The Dallas Mavericks deserve their spot in the NBA Finals. The team might not have the star power that other teams in the Western Conference may have, but they’ve proven throughout the postseason that they’re anything but easy opponents.
The Mavericks know that their Finals opponents will only make their quest for a second championship banner more difficult. The Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA right now, with their regular-season standing and postseason performances corroborating the reputation.
The C’s are hotly tipped to win the FInals opener and the rest of the series, but that doesn’t mean that the Mavs are down and out for the count. The team has proven throughout the postseason that they have what it takes to bring down a team with a better roster than them on paper.
Moreover, an interesting statistic provides an interesting perspective on how the series would potentially pan out.
Dallas Mavericks join legendary Rockets and Lakers teams in impressive postseason feat
A quick look at the Mavericks’ postseason journey will reveal one thing: the Mavs went through most of the tougher teams on their way to the Finals.
The Los Angeles Clippers managed to get 51 wins and took the Mavericks to seven games. The Oklahoma City Thunder also put the team through the wringer after leading the Western Conference with their 57-win record. While the Minnesota Timberwolves are no slouches with their 56-26 record, the Mavs made short work of them.
Dallas faced tough opposition every step to the Finals, making their trek one of the most difficult ones in recent memory. They join an interesting group of teams that had to take down three 50+-win teams to make the Finals:
Teams that have beaten three 50+ win teams to reach the #NBAFinals:
– 1995 Rockets
– 2001 Lakers
– 2008 Lakers
– 2010 Lakers
– 2024 Mavericks pic.twitter.com/vjUTsBH5dX— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 3, 2024
The Mavericks are joining an exclusive club with this recognition. Hakeem Olajuwon led the 1995 Houston Rockets that had to go through the ringer. Kobe Bryant was present in every iteration of the Los Angeles Lakers that beat 50+-win teams.
While the 2008 Lakers show that winning against teams that won more than 50 games in the regular season doesn’t assure the championship, it does paint an encouraging picture for Mavs fans who may feel stressed over Boston’s roster.
For More Content
Message me at [email protected] for questions and opportunities