Hello Celebritys

The Mavs/Lakers series gets underway in L.A. tonight. Who you got?

I have to go with the Lakers in 6. The way to beat the Lakers is with a quick PG who can penetrate, that’s why New Orleans was able to have success. The Mavs don’t have that.

The Jason Kidd/Derek Fisher matchup has to be the oldest combined age for starting PG’s in the NBA playoffs. I am also interested to see who the Mavs stick on Kobe. I imagine it will start with DeShawn Stevenson with Marion getting some time on him also. I look forward to Dirk owning Pau Gasol as he always does.

It will be an entertaining series, and I don’t think the Mavs will get blown out, but I just don’t see them having enough to get by the defending champs.

There have been seven winning streaks of at least eight games or more in the NBA this season including the Mavs current eight game streak. Dallas has beaten some quality opponents during this tear through the league, so I wanted to see how it compared to the others. Here is what I found…

Cleveland Cavaliers- Longest winning streak: 13 games

Jan 16- Feb. 11: @LAC, v. TOR, v. LAL, v. OKC, @MIA, v. MIN, @IND, v. LAC, v. MEM, v. MIA, v. NYK, v. NJ, v. ORL

Home Games- 10

Road Games- 3

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 1,351- 1,219 (+132)

Combined opponent’s records: (348-426)

Boston Celtics- Longest winning streak: 11 games

Nov. 22- Dec 24: @NYK, v. Sixers, v. Raptors, @MIA, @ CHAR, @ San Antonio, @ OKC, v. MIL, @WASH, @ CHI, @MEM

Home Games- 3

Road Games- 8

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 1,149- 1,039 (+110)

Combined opponent’s records: (311-336)

Los Angeles Lakers- Longest winning streak: 11 games

Nov. 17- Dec. 11: v. DET, v. CHI, v. OKC, v. NYK, @GSTATE, v. NJ, v. NO, v. MIA, v. PHX, v. UTH, v. MINN

Home Games- 10

Road Games- 1

# of games against potential playoff teams: 5

Outscored opponents: 1,182- 1,008 (+174)

Combined opponent’s records: (279-376)

Utah Jazz- Longest winning streak: 9 games

Jan. 20- Feb. 9: @ SAN, v. NJ, v. PHX, @ PORT, v. SAC, v. DAL, v. PORT, v. DEN, @LAC

Home Games- 6

Road Games- 3

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 999-887 (+112)

Combined opponent’s records: (272-270)

Oklahoma City Thunder- Longest winning streak: 9 games

Jan. 29- Feb. 21: v. DEN, v. GSTATE, v. ATL, @ NO, @ GSTATE, @PORT, v. DAL, @NYK, @ MINN

Home Games- 4

Road Games- 5

# of games against potential playoff teams: 4

Outscored opponents: 944-869 (+75)

Combined opponent’s records: (252-287)

Denver Nuggets- Longest winning streak: 8 games

Jan. 11- Jan. 27: v. MIN, v. ORL, v. UTH, @ GSTATE, v. LAC, v. NO, v. CHAR, @ HOU

Home Games- 6

Away Games- 2

# of games against potential playoff teams: 4

Outscored opponents: 884-801 (+83)

Combined opponent’s records: (223-253)

Dallas Mavericks- Winning streak currently: 8 games

Feb. 17- still going: v. PHX, @ ORL, v. MIA, v. IND, v. LAL, @ ATL, v. NO, @ CHAR

Home Games- 5

Road Games- 3

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 799-738 (+61)

Combined opponent’s records: (269-210)

(Potential playoff teams= top 9 teams in standings of each conference, all records and scores as of 03/01/10)

When I look at the statistics, it is quite apparent that the Mavs and Jazz have beaten the most quality opponents during their streaks. Dallas and Utah both beat six potential playoff teams and their opponents combined record is over .500. The Celtics win streak is impressive when you take in to account the number of road wins and number of potential playoff teams they took down.

The Lakers and Cavs also had very good winning streaks but a lot of their games came at home where most people would expect them to win.

