Don’t Bet On It — But Don’t Rule It Out

Milwaukee Bucks, 2021 NBA Champions [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons.

It might be too early to predict who is going to slide into the last spot for the playoffs. A lot can happen in two months.

In the 2022-23 season, the Dallas Mavericks were doing good all season. They did start rocky, but got it together. At the beginning of the season, they were 8th in the west, then went all over the board, dropping as low as 11th. They eventually would come back and hold the top 6 for a little over 2 months, and then sink back to 11th before the playoffs.

Milwaukee Bucks

Starting in Milwaukee, they currently sit 12th in the East with a record of 23-30. Last season, Milwaukee finished 5th before the playoffs. But lost in the first round to the Pacers, 4-1.

They started strong this season. In November, sitting pretty in 4th, since then they have dropped to 11th in the East by the end of November.

The number one problem is that Giannis Antetokounmpo has not been 100% all season. January 23rd has been sitting bench due to a right calf strain. But he has been in and out all season. Take a look.

While it's been a disappointing season, they could flip the script and have a chance to become the comeback team. They've got a little over 2 months before the playoffs. The good news is that Giannis played in the All-Star game and said. "I feel good, I feel 100%." With their star back, they could slide into 10th.

Dallas Mavericks

This team had the potential to be a great team. For starters, they have Cooper Flagg. Flagg has been out with a foot injury. But he got injured on February 10th. The best spot they've been in was 8th, which was in October.

This is a stretch, I know. It would just be cool to see Cooper Flagg in the playoffs in his rookie year. Unfortunately, they’re currently riding a nine-game losing streak. The chances are low but not impossible. Dallas is currently 12th in the West, with a record of 19-35.

Here is some hope for Dallas fans. The Clippers and Grizzlies are not playing well either. What that means for the fans is that the Mavericks have a chance to slide into a playoff spot. If it stays that way, you have a shot. (Sorry, Clippers and Grizzlies fans.)

Chicago Bulls

Chicago! Chicago! It's been rough, and it's not looking great. Have to be honest. But weirdly, out of Milwaukee and Dallas, the Chicago Bulls are number 1. The Bulls are 11th in the East, and their record is 24-31.

It's possible for them to secure a spot. And, just like the Mavericks, for the Bulls, if the Atlanta Hawks keep slipping, then the Bulls can maybe pull this off and stay in the mix.

Here's the bad news, (heads up, there is no good news to help soothe this over.) If the Bulls get into the playoffs, 100 percent, they aren't going far. I guess the good news would be, if you're a Chicago fan, you'd get to watch your team play, but they'd lose, so it's a double-edged sword.

This team is made up mostly of guards; it's hard to win with that roster. I wanna say it's a rebuild year for Chicago, but it also feels like a cop-out for their poor performance.

I wanna see this team succeed, but it's hard to give them something when their nickname is the Sacramento of the East. (The Sacramento Kings are 12-44)

The door isn't closed yet for these teams. However, it's going to take a lot, almost a perfect ending for them to have a chance for a playoff spot.