Mavericks vs. Spurs: Playoff Preview

8. Dallas Mavericks (49-33) vs. 1. San Antonio Spurs (62-20)
Western Conference Quarterfinals

Schedule
Game 1 - Sun. April 20,  at San Antonio, 12 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21
Game 2 - Wed. April 23,  at San Antonio, 7 p.m., NBA TV, Ch. 21
Game 3 - Sat. April 26, at Dallas, 3:30 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21
Game 4 - Mon. April 28, at Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21
Game 5 * Wed. April 30,  at San Antonio, TBD, Ch. 21
Game 6 * Fri. May 2, at Dallas, TBD, Ch. 21
Game 7 * Sun. May 4, at San Antonio, TBD, Ch. 21
* = if necessary

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 26 at Dallas
Spurs 116 Mavs 107
Jan. 8 at San Antonio
Spurs 112 Mavs 90
Mar. 2 at San Antonio
Spurs 112 Mavs 106
Apr. 10 at Dallas
Spurs 109 Mavs 100

All-Time Regular Season Series
Spurs 96 Mavs 64

All-Time Playoff Results
2001 West Semifinals
Spurs 4 Mavs 1
2003 West Finals
Spurs 4 Mavs 2
2006 West Semifinals
Mavs 4 Spurs 3
2009 West Quaterfinals
Mavs 4 Spurs 1
2010 West Quarterfinals
Spurs 4 Mavs 2

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 3rd (111.2)
Defense: 22nd (108.7)
Spurs
Offense: 7th (110.5)
Defense: 3rd (102.4)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Spurs
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Tiago Splitter

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.7
RPG: Dalembert, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.7
PER: Nowitzki, 23.6
Spurs
PPG: Parker, 16.7
RPG: Duncan, 9.7
APG: Parker, 5.7
PER: Duncan, 21.3

Notes
The Spurs are the Mavs most frequent playoff opponent.  This is the sixth time the two teams have met in the postseason since 2001. Of course Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan have played in all of those series. The lower seed has won each of the last three matchups between the teams. The Mavericks 49 wins are the third most all-time for an 8 seed in the playoffs. Only the 2008 Nuggets and 2010 Thunder, who won 50 games apiece have won more. The Spurs have the longest active playoff streak by far at 17 years. Surprisingly Atlanta is second with 7 years in a row. Only four current Mavs played in the team's last playoff series two years ago: Dirk, Shawn Marion, Vince Carter and Brandan Wright. Dirk's playoff averages of 25.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game easily exceed his regular season averages of 22.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.


Prediction: Spurs in 5
Mavs have the ability to be keep it competitive enough to win a game or maybe two, but the Spurs are just too good and can score seemingly at will against the Dallas defense.