Dallas Mavs' Daniel Gafford Channels Los Angeles Lakers Great Kobe Bryant Ahead of NBA Playoffs

The Dallas Mavericks have officially clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs, but big man Daniel Gafford isn't celebrating just yet. He says his team must continue to "take care of business" until the job is done.

The Dallas Mavericks clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs after a blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, and they can clinch a 50-win season and their fifth division title in franchise history with a win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Dallas has morphed into the best defensive team in the league over its last 15 games and has loads of momentum heading into the postseason.

All of that is nice, but the Mavs aren't satisfied with just getting to the playoffs. After Tuesday's win, big man Daniel Gafford, who finished with 26 points (12-12 FG), seven rebounds and two blocks, expressed how his team still wants something more by channeling the late, great Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

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“I’m pretty sure everybody is excited," Gafford said in his postgame interview with Bally Sports Southwest. "It’s a business, so we've got to make sure to take care of business down the road. We can be excited, but in the great words of Kobe Bryant, God rest his soul, ‘The job’s not done until it’s done.'"

The Mavs are talking like true title contenders, and the numbers they've posted over the last 15 games back that talk up. During this span, where Dallas has gone 13-2, it has the No. 1 defensive rating (105.3), No. 7 offensive rating (117.1) and No. 2 in net rating (11.8). Being a top-10 team in both offense and defense is key to becoming a true title contender, and the Mavs looked the part since trading for Gafford and P.J. Washington.

"We're not satisfied to say this is our best," Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said. "Hopefully this is just the start of our journey. ... When guys are having fun playing defense, you have a chance."