Mavs Win, Clinch 11th Consecutive Playoff Berth

I know the big news over the weekend for the Dallas Mavericks was another home loss to another potential playoff opponent - this time to the San Antonio Spurs - but the fine print after last night's blowout of the lowly Golden State Warriors was a clinched playoff spot. Some...

By Richie Whitt

March 21, 2011

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I know the big news over the weekend for the Dallas Mavericks was another home loss to another potential playoff opponent - this time to the San Antonio Spurs - but the fine print after last night's blowout of the lowly Golden State Warriors was a clinched playoff spot.

Some of you say ho-hum and I get that. But some of us were around when the Mavs won 24 games in combined consecutive seasons and went 13 years between playoff series wins.

It's an accomplishment: 11 straight years with 50+ wins and playoff appearances.

Some NBA fans would kill for that kind of consistency. Of course, when your team was up 2-0 in the NBA Finals and choked away a title in 2006 it puts small victories in perspective.

The 101-73 pasting of the patsy Warriors was Dallas' fewest points allowed and largest margin of victory of this season. Peja Stojakovic made five 3-points, Roddy Beaubois was allowed to play enough to score 15 points and commit five turnovers and Tyson Chandler grabbed 17 rebounds.

The Mavs' next victory will be their 50th, securing their 11+50+Playoffs stretch. A look at how the great stretch has always ended in disappointment:

2001 53-29 Lost to Spurs, 4-1, in West semifinals

2002 57-25 Lost to Kings, 4-1, in West semifinals

2003 60-22 Lost to Spurs, 4-2, in West finals

2004 52-30 Lost to Kings, 4-1, in West first round

2005 58-24 Lost to Suns, 4-2, in West semifinals

2006 60-22 Lost to Heat, 4-2, in NBA Finals

2007 67-15 Lost to Warriors, 4-2, in West first round

2008 51-31 Lost to Hornets, 4-1, in West first round

2009 50-32 Lost to Nuggets, 4-1, in West semifinals

2010 55-27 Lost to Spurs, 4-2, in West first round

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