As unlikely as it seemed as recently as a week ago, the Mavericks have put themselves in a position where they can control their own destiny, at least to some degree.
Sweeping their two games against the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday and Saturday certainly helped.
That gives them the tiebreaker against the defending champs, if that should come into play when it comes to playoff seedings. And it very well could given the Lakers’ injury concerns and the compacted standings.
But the most important thing is that the Mavericks now know they can take care of their own business and reap the benefits – mainly avoiding the play-in tournament and, perhaps, moving up from the No.