5 Teams that the Mavericks need to avoid in the playoffs next year

With the way the Dallas Mavericks have completely overhauled their roster this offseason, it's not too early to start discussing the playoffs. Recently, the Western Conference has been a juggernaut. There are so many talented players in the Western Conference that just getting to the Western Conference finals feels like a marathon

Last postseason, we saw the Sacramento Kings come out of nowhere and make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round to the Golden State Warriors, but they at least made them work to advance to the second round. The Pheonix Suns looked like they were on their way to the Western Conference finals if they didn't run into the eventual NBA Champion Denver Nuggets.

5 Teams that the Mavericks need to avoid in the playoffs next year

That's what fans like about the Western Conference when it comes to the playoffs. Every team is stacked with talent and fighting to advance to the next round. The Mavericks couldn't partake in the postseason last year but could see some postseason basketball this year if everything goes according to plan.

Inevitably, there will be certain teams that others will attempt to avoid in the playoffs. I know next year, every Western Conference playoff team will try and avoid playing the Nuggets, who dominated the competition in the playoffs this past year.. They will be on the hunt to win back-to-back titles.

As we get ready for the season to get underway here in October, here are some teams that the Mavericks should hope to avoid if they want to make a deep playoff run next season.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

You might be wondering why I added the Oklahoma City Thunder to this list considering they weren't even in the playoff picture last year. However, based on how a lot of their young talent did last season and the fact that they did get some good players in the draft, I wouldn't want to play them in the playoffs.

Josh Giddey will return this season as their starting point guard. Giddey has surprised a lot of folks in the couple of years he's been playing in the NBA. I even thought he was going to win Rookie of the Year when he first entered the league.

Another player that the Mavericks will need to be concerned about in the playoffs is Chet Holmgren. He missed the entirety of this past season with an injury, but he'll be ready for a big-time bounce back. After watching him take on the Mavericks at Summer League this summer, I wouldn't want to be the center guarding him in the post.

Oklahoma City also added rookie Cason Wallace a the trade with the Mavericks in the NBA Draft. He looked good in Vegas against the Mavericks as well. The Mavericks should not want to go up against the Thunder if they are healthy around playoff time.

4. Sacramento Kings

I think everyone was surprised when the Sacramento Kings came out of nowhere and made the playoffs last season. After the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated prior to the Play-In Tournament, I needed a team to root for, and I picked the Kings.

Their team is like a stealth bomber, as teams often misjudge them while doing the scouting report, underestimating the talent on their squad at every turn.

They made some impressive signings during the offseason that the Mavericks should be concerned about. They re-signed Domantas Sabonis, who was an All-NBA Third Team center last year, and should be primed for another great year this season.

They also traded for wing Chris Duarte, who was a solid addition and signed Sasha Vezenkov, who played for Olympiacos Piraeus this past year. Vezenkov is a former EuroLeague MVP who can make some three-pointers coming off the bench. Whether his game translates to the NBA or not is yet to be seen.

With all these new additions to the squad, the Kings will probably make another postseason run this season. With how well they performed last year and the talent they added, Dallas may want to avoid the Kings.

3. Golden State Warriors

I think that all Western Conference teams should want to avoid the Golden State Warriors when it comes to playoff time. They have more playoff experience than any team in the West.

Stephen Curry is the leader of the Warriors alongside long-time teammates Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. This squad is very scary to go up against in the playoffs if everyone can remain healthy.

The Warriors traded Jordan Poole for Chris Paul this summer, bringing in another veteran presence who will give them great depth at the guard position, as well as valuable experience. His fit on the team will be an intriguing storyline to follow.

All that being said, Golden State's three-point attack is their scariest weapon. If the Mavericks have defensive issues like they did last season, a healthy Warriors team would carve right through them on the offensive end.

Hopefully, Grant Williams, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Dereck Lively II, and Richaun Holmes can step up on defense if Dallas does end up facing the Warriors.

If Dallas fails to make improvements, the Warriors could dispose of them quickly, just as they did a couple of years ago in the 2022 Western Conference finals en route to a fourth championship in eight seasons.

2. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are another team the Dallas Mavericks should be scared to face in the playoffs, regardless of the round. They have Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker as their new Big 3.

Phoenix also added a lot of solid role players such as Yuta Watanabe, Josh Okogie (who they re-signed), and Drew Eubanks, rounding out their bench unit. They have one very clear goal in mind - winning a championship at any expense.

Fans should remember the last time the Mavericks took on the Suns in the playoffs. It got a little chippy between the players.

Luka Doncic and the team embarrassed Devin Booker and the Suns on their home court, winning 123-90 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals back in 2022. It even forced their GM to write an apology note to their fans the following week, addressing the Suns' poor performance.

I know the Suns want their revenge against the Mavericks for that the next time they play each other in the playoffs. This should be one of the teams Dallas should try to and avoid.

The Suns have gotten a lot better since the last time they played each other in the playoffs, and that could have a different outcome the next time that these two teams face off against each other.

1. Denver Nuggets

I'm pretty sure you know why the Denver Nuggets are number one on this list. They are the current NBA Champions and will do whatever it takes to get back to the mountaintop and repeat as champions.

NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets have everyone coming back except for Thomas Bryant, Jeff Green, and Bruce Brown. And while the latter two played pretty big roles, Denver will undoubtedly have players ready to step up and fill the void they left.

Don't be surprised if Christian Braun has a more significant role in the offense this year. He helped the Nuggets in the NBA Finals, coming off the bench and providing offense when the team was struggling to make baskets.

The fact that Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon are returning is going to make the Nuggets a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference this year once again.

The Dallas Mavericks need to do everything in their power to avoid these five teams if they want to make the NBA Finals next season. If they end up having to face any of these teams, they are going to have to buckle down and focus.

Any little mistakes that the Mavericks make against these five could spell the end of their season and their title hopes as a whole.