On New Year’s Eve, the Dallas Mavericks (13-28) polished off a year-ending victory over Oklahoma City to give them a fourth consecutive win and strong momentum going into 2018 and a four-game home stand.
While many figured it was important to break out the blueprints on a potential run to the eighth place spot in the Western Conference, a three-game skid to start the year and just 13 wins, proves easily that another lottery pick might be in the offing for the Mavericks at the halfway point of this season.
Game No. 41 of 82 came and went Sunday in a 100-96 loss to the New York Knicks, and while that looks close on paper, it was as far you could get from where a playoff-caliber team, let alone a title-chasing team, needs to be.