Season Predictions
Regular Season: After acquiring pass-happy PG Rajon Rondo early on in the season, the Mavericks were expected to be instant title contenders, featuring arguably the most complete starting lineup in basketball. There’s Rondo, the offensively talented wing SG Monta Ellis and SF Chandler Parsons, franchise star PF Dirk Nowitzki, and defensive anchor C Tyson Chandler. However, Rondo hasn’t fit in so well with Dallas, even fighting with Head Coach Rick Carlisle as of late. In addition, the Mavericks lack depth behind their talented starting five. It hasn’t been too bad, however, as they’re still on pace to win 53 games and have studs on both sides of the ball, but the brutality of the Western Conference and the Southwest Division in particular lowers them to a six seed.
Projected Record: 52-28
Playoffs Round One
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (#6)
Despite the talent in their starting lineup and collective playoff experience, there are two things going against Dallas in the playoffs: depth and team chemistry. Despite the signing of PF/C Amare Stoudemire, this team still doesn’t have a rim protector behind Chandler, an even more glaring issue when you consider that he’s currently injured. Wing depth is also a problem, as is just the second unit in general, with no real leader in it. Rondo’s inability to adapt since getting traded from Boston and fight with Carlisle point to obvious team chemistry issues as well, absolutely critical for winning in the playoffs. The Rockets have none of these issues, as well as being a star point guard away from a starting five more complete than the Mavericks, featuring MVP-frontrunner superstar SG James Harden as well as superstar C Dwight Howard. Forwads Trevor Ariza and Josh Smith are excellent defenders as well, and we all know how pesky PG Patrick Beverley can be on that side of the ball. Also, when your second-unit lineup is as follows: PG Pablo Prigioni, SG K.J McDaniels, SF/SG Corey Brewer, PF Terrence Jones, PF/C Donatas Motiejunas and still spare SG/PG Jason Terry and PF Kostas Papanikolaou, you’ve got mad depth. The Rockets look like an elite title contender, much less a squad that can take down a team with depth and chemistry issues in the first round.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-2
Regular Season: After acquiring pass-happy PG Rajon Rondo early on in the season, the Mavericks were expected to be instant title contenders, featuring arguably the most complete starting lineup in basketball. There’s Rondo, the offensively talented wing SG Monta Ellis and SF Chandler Parsons, franchise star PF Dirk Nowitzki, and defensive anchor C Tyson Chandler. However, Rondo hasn’t fit in so well with Dallas, even fighting with Head Coach Rick Carlisle as of late. In addition, the Mavericks lack depth behind their talented starting five. It hasn’t been too bad, however, as they’re still on pace to win 53 games and have studs on both sides of the ball, but the brutality of the Western Conference and the Southwest Division in particular lowers them to a six seed.
Projected Record: 52-28
Playoffs Round One
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (#6)
Despite the talent in their starting lineup and collective playoff experience, there are two things going against Dallas in the playoffs: depth and team chemistry. Despite the signing of PF/C Amare Stoudemire, this team still doesn’t have a rim protector behind Chandler, an even more glaring issue when you consider that he’s currently injured. Wing depth is also a problem, as is just the second unit in general, with no real leader in it. Rondo’s inability to adapt since getting traded from Boston and fight with Carlisle point to obvious team chemistry issues as well, absolutely critical for winning in the playoffs. The Rockets have none of these issues, as well as being a star point guard away from a starting five more complete than the Mavericks, featuring MVP-frontrunner superstar SG James Harden as well as superstar C Dwight Howard. Forwads Trevor Ariza and Josh Smith are excellent defenders as well, and we all know how pesky PG Patrick Beverley can be on that side of the ball. Also, when your second-unit lineup is as follows: PG Pablo Prigioni, SG K.J McDaniels, SF/SG Corey Brewer, PF Terrence Jones, PF/C Donatas Motiejunas and still spare SG/PG Jason Terry and PF Kostas Papanikolaou, you’ve got mad depth. The Rockets look like an elite title contender, much less a squad that can take down a team with depth and chemistry issues in the first round.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-2