Could the Mavericks miss the playoffs?

[Ed Hollison]

I've been wondering if the Mavs might stand a chance of missing the playoffs this year, thus triggering a (late) lottery pick to the Celtics in the 2015 draft thanks to the Rondo trade. (Correct me if I'm wrong here.)

They've got a great team and are 20-10, tied for the Clippers for #5/#6 in the West. But OKC is now healthy again and almost assuredly will take up a playoff spot when the dust settles (they're currently #10). And I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spurs overtake the Mavs (currently right behind them) in the standings.

If both of those teams overtake the Mavericks, then Dallas would be slotted into the 8th seed. So you'd need one of the current lottery teams in the West -- probably New Orleans -- to catch up to Dallas the rest of the way.

Improbable, but not impossible. Dallas really hasn't played great lately and are 5-5 in their last 10. And, of course, this year's West might be the most stacked conference in NBA history. They could be one Dirk high ankle sprain away from this becoming reality.

[Kuberski33]

If they had been able to add both Josh Smith and Jermaine O'Neal I'd have said they have a very good chance of missing the playoffs.  Add to many people at once without a training camp - especially strong personalities and the whole identity of your team could change.

It is possible, just because of the number of decent teams in the west, but not likely.

[Fafnir]

Yes of course they could. A Dirk injury could drop them out of the playoffs, maybe a Tyson injury as well...

[ronaldo943]

Yes.

[slamtheking]

barring a major injury to a key player, they're in.

[D.o.s.]

The bottom half of the Western Conference is always very competitive.

[Mencius]

I definitely think it's possible.  OKC is going to be in.  Dallas is only 4 games up on Phoenix, and I suspect Phoenix will make a move or two prior to the deadline.  Plus, Dallas has some old starters subject to injury, and they decimated their bench.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if they dropped out of the playoffs.

[GreenGoggles]

In the hyper competitive West I'm never surprised by a team not making it when I felt like they were a lock and a team getting hot and sneaking in when I thought they had no chance.

[GreenFaith1819]

Nope, and I'd suspect that they climb a spot or two.

[Celtics18]

I put the odds of the Mavs missing the playoffs about equal to the odds of the Celtics making the playoffs:

Not likely, but possible. 

[pearljammer10]

No chance of that happening unless they hit a major injury. I see them as one of three or four legit title contenders this season.

[Chris22]

Dallas is 1-2 with Rondo.

They traded away all their depth.

Ainge is a genius.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Dallas is 1-2 with Rondo.

They traded away all their depth.

Ainge is a genius.

Of course. Because 1-2 means missing the Playoffs. Guess the Warriors will also miss the Playoffs as they were 1-2 in the last three games.

With all the talent they have, it will take some major injuries for them to drop out of the Playoffs.

Here's the deal, genius. Until Ainge turns all those assets into a player we can build around, he's nothing but.

[cons]

I'd have to say, with 100% certainty, that this could go either way.

[Csfan1984]

Sure there is a chance