I'm feeling so cocky after my declaration that Dallas would beat Miami last night (I was sweating it), that I'm going to look ahead and predict the rest of the season, and whether the Mavs have any chance of moving out of the 8th seed. These predictions come from my theory that at this point in the NBA season, we know with near certainty what every team is, and what it will do in a given game.

As it stands right now, Dallas is 4 games up on Pheonix, 1.5 games behind Utah, and 2.5 games behind Portland.

First, let's look at whether Phoenix has any chance of catching the Mavs. Here is the Suns remaining schedule, and whether or not they will win or lose those games.

Phoenix's record: 41-34 (75 games, 7 remaining)

4/3 vs. Sacramento WIN
4/5 at Dallas LOSS
4/8 at New Orleans LOSS
4/10 at Memphis WIN
4/11 at Minnesota WIN
4/13 vs. Memphis WIN
4/15 at Golden State WIN

If that happens, Phoenix ends up with a 46-36 record. If Phoenix runs the table, they will still end up with only 48 wins. Now here's Dallas' final 7 games:

Dallas' record: 45-30 (75 games, 7 remaining)
4/3 at Memphis WIN
4/5 vs. Phoenix WIN
4/8 vs. Utah .... hmmm ... WIN (home court)
4/10 vs. New Orleans .... hmmm LOSS (figure they'll win one and lose one)
4/12 at New Orleans LOSS
4/13 vs. Minnesota WIN
4/15 vs. Houston ... another tough one. WIN

Obviously, the Mavericks have a tougher stretch, but home court advantage should soften the blow, keeping in mind that both Utah and Houston have losing records on the road. So figure Dallas ends up 50-32 at best, and maybe 48-34 at worst. That puts Phoenix out of the playoff picture (unless the Suns get a miracle).

Can the Mavericks move up? Here is 7th-seeded Utah's situation:

Utah's record: 46-28 (74 games, 8 remaining)
4/2 at Denver LOSS
4/3 vs. Minnesota WIN
4/5 at New Orleans LOSS
4/8 at Dallas (tough one) LOSS
4/10 at San Antonio LOSS
4/11 vs. Golden State WIN
4/13 vs. LA Clippers WIN
4/14 at LA Lakers LOSS

Now, if this happens, Utah finishes 49-33, which means the Mavs have a shot at jumping into the 7th spot. It also means that the Utah at Dallas game on April 8th is HUGE, especially considering Utah wins the season series if they beat the Mavs, and would hold the tie-breaker.

What about the 6th seed? Portland is there right now, 47-27 (74 games, 8 remaining)

4/3 at Oklahoma City WIN
4/5 at Houston LOSS
4/7 at Memphis WIN
4/8 at San Antonio LOSS (pretty tough 4-game road trip)
4/10 vs. LA Lakers LOSS
4/11 at LA Clippers WIN
4/13 vs. Oklahoma City WIN
4/15 vs. Denver WIN

You can see a couple swing games in there, but Portland will likely finish with 52 wins. It's a longshot that Dallas can get all the way up to the 6th seed, but it would take a great final stretch for Dallas, and a poor final stretch for Portland.

So my final standings, at the bottom of the West:

6. Portland 52-30
7. Utah 49-33
8. Dallas 49-33 (Utah would win tie-breaker based on conference record)
9. Phoenix 46-36

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