I’m not trying to demean any of these teams winning streaks because winning that many games in a row in the NBA is not something that is easy to do. I just wanted to point out how great this winning streak has been for the Mavs. They have beaten some very good opponents in the past two weeks and this team could be on the path to something special. Their schedule is very favorable coming up with six of their next eight coming at home against subpar opponents. It will be interesting to see how long the Mavs can stretch this thing out.

There have been seven winning streaks of at least eight games or more in the NBA this season including the Mavs current eight game streak. Dallas has beaten some quality opponents during this tear through the league, so I wanted to see how it compared to the others. Here is what I found…

Cleveland Cavaliers- Longest winning streak: 13 games

Jan 16- Feb. 11: @LAC, v. TOR, v. LAL, v. OKC, @MIA, v. MIN, @IND, v. LAC, v. MEM, v. MIA, v. NYK, v. NJ, v. ORL

Home Games- 10

Road Games- 3

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 1,351- 1,219 (+132)

Combined opponent’s records: (348-426)

Boston Celtics- Longest winning streak: 11 games

Nov. 22- Dec 24: @NYK, v. Sixers, v. Raptors, @MIA, @ CHAR, @ San Antonio, @ OKC, v. MIL, @WASH, @ CHI, @MEM

Home Games- 3

Road Games- 8

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 1,149- 1,039 (+110)

Combined opponent’s records: (311-336)

Los Angeles Lakers- Longest winning streak: 11 games

Nov. 17- Dec. 11: v. DET, v. CHI, v. OKC, v. NYK, @GSTATE, v. NJ, v. NO, v. MIA, v. PHX, v. UTH, v. MINN

Home Games- 10

Road Games- 1

# of games against potential playoff teams: 5

Outscored opponents: 1,182- 1,008 (+174)

Combined opponent’s records: (279-376)

Utah Jazz- Longest winning streak: 9 games

Jan. 20- Feb. 9: @ SAN, v. NJ, v. PHX, @ PORT, v. SAC, v. DAL, v. PORT, v. DEN, @LAC

Home Games- 6

Road Games- 3

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 999-887 (+112)

Combined opponent’s records: (272-270)

Oklahoma City Thunder- Longest winning streak: 9 games

Jan. 29- Feb. 21: v. DEN, v. GSTATE, v. ATL, @ NO, @ GSTATE, @PORT, v. DAL, @NYK, @ MINN

Home Games- 4

Road Games- 5

# of games against potential playoff teams: 4

Outscored opponents: 944-869 (+75)

Combined opponent’s records: (252-287)

Denver Nuggets- Longest winning streak: 8 games

Jan. 11- Jan. 27: v. MIN, v. ORL, v. UTH, @ GSTATE, v. LAC, v. NO, v. CHAR, @ HOU

Home Games- 6

Away Games- 2

# of games against potential playoff teams: 4

Outscored opponents: 884-801 (+83)

Combined opponent’s records: (223-253)

Dallas Mavericks- Winning streak currently: 8 games

Feb. 17- still going: v. PHX, @ ORL, v. MIA, v. IND, v. LAL, @ ATL, v. NO, @ CHAR

Home Games- 5

Road Games- 3

# of games against potential playoff teams: 6

Outscored opponents: 799-738 (+61)

Combined opponent’s records: (269-210)

(Potential playoff teams= top 9 teams in standings of each conference, all records and scores as of 03/01/10)

When I look at the statistics, it is quite apparent that the Mavs and Jazz have beaten the most quality opponents during their streaks. Dallas and Utah both beat six potential playoff teams and their opponents combined record is over .500. The Celtics win streak is impressive when you take in to account the number of road wins and number of potential playoff teams they took down.

The Lakers and Cavs also had very good winning streaks but a lot of their games came at home where most people would expect them to win.

I’m not trying to demean any of these teams winning streaks because winning that many games in a row in the NBA is not something that is easy to do. I just wanted to point out how great this winning streak has been for the Mavs. They have beaten some very good opponents in the past two weeks and this team could be on the path to something special. Their schedule is very favorable coming up with six of their next eight coming at home against subpar opponents. It will be interesting to see how long the Mavs can stretch this thing out.