Dallas Mavericks: Predicting the Western Conference standings

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DALLAS, TX – JANUARY 13: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hug after a game on January 13, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Bubble Teams

These three teams are going to be battling for the final roster spot, perhaps with another one getting into the conversation. It should be a good race.

9. San Antonio Spurs

The most boring team in the NBA looks to keep the longest active playoff streak alive for one more year, but the roster is not exactly the most conducive for that kind of thing to happen. Of course, we have been saying that for years and it still keeps happening. This year, I think they will finally give up the ghost and miss the playoffs just barely.

The team really did not change much from last year when they won 48 games. There is no doubt that coaching plays a serious role in this success, but with LaMarcus Aldridge getting older and the team looking to bring in some nice youth, it may be time for San Antonio to falter just a little so that they can really bring in the new era of Spurs basketball. DeMar DeRozan and LA aren’t it.

The Spurs will still end the season over .500. I just think it will be a lot closer to .500 than it has been in a long time.

8. Dallas Mavericks

Put it in the books now. I continue to stick to my guns in believing that the Dallas Mavericks are playoff bound this year. There is no denying that it is going to be very difficult for the Mavs to grab one of the top 8 spots with how many solid teams there are in the West, but I do believe that Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are capable of making that happen.

The Mavs have good star power, good depth, good coaching and a desire to win for these young guys to continue to grow. The main area of concern is probably with the other three starters next to Luka and KP on a regular basis, but the Mavs should have good bench production night in and night out. This is going to be a fun team.

I think the Mavs will have to win 45 games to make the playoffs. And I think that will be very close to where they land.

7. Golden State Warriors

From the greatest dynasty the NBA has seen at least since the 1990’s to a team looking to reclaim a portion of what it was prior to Kevin Durant joining the squad, the Golden State Warriors are in a weird place right now. Normally, even without Durant, the Warriors are an obvious playoff team, as they still have most of the core from their 73 win team just a few years ago.

Unfortunately, it is hard to bet on them at this point. Klay Thompson will be missing a good portion of the season with a torn ACL and Stephen Curry will be 32 by the end of the year. He is still an elite talent, but has had some bad run-ins with injury as well. If they are missing both Steph and Klay for any amount of substantial time, this team probably doesn’t make the playoffs. I am playing it safe and assuming a healthy season from Curry.

The Warriors should still be able to manage 47-50 wins this year.

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