Ranking the Mavericks' potential playoff opponents from piece of cake to nightmare

6. Los Angeles Lakers

The only way that the Dallas Mavericks would play the Los Angeles Lakers is likely in the Play-In Tournament, and the Mavs are playing like they will miss the play-in, but we can't rule out anything.

There can be crazy movement in the standings at the end of the season, and the Lakers would be a tough opponent for Dallas in a one-game series, especially since LeBron James would be on the other side of the floor. James recently spoke highly about the Mavericks and what makes them dangerous, but the Lakers are dark horse contenders as well.

James and Anthony Davis form one of the most dominant pairings in the NBA, and they have good complimentary pieces around them. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are two players Dallas would have to watch out for, and they have excellent wing depth off the bench.

The Lakers have Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince in their bench unit, and both players could be used to throw different defensive looks at Luka Doncic.

Kyrie Irving against James in the playoffs would be a game that everyone would want to see since they were teammates in Cleveland, and this would be the perfect time for Irving to shut down any doubters who think Irving needed James to win.

P.J. Washington, Maxi Kleber, and Derrick Jones Jr. would have their hands full in this series as they would try to throw different looks at James, but the Mavs would definitely have the edge if they play Los Angeles.