Hoops Habit
Fansided

The Biggest X-Factor On Every NBA Playoff Team

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 4, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) drives in between New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) and forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) drives in between New Orleans Pelicans forward Tyreke Evans (1) and forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 20, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) dribbles as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Mavericks: Chandler Parsons

According to Earl Sneed of Mavs.com, Rick Carlisle said the signs are “promising but not definite” that Chandler Parsons will be ready for Game 1. If the Mavs want to have any chance of pulling off this upset, they’ll need a healthy Parsons…and a pissed off Parsons as well.

Remember, this playoff matchup features Chandler Parsons facing his former team in a seven-game series. Monta Ellis will have to be as efficient as he was in the first round last year and Dirk Nowitzki will need to take an extra swig from the Fountain of Youth. But without Parsons, who shot nearly 51 percent from the floor and 43 percent from downtown in March, Dallas has no shot (pun intended).

Parsons’ knee issues mean he probably won’t be at 100 percent. But Dallas could use his three-point shooting and well-rounded production, especially since the Rockets will most likely be getting the same from Trevor Ariza at the small forward position.

He’s been overlooked all season long because of his early shooting woes, a couple of nagging injuries and the fact that Gordon Hayward — the guy everybody kept comparing him to last summer — had such a phenomenal year. But for the seventh-seeded Mavs to have any prayer of an upset, they need a memorable revenge series out of Chandler Parsons.

Next: Milwaukee Bucks