Mavericks Looking to Capture Unprecedented Four-Peat
Aug 24, 2022 11:58:03 GMT -5
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Post by 20s on Aug 24, 2022 11:58:03 GMT -5
As the dawn of the 3031 TMBSL Playoffs approaches, the Dallas Mavericks have given themselves the first chance of any franchise to win four consecutive championships.
Before last season when the Mavs took home their third straight title, no team had won more than two in a row. But now, one season later, Dallas has the chance to double the previous standard.
Many in the league scoffed at LeBron James infamous “not 1, not 2, not 3” line at his pep rally in Dallas after being drafted, but they didn’t know he was talking about consecutive titles.
Both Vegas odds and the commissioner’s own prediction model have the Mavericks as heavy favorites to retain the crown, and why wouldn’t you?
The commish’s model gives Dallas a 68.6% chance at bringing home the Larry O’Brien trophy, or about 2 out of every 3 times. The next best chance is the Knicks at 12%, the Nuggets at 5% and then the Bucks at 3.9%. After that, there is a smattering of teams with minuscule shots.
Vegas has the Mavs at 2-1, the Knicks at 5-1, and the field at 10-1. Early bets have been rolling in on the field and the Knicks, with not much money being placed on the defending champs. If this is any indication, many see Dallas as vulnerable this postseason.
The projections seem to indicate that it may be more difficult for the Mavs to make it out of the West than win the Finals, but if they are able to get past their expected WCF opponent in the Nuggets or Bucks, they will likely have another formidable foe waiting for them in the New York Knicks.
The Challengers:
Denver Nuggets -
Why they can do it: This is a balanced and deep club who has plenty of guys who can score, rebound and defend. If they are going to pull the upset, it will be a team effort. The Nuggets have a strong bench led by 6th man of the year Kwame Brown, although we are hearing rumors he may be switched to the starting lineup for the postseason.
Why they won’t: Dwight Howard is just the guy to shut Shaquille O’Neal down and they (like everyone else) don’t have an answer for LeBron.
Milwaukee Bucks -
Why they can do it: The Bucks made a big splash after the All Star Break adding all league SG Charlie Bell to what was already a strong squad. They responded well after a couple hiccups in the first couple sims and this is the hottest team in TMBSL. The Bucks finished 33-5 in their last 38 and took home the ELO crown and the championship belt. Cousins and Bell might be the best hope to matchup with Howard and James.
Why they won’t:
A team’s best chance to take out the Mavs might be to exploit first year starting PG Kira Lewis Jr. and I’m not sure the Bucks with Shane Heal have the firepower to do that.
New York Knicks -
Why they can do it: The Knicks do have the PG advantage with former Mavs legend and league MVP Malcolm Huckaby leading the show. As a former teammate who went up against Lewis in practice, the veteran Huckaby probably knows exactly how to exploit the young gun.
Why they won’t:
The Knicks padded their win total playing in the weaker Eastern conference and might not be battle tested enough to take out the three time defending champs. Also, does Trevor Ariza have what it takes to stop LeBron James?
While it’s fun to dive into the numbers and probabilities, these guys aren’t just 1s and 0s and ultimately this will be decided by the players on the hardwood. We look forward to seeing how it plays out.
