NBA Play-in Tournament: 4 teams that could thrive in the play-in

Team No. 3 that would thrive in the NBA play-in tournament: Dallas Mavericks

You can never count out the Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. One day, Doncic may be the consensus best player in the NBA, although we’re not there yet. The Mavs had a rough start to this season which may ultimately be the reason they find themselves in the play-in tournament, but they’ve surged over the past few months.

They were hindered by the quick start to the season, and damaged further by multiple COVID infections, but most of the band is back together. As a result, this squad has looked more like the team we expected them to be this season. That’s a tough out for anybody, let alone a team in the play-in tournament.

Team No. 4 that would thrive in the NBA play-in tournament: Golden State Warriors

It’s hard to have any faith in the championship aspirations of the Golden State Warriors. Sitting four games below .500 with a 24-28 record, they’ve proven incapable of capitalizing on the competitive window provided by Stephen Curry. To be fair, losing Klay Thompson on draft night was crippling, but it’s been disappointing to see them slide out of the top eight seeds and into the play-in realm.

Still, Steph Curry can power this team through a play-in style tournament. The name of the game in this format is winning one game, and then winning one more game. Lord knows how much help his teammates will provide him, but a hot Curry can absolutely get the Warriors these two wins.