Kevin Pelton chose the Mavs as the top underrated team in the West and included his reasoning in the piece.

Why Dallas makes the playoffs

The Western Conference is stacked. It features at least ten teams that are playoff-worthy. Only eight will make the dance, and the Dallas Mavericks will be one to qualify.

Luka Doncic is going to break into the chatter of top-ten player in the NBA this season. The 20-year-old has won at every stop in his already-lengthy professional career. The Mavs trading for a legit second All-Star in Kristaps Porzingis gives them the firepower to blitz the West and make the playoffs.

No team is going to look forward to playing the Mavericks this season. They will have one of the NBA’s best offenses and should be above average on the defensive end. The predictions may be bold, but Dallas has the squad to back them up.

The Smoking Cuban will be here all season providing supporters with the news, analysis, and opinions they desire to read, so checking back often is a must.