Dallas vs Philadelphia Prediction: the Risks Aren't Paying Off

Prediction for the NBA Dallas Mavericks vs Philadelphia 76ers match will take place on March 3d. The Mavericks took a risk by signing Kyrie Irving at a trade deadline. So far, that risk hasn't paid off: Jason Kidd's team has won only two games in seven with the new roster. Shouldn't Dallas be favored against Philadelphia, either? Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Immediately after inviting Irving, the Mavericks' front office had questions. The team needed a new big man and signed another, albeit superstar little one. As expected, the imbalance in the team's play has only increased, and at this point, Dallas can hardly even contend in a Western Conference.

Jason Kidd's team suffered another loss in their previous game. On their home court, Dallas fell short against Indiana 122-124. Luka Doncic scored 39 points. Kyrie Irving had 16 points and nine assists. But what good will that do when the Mavericks have no defense?

The Sixers will play their second straight game. In the first game of the back-to-back, Doc Rivers' team without Joel Embiid had a surprisingly strong showing on the road against Miami. He was replaced by 23-year-old Paul Reed, who was very useful with 16 points and 14 rebounds despite coming off the bench. We should also mention the all-star defensive duo. James Harden and Tyrese Maxey combined for 8 of 16 three-pointers for 23 and 27 points. Philadelphia had a great game, recovering from losses to Miami and Boston.

Both teams sit in the top 3 this season in perimeter defense. However, Dallas is unlikely to be overrated right now. With Finney-Smith and Dinwiddie gone, the Mavericks will start dropping off. The Mavericks don't have more big men after the trade, so we should expect little progress on defense inside the perimeter, either. Overall, Philadelphia looks to be a favorite in the upcoming game. The Sixers have a balanced roster and, as their game against Miami showed, they have much potential even if Embiid is absent. We disagree with the bookies and still think it will be a less productive matchup - the visitors can stop Doncic and Irving.