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The Destruction of the Mavericks: A Closer Look Into A Midseason Implosion

We’ve got coverage of NBA Wednesday and a marquee college basketball game below, but the main focus of the day is what’s going on in Dallas. The Mavs have suffered through an absolute annihilation of their playoff hopes, and we’ll take a closer look at it below.

Here’s what we've got today:

  • NBA Wednesday Quick Hitters

  • CBB Game Pick

  • A Closer Look at Dallas’s Implosion

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NBA Wednesday Quick Hitters


🔹 Sharp Money Alert: Only one game has had any sort of line movement, and that’s the afternoon thriller between the Jazz and the Wizards. The Wizards have closed from a 5-point spread to a 4-point one, and even that’s too generous. No Jordan Poole for Washington means a bet on Utah to cover and perhaps win outright.


🔹 Odds Boost to Grab: Sleeper Picks is currently offering a 100% deposit match up to $1,500, compared to a 50% deposit match from Underdog. If you need a new book, Sleeper is worth a gander.


🔹 Trap Game Warning: The Bucks are a frequent feature here, and they’ll earn another spot as they take 90% of the money against the Mavericks as 9-point favorites. The Mavs are on a generationally terrible run, and we’re happy to ride with the public and bet on that run to get even worse.

CBB Game Pick: Alabama vs. Florida

We lucked out this one. Alabama and Florida, two teams expected to be 2-seeds in the NCAA Tournament, will show down in each team’s final game before the SEC Tournament. Here’s a look at the odds.

Alabama’s Key Players:

  • G Mark Sears: Sears leads the Tide in both points and assists per game. His ball-handling and playmaking will be crucial in breaking down one of the best perimeter defenses in the nation.

  • F Grant Nelson: Sears paces Alabama in minutes, but Nelson isn’t far behind, with 26 minutes per contest. The senior forward plays a crucial role on the glass and on defense, averaging eight rebounds and just over a block per game.

Florida’s Key Players:

  • G Will Richard: Richard has been hot as hell, scoring 30 and 25 in his last two games, respectively. He’s a crucial part of the three-headed dragon (or Gator) that Florida trots out in their backcourt.

  • G Walter Clayton Jr.: Another senior guard, Clayton leads the Gators in points and minutes per game. He’s also an excellent defender who will need to perform well against Alabama’s top-tier shooting roster.

ATS Stats to Know:

  • Florida is 2-2 ATS as underdogs

  • Florida is 4-2 ATS against ranked teams

  • Alabama is 11-5 ATS against SEC teams

  • Alabama is 8-6 ATS as a home favorite

  • Alabama is 8-4 ATS against ranked teams

This is a pretty bad matchup for Alabama. Florida is excellent at defending the perimeter, and they’ve got a couple of points to work with here. We’ll take the Gators to cover.

A Closer Look At What’s Going On In Dallas

There are very few implosions as big as the one the Mavericks are going through in sports history. It’s easy to forget that Dallas was in the NBA Finals not even a calendar year ago, a stark contrast to their standing as the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Below is a quick rundown of every bit of misfortune that Mavericks have suffered through in the last couple of weeks.

February 2nd: Dallas Trades Luka Doncic

Everyone knows about this one. Moving Doncic, a consensus top-3 basketball player in the world, was a massive blow to the fans and the franchise, embroiling the team and general manager Nico Harrison in controversy.

February 8th: Anthony Davis Suffers Left Adductor Strain in Mavs Debut

Davis, the centerpiece of the Doncic trade package, immediately suffered a long-term injury in his first game in uniform. He is yet to return to the court for Dallas, and there’s a chance he doesn’t return at all this season.

February 10th: Daniel Gafford Strains His Right Knee

With Gafford’s injury, the Mavs lost important starters in back-to-back games. The former Arkansas Razorback was meant to form a staunch defensive duo with Davis, and like Davis, he has no timetable for a return.

February 22nd: Luka Doncic Notches a 32-Point Double-Double

In a game against the Denver Nuggets, Doncic exploded for the Lakers, nearly recording a triple-double in a blowout victory. The next day, Dallas would lose by 24 points to the Golden State Warriors, a game that would have previously been regarded as winnable.

March 1st: Quentin Grimes Scores 44 Points for the 76ers

In another midseason move, Nico Harrison jettisoned Grimes to Philadelphia in exchange for Caleb Martin. Grimes found his groove somewhat quickly, scoring a career-high 44 points in a win against the Warriors, who had stomped Dallas a week before. Meanwhile, Martin is yet to suit up for the Mavs.

March 3rd: Kyrie Irving Tears His ACL

The misfortune is almost comical at this point. Irving, the lone bright spot in an increasingly dim season, went down hard on a drive to the hoop against the Kings. He was helped to the locker room and later diagnosed with a torn ACL, ending his stellar season.

Without Irving, there’s almost no chance that Dallas can make the postseason. Aside from the team, it’s a shame to lose such a high-quality, entertaining player in the midst of wonderful year.

Overall, this has been nothing short of a living nightmare for Dallas fans, the front office, and the players. I guess there’s always next year.

 

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