Dallas 'Destiny'? Luka Doncic's Mavs Control NBA Playoffs Fate Entering Final Stretch
Few things are more daunting in sports than not being able to control your destiny when it comes to making the playoffs or determining where you'll end up when the postseason begins.
That isn't the case, though, for the Dallas Mavericks as they enter their final 15 games of the season. Dallas (38-29) currently sits at the eighth seed and is a half-game back of the Sacramento Kings for the seventh seed and a game back of the Phoenix Suns for the sixth seed.
Dallas will have its chance to not just make up ground, but surpass the Kings (38-28), as they play in back-to-back games in Sacramento on March 26 and 29th. Those matchups will be imperative not just for seeding, but winning both would lead Dallas to go 2-2 against the Kings this season and could potentially give them the edge in a tiebreaker scenario. The Kings won the first two matchups 129-113 on Nov. 19 and 120-115 on Jan. 27.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas went 2-1 against Phoenix (39-28) this season and holds the tiebreaker if they finish the season with the same record.
The schedule breaks favorably for Dallas, as among its final 15 games, only seven are against teams that hold a play-in or playoff spot. Dallas has two games against the Golden State Warriors and faces the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in its final game of the season.
The Kings and Suns' paths toward moving up or holding their ground in the Western Conference standings are much more daunting. For Sacramento, 10 of its final 16 games are against teams in the play-in or holding a playoff spot. In the Suns' final 15 games, 12 are against teams in the play-in or holding a playoff spot, including a road matchup against the Kings on April 12.
Where the Mavs land in the playoff picture will come down to their ability to win games they're supposed to and winning both of their remaining games against the Kings. Luka Doncic's health will likely be the deciding factor, as he's already missed one game due to a hamstring injury and an extended absence could doom the Mavs' chances of moving out of the play-in.
Even just moving up to the seventh seed could do wonders for Dallas' chances of making it out of the play-in, as that would mean it gets to host the first play-in game and if necessary, the second play-in matchup in what would determine who gets the final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs.
Everything is set up for Dallas to move up to the sixth seed and avoid the play-in entirely if it can heat up at the right time and take advantage of an easier schedule compared to the Kings and Suns. If the Mavs can catch fire and move up to the sixth seed, they'll be one of the more dangerous teams in the final eight.
