Notes: Mavs in the playoffs

Need some hope? Well, the Mavs wouldn't be the first seventh seed to pull a first-round upset. Check this out along with some other playoff notables compliments of our top-notch media relations staff.

SPRINGTIME TRADITION: Dallas is making its eighth straight appearance in the NBA Playoffs and its 14th overall. This extends the longest streak in franchise history and is currently the second best in the NBA, trailing only San Antonio’s 11 consecutive postseasons. Dallas is the Western Conference’s seventh seed after finishing the season 51-31 and will face second-seeded New Orleans (56-26). Dallas has never faced the Hornets in the postseason.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED: Dallas boasts a roster of eight players with Finals experience. Five of those players were members of the Mavericks 2006 Western Conference Championship team that was defeated 4-2 by the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals (Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier). The remaining three players reached the Finals with a different team (Jason Kidd: 2003 & 2003 with the New Jersey Nets, Devean George: 2000, 2001 & 2002 with the L.A. Lakers and Tyronn Lue: 2000 & 2001 with the L.A. Lakers). Both Devean George (three championships) and Tyronn Lue (two titles) own World Championship rings.

DIRK’S TIME OF YEAR: Dirk Nowitzki owns franchise playoff highs in points, field goals, free throws, rebounds, steals, blocks, games and starts. With 10 more 3-pointers, Nowitzki will also own bragging rights as the Mavericks postseason leader from behind-the-arc as well. Nowitzki has 100 and trails leader Michael Finley’s 109 postseason 3s.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Dallas is one of the most playoff-experienced teams in the postseason. 14 Mavericks have seen action in the postseason. The one exception? Brandon Bass. Bass spent his first two seasons with the New Orleans Hornets before signing with the Mavericks as a free agent in the summer of 2007.

LUCKY NO. 7: Although unlikely, a seven-seed knocking off a two seed is not as uncommon as one may think. Seven-seeds hold an all-time record of 60-146 vs. two-seeds. Most recently, No. 7 New York defeated No. 2 Miami in the 1998 Playoffs. Furthermore, the Mavericks have first-hand experience with the seven-over-two upset. Assistant coach Mario Elie was a member of the 1992 Golden State Warriors that knocked off David Robinson’s second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, 3-1.

FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUTS: The Mavericks are 8-5 all-time in first-round series. Dallas won 3-2 vs. Seattle in 1984, 3-1 vs. Utah in 1986, 3-1 vs. Houston in 1988, 3-2 vs. Utah in 2001, 3-0 vs. Minnesota in 2002, 4-3 vs. Portland in 2003, 4-3 vs. Houston in 2005 and 4-0 vs. Memphis in 2006. The Mavericks lost 3-1 to Portland in 1985, 3-1 to Seattle in 1987, 3-0 to Portland in 1990, 4-1 to Sacramento in 2004 and 4-2 to Golden State in 2007. Dallas is 21-10 at home all-time in the first round and 11-19 on the road.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DALLAS: In 13 playoff appearances, the Dallas Mavericks have made three Western Conference Finals appearances (1988, 2003, 2006) and advanced to the NBA Finals once (2006).