3 Questions to tip-off: Expert weighs in on OKC Thunder vs. Mavericks

TI Q1 – To tank or not to tank

The Mavericks enter the matchup versus the OKC Thunder with a 4-15 record and are arguably the greatest enigma of the NBA. Dallas was seemingly a shoo-in to tank (in the last season a team can actively do so). But, they’ve beat the Grizzlies twice and their other two wins came versus the Wizards and Bucks.  Moreover, they pushed the Spurs, Pelicans and Cavaliers plus took the NBA’s top ranked Celtics into overtime.

Factor in the numerous injuries squads presumed to be vying for playoff seeds are dealing with:

• Spurs:  Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker  – unknown return date (both -quadriceps injury)
• Clippers: Patrick Beverley – gone for season (torn meniscus) |Milos Teodosic – no timetable (plantar fascia )
• Nuggets: Paul Millsap – out three to four months (wrist)
• Grizzlies: Mike Conley – at least another 2 weeks (strained Achilles)
• Blazers: Al-Farouq Aminu – up to 3 weeks (ankle) |C.J. Wilcox -6 to 8 weeks (knee)
• Jazz: Rudy Gobert – 4 to 6 weeks (knee) | Dante Exum – unknown (shoulder)

Plus there are squads still dealing with chemistry and integration issues of new players like the Thunder, Wolves and Rockets.  All this adds up to a season of flux in which only the Warriors and Rockets have created much separation from the pack.

Okay, so long explanation to get to my point. Typically the Mavericks aren’t a throw in the towel type of team.  Based on your knowledge will the Mavericks fight for a playoff seed or join the tank brigade? And, from your perspective what is the better decision?

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/933537203493507072

Rast on the Mav’s process:

You really like to get started with the controversial topics here! For the second year in a row Dallas are in a unique situation. And, people are still really confused by it. The first thing to remember when it comes to Dallas is that it is comprised of three people who are the most recognizable faces in the Mavericks organization: Mark Cuban, Rick Carlisle, and Dirk Nowitzki. All three absolutely hate losing and if they feel competitive they will fight for every single game.

The bigger concern with the equation here is the Mavericks manpower. There are a lot of teams in the West who are truly hurting from either lack of continuity or injury concerns as you said. The Mavs problem is maybe worse than both of those situations in that we don’t have the firepower even with a healthy lineup.

Barnes looks good but isn’t going to wow us every single night. Dirk is getting old, Wes Matthews is truly struggling with consistency, and Dennis Smith Jr. is still a rookie. Then you have the Nerlens Noel situation which we will get into, and two old point guards who are left to run the second unit. It is a hard team to work with and to expect the same results from night in and night out.

Certain parties will never buy into the tank:

Cuban or Carlisle will never fully join team tank unless it is the only option remaining. I don’t think the Mavericks have attempted to tank yet this season.  Rather, they are still just finding miraculous ways to lose. I tend to side with management in this case but, from what I have learned from the fanbase, I am a bit of an outlier in that aspect.

It is hard not to want the tank with the stacked draft coming up. But, Dallas can’t really go wrong either way. On one hand Dallas  get a top talent in a stacked draft. On the other they make the playoffs and a rookie with unbelievable talent gains a ton of confidence going into his second season, plus gains trust in the Mavs front office.