Welcome to the Morning Shootaround, where every weekday you’ll get a fresh, topical column from one of SI.com’s NBA writers: Howard Beck on Mondays, Chris Mannix on Tuesdays, Michael Pina on Wednesdays, Chris Herring on Thursdays and Rohan Nadkarni on Fridays.
Luka Donu010diu0107 and Mark Cuban were right: The NBA’s new play-in tournament is problematic. Unfair, even. At least, for them.
With a month left to play, the modestly talented Mavericks (30–25) are slotted seventh in the ultra-tough Western Conference. In the past, that’s an automatic playoff berth.