National Basketball Association

Roundtable: Who Will Me the Most Important Opponent for the Mavs?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Apr 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) guards Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to regular season series against certain opponents, each game counts. Which team is going to be the most important for Dallas to do well against this season?

For those of you who are Texas Rangers fans as well as Dallas Mavericks fans, I’m going to leadoff this post with an example. If you are not a Rangers fan, that’s ok too, just bear with me for a moment.

This season, the Texas Rangers have already clinched the AL West division in convincing fashion. Our interstate and division rivals, the Houston Astros, have been all but eliminated from the playoff race and are 11 games back from the Rangers.

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The thing is, if the Astros hadn’t played the Rangers this season, they would be one of the best teams in the league. At a total record of 83-76, Houston is 3.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the 2nd Wild Card spot. Here is why the Rangers are important in this equation though.

In 19 games played between the two opponents this year, the Rangers have won 15 and lost only 4. That is an incredible win percentage against an opponent, no matter how good or bad they are. So what does this have to do with the Mavericks?

Our staff decided to make some predictions this year for the team and who the most important opponent is for the Dallas Mavericks, just like the Astros were the most important opponent for the Rangers. If the Mavs dominate against a certain team, it can make all the difference in a season.

Here are the staff choices for the Mavs most important opponent.

Apr 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) guards Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets

“If I have to pick one team in particular that I really think the Mavericks need to establish themselves against, it is the Houston Rockets. Houston had a disaster of a season last year and still made the playoffs somehow. That shows that they are a talented and capable team with a proven All-Star that can score the ball.

The reason the Mavs need to beat James Harden and the Houston Rockets is because it not only shows that we can hang with teams that are in that 2nd tier of talent, but that we can battle against the stars of the league. If Dallas is capable of shutting down James Harden, it opens up doors and a mindset that we are a better team than people want us to believe. That is why my pick is Houston.”

–Kohl Rast

Mar 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) drives around Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) in the second half at American Airlines Center. Golden State won 130-112. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Golden State Warriors

“The obvious choice here is the Golden State Warriors. Everyone in the Western Conference will be evaluating how they can matchup and compete with the Warriors for a 82-game season. In our meetings with the Warriors, I’ll be looking for moments and flashes of how we can limit their jump shooting and disrupt their offense. Defensively, I don’t think they can really slow us down, but we need to be able to see if we can match them when they’re on offense. The Mavs have plenty of experience with Kevin Durant and we’ve played him well overall. Now, let’s see if we can combat him and his new friends.”

–Eron Ramadanov

Apr 13, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green (14) guards Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeat the Mavericks 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs

“The Mavs most important opponent would the be San Antonio Spurs. If the Mavericks can hang in there with them then they will have a chance at not only making the playoffs but playing deep into the post season. Usually anytime the Mavericks play San Antonio there are always playoff implications.”

–Ricky Castro

Apr 23, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) defends during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder

“The Mavs most important opponent this coming season will be the OKC Thunder. Losing seven of their last eight to the Westbrook-led Thunder, the Mavs simply have to figure out how to beat this juggernaut of an offense, even without Kevin Durant. The Thunder still field a dangerous team and should strike fear into every opponent as a sleeper for the West finals.”

–Evan Siegel

Feb 9, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz guard Erick Green (18) and Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) go for a rebound during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

OKC, Utah, New Orleans

“Let’s work through this by process of elimination. Everyone in the East is beatable, so they’re out. We’ll have to cut our losses against Golden State and the Spurs, so they’re out. The Clippers, Blazers, Grizzlies, and probably Houston are playoff locks and will be good measuring sticks to determine seeding come playoff time, but it’s too early to worry about that so they’re out. Sacramento is a raging dumpster fire, so they’re out. The Suns, Wolves, Lakers, and Nuggets are a year or more away, so they’re out too.

That leaves OKC, Utah and New Orleans. Off all of the teams gunning for our playoff spot, these three are the most worrisome. The Pelicans are going to be healthier this year (probably?) and Anthony Davis is both inhuman and terrifying. Utah made big moves in the off-season, bringing in George Hill, Joe Johnson, and Boris Diaw to finally give Gordon Hayward some help. They also have a top-notch defense, headlined by Rudy Gobert, which will give everyone in the league fits.

I have no idea what’s going to happen with OKC, but my prediction is that Russ is going to drag them as far as he can take them by the skin of his teeth. Oladipo is a good pickup, and they still have that monster Adams-Kanter front line.

Billy Donovan is a wizard, and they will be in the mix. If the Mavs can get the tiebreakers against these guys and take care of business everywhere else, they’ll be golden come playoff time.”

–Shawn James

Feb 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) and Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) in action during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeat the Mavericks 116-90. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs

“I think the most important opponent for Dallas will be San Antonio. I see these two teams playing sort of the same style with the same type of personnel. The Spurs are obviously always a team that is in the top 2 or 3 in the west, and that’s what Dallas needs to get to. They see them 4 times a year, so we’ll see how they matchup with them.”

–Austin Denius

Apr 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (34) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Lance Stephenson (1) defends during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Memphis Grizzlies

“The Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks already had a small rivalry, as they are both in the South West Division. However, after the controversial transition of Chandler Parsons to the Grizz, Mavs fans will be eager to see this match up. The Grizzlies could become even bigger rivals then the Rockets and Spurs. Also, I believe that Memphis and Dallas will fare similarly in the Western Conference standings, with both teams fighting for the best of the mid-playoff spots. These inter-Division games will be very important and a thrilling spectacle.”

–Sam Casey

Oct 7, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles against Dallas Mavericks guard Justin Anderson (1) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Rockets

“When looking at the most important opponent, I instantly look at the teams that Dallas might be fighting for playoff position with and who they play the most. Although Memphis could be an option, I’m going the cliche route with the Houston Rockets. Houston looks to be right in the mix for one of the last seeds out West and are in the same division as Dallas. The season series with the Rockets will be crucial this coming season.”

–Isaac Harris

Every game is important in an 82 game season. That is just one of the facts of the NBA. But, every once and awhile, an individual opponent can make all the difference. It will be interesting to see just who that is this year for the Mavs.