MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

On a positive note, we should hear something on Lively soon. The 4-week mark for revaluation is next Wednesday. Maybe all 3 are back around the same time.

The game on March 16th against the 76ers looks like a good target. It’s a home game with 3 days before the next game @ the Pacers. 

Gives them 14 games remaining to try and find chemistry.

Would mean: 
Lively had 8 weeks to recover.
AD & Gaff had 5 weeks to recover.

Maybe Gaff comes back a bit sooner even. 


Can the Mavs stay afloat for 14 more games till then?

   

Looking through my proposed 14-game absence of Davis, Gafford, and Lively. It's hard to find any easy win. I think the Mavs will be favored in 5 of them. Let's assume that's how many they win, putting their record at 33-35, before a possible return of the Mavs Big's. I think the Mavs can finish 10-4 or 9-5 from there. That puts them at 42 or 43 wins.

The 10th seed in the West last year had 46 wins. The current 9 and 10 seed, Kings and Warriors, are both on pace for 42 wins. The Kings have gotten worse and the Warriors possibly better, post-TDL. Then you have the Suns lurking at 11, on pace for 40 wins, but a true wildcard, with the toughest strength of schedule remaining in the NBA. The Spurs at 12 would have to win 61% (19-12) of their games to reach 42.

Even if the Mavs make the play-in, they will likely have to win two games to even earn the chance to face the 1 seed Thunder. It is becoming more and more difficult to stay positive, but it would be really intriguing to see how a healthy Mavs roster matches up against the best in the West.