CURRENT PLAYOFF PICTURE
Updated on April 9, 2016.
(1) Warriors vs. (8) Jazz
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Mavericks
(3) Thunder vs. (6) Grizzlies
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Trail Blazers
How can the Mavericks get the fifth seed?
For a brief moment, Dallas controlled their path to the fifth seed. But with a loss to the Clippers on the road, that is no longer the case. For the Mavericks to be the fifth seed, the Blazers must lose their final game against the Nuggets at home, while Dallas wins their final two games.
How can the Mavericks get the sixth seed?
If the Mavericks win their final two games and Memphis wins just one, or if the Mavericks win a game, the Grizzlies lose both and the Jazz lose once, Dallas is the sixth seed, thanks to the Mavericks' head-to-head tiebreaker. Beat the Jazz and this is almost guaranteed. Beat the Spurs and this becomes much trickier, and could bring three-way tiebreakers into play.
How can the Mavericks get the seventh seed?
If Memphis wins a game somehow (Clippers and then Warriors going for win 73), then the Mavericks would stay at No. 7 if they only win once, even if it's against the Jazz. Or, if the Jazz beat the Mavericks, but then lose their final game while Dallas wins against San Antonio, they keep the No. 7 seed. The game against the Jazz on Monday determines almost everything for this one.
How can the Mavericks get the eighth seed?
If the Mavericks lose both games, but the Rockets also lose one, then Dallas will be the No. 8 seed.
How can the Mavericks can fall out of the playoffs?
This one is simple. Lose both games while the Rockets win their final two. That's it.