6 Teams that are worse than the Dallas Mavericks despite their records
By Noah Weber
![Feb 22, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with Dallas Feb 22, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with Dallas](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4687,h_2636,x_0,y_86/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/83/01hsf56stdk2022vhcqf.jpg)
1. LA Clippers
The Dallas Mavericks' biggest nemesis during the playoffs during the Luka Doncic era has been the LA Clippers, and even though they are 42-25 on the year, they haven't particularly been playing well as of late.
The Clippers are 5-5 in their last 10 games, and they have lost four of their last six games. These losses came to the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Milwaukee Bucks, and a playoff matchup between these two teams would be an exciting rematch that everyone would love to see.
The Mavs are a completely different team from the squad that played the Clippers in 2020 and 2021, and Dallas' new and improved defense may be enough to slow down Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers are another team that the Mavs could play their game against, since all of their centers are traditional bigs, and Dallas plays these teams well.
The Mavs are 1-2 against the Clippers on the year, but all three of their matchups came early in the year. Dallas was without Kyrie Irving in their most recent matchup, and Doncic would surely be out for revenge if they face off against the Clippers again. Luka brings his best when playing against LA, and this would be his chance to finally get revenge.
Doncic loves exposing Ivica Zubac in open space when he gets that switch out of the pick and roll, and I don't think Clippers fans would want to see Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.
For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks as the playoffs quickly approach, stay tuned.
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