No. 2 Mavs Get Some NBA Playoff Clarity
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DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) - The Dallas Mavericks outcome against the Utah Jazz on Monday was muddled. A 109-92 loss for which Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis didn't even show up. But now the Mavs' playoff picture suddenly has a great deal of clarity.
It's quite likely that for the seventh time in 14 years, and for the fourth time in seven years, we get Mavs-Spurs as a playoff series.
"I'm not worried at all, said Rajon Rondo after participating in what amounted to a 'Game-81' scrimmage against the Jazz. "It's getting closer, but we have one more game to sharpen some things up.''
That "one more game'' is Wednesday's regular-season finale at home against Portland. Except for the 49-32 Mavs hoping to reach the 50-win mark, that one's meaningless - a tune-up game during which they'll scoreboard-watch to see if the Spurs are beating New Orleans, in which case the No. 7 Mavs will begin the first round of the NBA Playoffs this weekend in San Antonio.
If the Spurs (winners of 11 straight and 21 of their last 24) lose to a Pelicans team that will qualify for the No. 8 slot with a victory? The Rockets can win the No. 2 slot if they beat the Jazz on Wednesday -and- the Spurs lose to the Pelicans. (As a Mavs fan, that's the scenario you are rooting for).
The Clippers will take the No. 2 seed if they win their regular-season finale against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday -and- the Spurs -and- Rockets both lose the following night.
But Dallas controls none of that. Instead, they are resting their stars and hoping that Chandler Parsons' knee problem will allow him to participate as the postseason begins.
"It's just not making the progress I hoped it would,'' Parsons said.
The Mavs would like to get Parsons, would like to get progress, and whether they like it or not, seem likely to get the Spurs, too. Again!
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