Since the championship run in 2011, the Dallas Mavericks have made the playoffs 4 out of the 5 years without ever advancing past the first round. This includes first round losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder twice (in 4 and in 5), the San Antonio Spurs (in 7), and the Houston Rockets (in 5).
All of these playoff losses have been heartbreaking and demoralizing as the Mavs faithful have been forced to watch Dirk Nowitzki fall short again and again as his body slowly falls victim to Father Time. But what is really interesting about these series is what happened in the rest of the playoffs.