Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook projects 34.5 wins for the Mavericks

35.5.

That is the number that Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook projected the Mavericks to win in 2017-2018.

Fast forward a year. The Mavs have added DeAndre Jordan and 3rd overall pick in Luka Doncic and yet, Westgate has Dallas winning only 34.5 games and sitting tied for the 11th best record in the West. Jeff Sherman, manager of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, posted the win projections on his Twitter page on Sunday.

NBA seas wins

Atl 23.5
Bos 57.5
Brk 32.5
Cha 35.5
Chi 27.5
Cle 30.5
Dal 34.5
Den 47.5
Det 37.5
GS 62.5
Hou 54.5
Ind 47.5
LAC 35.5
LAL 48.5
Mem 34.5
Mia 41.5
Mil 46.5
Min 44.5
NO 45.5
NY 29.5
OKC 50.5
Orl 31.5
Phi 54.5
Phx 28.5
Prt 41.5
Sac 25.5
SA 43.5
Tor 54.5
Uth 48.5
Wsh 44.5

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) August 5, 2018

Less victories after adding Jordan and Doncic? That’s an interesting take. But, that should come as a testament to the strength of the Western Conference. The rich only got richer this summer as The King took his talents to Hollywood, bolstering another playoff contender in the West. But, let’s not overlook the additions made by the Mavericks.

One could say that 34.5 is a viable win projection for Dallas, seeing that the team won only 24 games last season, but this team could be built to shock a few folks. Adding a presence in the middle of the paint like DeAndre Jordan gives the Mavericks something they’ve been seeking since Tyson Chandler walked out of those AAC doors for the last time. In regards to Luka, he adds a another playmaker on the offensive end that will surely put points on the board for Dallas.

Now, if I was a betting man, and I’m not, I’d project the Mavs to slightly surpass the 34.5 wins mark. Some may say a 10+ win increase is too steep of a climb in one season for a lottery team, but the additions made by the Mavericks alongside Rick Carlisle and potentially Dirk’s last season, I think you could see the beginnings of something special in Dallas this season.