Mocking the Mavs

With the lottery completed and the draft order set, last night saw a flurry of mock drafts posted online. A look at who those mocks have the Mavs selecting with the 21st pick.

ESPN.com (Chad Ford)
R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia St.
"The Mavs are potentially looking at holes at the 1, 2 (assuming Monta Ellis opts out) and 5 this year. Adding a potential lights-out shooter such as Hunter makes a lot of sense. Delon Wright, Justin Anderson and Rashad Vaughn are other possibilities for Dallas.

NBA.com (Scott Howard-Cooper)
Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
"Jones has great instincts, especially for a freshman, sees the court, plays at different speeds, and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.16-1 through Jan. 21. The other reason Dallas would like Jones: He's not Rajon Rondo."

SB Nation (Kevin O' Connor)
Rondae Hollis Jefferson, SF, Arizona
"Hollis-Jefferson is a stout perimeter defender with the versatility to defend multiple positions. His jumper is a major weakness, but the Mavericks have a history of helping players develop into competent shooters."

CBS Sports (Zach Harper)
Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
"Rajon Rondo won't be an option for the Mavericks' point guard position after all, so Tyus Jones could come in and fight for a starting spot right away. He has enough size and plenty of skill to fit in with Rick Carlisle's demands."

SI.com (Chris Mannix)
Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville

"The Mavs need a point guard, and Utah’s Delon Wright is a candidate here. But Harrell—a high motor scorer/rebounder with an NBA body—could be tough to pass up for a team that will eventually need to start thinking of life after Dirk Nowtizki."

Draft Express
Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame 

NBADraft.net
Delon Wright, PG, Utah

Conference Finals Predicitions

Warriors 4 Rockets 1
Cavaliers 4 Hawks 2

Conference Semifinals Predictions

Golden St. 4 Memphis 1
L.A. Clippers 4 Houston 2
Atlanta 4 Washington 3
Cleveland 4 Chicago 2

Parsons Has Knee Surgery

The Mavericks announced today that Chandler Parsons underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to address the cartridge injury in his right knee. The surgery was preformed by Mavs team doctor T.O. Souryal in Dallas. A timetable for his return to basketball activities will be determined in the future.

Parsons posted the following photo on Instagram with the message:  "Thank you for all the support throughout this process. I will be back stronger and better than ever!!"

Exit Interviews Quotes

Some select quotes from Mavs exit interviews earlier today.

Devin Harris
"However RC wants to use me, that’s how he’ll use me. If it’s starting, if it’s coming off the bench, he’ll figure that out but I think that he likes me coming off the bench, but starting is something I’ve done my whole career so I definitely can go back to it."

J.J. Barea
"I think we’re a great organization. We’re committed to winning and we try everything to win. You saw it this year, they made trades, they brought free agents here, they tried. They’re going to swing to try to win. I think it’s a good city, a good place to live."

Al-Farouq Aminu
"I had a lot of growth this year. Just being around these vets I learned a lot about how to conduct myself throughout the year. And I really appreciate everything from the coaching staff and the vets. I learned a lot."

Amar'e Stoudemire
"I'm already paid in full. Money is great to have, but it's now what I'm searching for at this point."

Charlie Villanueva
"It was great. Even though we fell short, I look at this season as a success for me. It was the first time winning 50 games, first time going to the playoffs. It was definitely a successful one for me, personally. I've still got this taste in my mouth. A bad taste. I want to bounce back from that and experience more."

Chandler Parsons
 "I have a lot of good relationships with a lot of guys. Obviously now with the season just ended yesterday I haven’t talked with them about who or what or whatever but we’ll take a look here soon. I’ll be in Dallas pretty much all summer so I’m sure we’ll have those conversations when the time comes."

Tyson Chandler
"This has been amazing here. Not only for myself but for my family, welcoming me back with open arms. Everybody in the city is so respectful and kind if you’re walking down the street, restaurants and different things. Makes it an easy city to live in. I’ve said on the website here that it truly meant a lot to me and I appreciate the fans here. I think they’re the best. It truly makes a difference. It makes coming and doing your job easy."

