Mavericks' Finals return heavily doubted because of other feared contender

No one believed that the Dallas Mavericks were going to make the 2024 NBA Finals heading into the playoffs. Some of the national media thought that they were a dark horse candidate, but not many people considered them to be an elite contender even after their dominant two-month stretch to end the season.

The Mavs locker room was filled with a healthy confidence all playoffs long and they were able to steamroll through the competition and win the Western Conference.

Dallas was a No. 5 seed heading into the playoffs, but they showed the rest of the league that they are real contenders moving forward. Despite the Mavs getting better in almost every area, there is considerable doubt that they will return to the NBA Finals.

Mavericks heavily doubted to win the West because of Thunder

According to ESPN's annual offseason survey that included 18 NBA coaches, scouts, and team executives, the Mavs are doubted to repeat as the Western Conference Champions.

When asked who they thought would win the Western Conference, a whopping 78 percent (14 people) voted for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The other four votes were split between the Mavs and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Thunder have emerged as the giant that Luka Doncic and the Mavs will have to slay, and the season hasn't even begun yet.

Last season, the Thunder were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and won 57 games. Oklahoma City then smoked the New Orleans Pelicans in four games, but their playoff run ended earlier than expected as they ran into the Mavs in the second round.

Dallas beat the Thunder in six games, but the Thunder are getting all the praise this summer due to having a big-time offseason. The Thunder traded for Alex Caruso and signed Isaiah Hartenstein, and the entire NBA world already seems to be counting the Mavs out.

The Mavs are at their best when everyone is doubting them, and that's exactly what we experienced in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The chemistry-driven and passionate Mavericks squad went into every series with their backs against the wall, and they bounced back from two instances in which they trailed the series 1-0 and ended up winning the series.

The Mavs are a relentless team, and their offseason has been extremely overlooked when looking at the results of this poll. Doncic remains a top-two player in the NBA, and time and time again he has showcased that he has a slight edge over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Having the best player in the series matters once you get to the postseason, and Doncic is a different beast after the 82-game regular season ends. He is hungry for a title, and Nico Harrison put an excellent supporting cast around him to try to bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Dallas.

The Mavs signed Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Spencer Dinwiddie this summer, and their trade for Quentin Grimes is already getting overlooked as well. The doubters are coming for the Mavs in every direction this summer, and the Thunder seem to have a major advantage over Dallas when it comes to what those around the league think.

While it is completely understandable for people to expect the Thunder to grab the No. 1 seed again considering that they got better this summer and already did this last season, it may seem a bit extreme for them to be the overwhelming favorite to win the West.

April, May, and June is a completely different ballgame, and Doncic and the Mavs will show everyone quickly that they still have a great shot at being the kings of the Western Conference in 2025 once again.