Like you needed more evidence Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle is simply the best.
On the heels of the Mavericks’ Monday night win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, which came one night after they beat the San Antonio Spurs, Carlisle had this to say of his suddenly plucky group, per SB Nation’s Tim Cato:
Rick Carlisle on the Mavs: "We're a shit team, but we're an underrated shit team. That's about as accurately as I can put it."
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) January 31, 2017
How does that make you feel Wesley Matthews?
Wesley Matthews: "Quote me, I want Rick to know he's included in this shit too." All smiles.
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) January 31, 2017
So, like, Carlisle has a point. The Mavericks aren’t very good or deep on paper. Most were arguing in favor of them throwing in the towel not too long ago. And while they still have the Western Conference’s third-worst record, they are only four games off the final playoff spot and in the middle of a nice surge.
Dallas is 7-3 since moving Seth Curry to the starting five, with a top-eight offensive rating and top-three defensive rating, according to NBA.com—straight absurd.
Granted, the Mavericks remain in a dilemma. The trade deadline is fast approaching, and they remain prime seller candidates. We don’t know if they have the stamina or depth to run through the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans before the postseason picture is hashed out.
Still, even though they are 12 games under .500 and ostensibly playing themselves out of top-pick contention, the Mavericks are turning into one of the league’s best feel-good stories. Don’t bank on them shopping any members of their core outside of Andrew Bogut as we near the trade deadline; they’re far more likely to try riding this wave through the end of the year.