Dirk Nowitzki
"Yeah, I mean, whatever it takes. My last two years I want to enjoy. I want to be a good team. I want to be on a winning team. Playoffs. Hopefully deep runs. So, yeah, anything I've got to do to help is obviously no question."

Rick Carlisle
"Our desire is not to have a locker room of free agents every year. That said, the guys that we've had have been terrific."

Donnie Nelson (on the Rondo deal)
"If we had to do it all over again, we definitely would."

Rockets 103 Mavericks 94: WCQF Game 5 Recap

The Lead
The Mavericks season ends despite a valiant effort undone by poor shooting.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 25
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 14
Assists: Barea, 9
+-: Harris, +5
Rockets
Points: Harden, 28
Rebounds: Howard, 19
Assists: Harden, 8
+-: Harden, +16

Game Ball
Al-Farouq Aminu
14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals, 7-8 FT

X-Factor
Devin Harris
8 points, 4 rebounds, 4-4 FT

Play of the Game
After a Mavericks turnover with 1:09 left, James Harden dishes to Terrence Jones for a dunk on the break to put the Rockets up 8. No foul was called despite Harden running over Monta Ellis right after passing the ball.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs shot only 38% from the field including an abysmal 5-26 on threes.

Of Note

• The Mavericks have now lost three straight times in the first round since winning the 2011 championship.
• Dirk's 14 rebounds enabled to finish the series with averages above 20 points and 10 rebounds (21.2 and 10.2). His career playoff averages now sit at 25.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.
• Dirk was 7-13 shooting in the second half after a 1-10 first half.
• Al-Farouq Aminu was 7-11 (64%) on threes for the series after shooting only 27% from deep in the regular season.
• The Mavs are 1-8 on the road in the playoffs since Game 6 of the 2011 Finals.

Grades
Nowitzki: B
Aminu: A
Chandler: B
Ellis: B-
Barea: C
Villanueva: B+
Stoudemire: D
Harris: B

Quote of Note
 "It's disappointing. When you start training camp, your goal is to win a championship. You always want to fight and give yourself. Anytime that you're less than that, it's always disappointing and you've got to do what it takes in the offseason to continue to pursue."
Tyson Chandler

Next Up
The 2015-16 Season 

Mavericks at Rockets: WCQF Game 5 Preview

(7.) Dallas Mavericks vs. (2.) Houston Rockets
Western Conference Quarterfinals: Game 5
Rockets lead series 3-1
Tues. April 28, 7:00 at the Toyota Center
TV: Ch. 21, TNT
Line: Rockets by 7

Series Results
Game 1: April 18 at Houston
Rockets 118 Mavs 108
Game 2: April 21 at Houston
Rockets 111 Mavs 99
Game 3: April 24 at Dallas
Rockets 130 Mavs 128
Game 4: April 26 at Dallas
Mavs 121 Rockets 109

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Rockets
PG: Jason Terry
SG: James Harden
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Terrence Jones
C: Dwight Howard


Series Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 113.5 (4th)
Def. Rating: 116.4 (16th)
Pace: 100.5 (1st)
Point Differential: -3.0
Rockets
Offense: 116.4 (1st)
Defense: 113.5 (13th)
Pace: 100.5 (1st)
Point Differential: +3.0

Series Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 26.3
RPG: Chandler, 12.0
APG: Barea, 7.0
SPG: Ellis, 1.5
BPG: Aminu, 2.0
PER: Villanueva, 25.4
Rockets
PPG: Harden, 28.5
RPG: Howard, 12.5
APG: Harden, 7.8
SPG: Harden, Ariza, 1.3
BPG: Howard, 2.8
PER: Harden, 28.1

Of Note

• The Mavericks are 0-9 all-time in best of seven series in which they were down 3-1.
• Monta Ellis had the two highest scoring playoff games of his career in games 3 and 4 with 34 and 31 points.
• The Mavs are 0-4 in games at Houston this season.
• Al Farouq's 16 points in game 4 was his second highest total of the season behind the 17 points he scored against the Rockets on Feb. 20.
• According to a report from ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon, Chandler Parsons might require microfracture surgery on his injured right knee.