NBA: 6 teams facing the most pressure to win post All-Star break

Dallas Mavericks

After making such a big move ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline in which they acquired Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, it’s easy to see why there is so much pressure on this team to win and make a move up the Western Conference standings during the final stretch of the season. Even more so considering Kyrie is an expiring contract after this season.

I won’t go all the way to say that the Mavs have to win a championship this season but if they don’t make a deep run in the playoffs, there are going to be so many questions surrounding this team heading into the offseason. And it won’t help as they continue to try to appease Luka Doncic with a capable supporting cast.

Thanks to the Phoenix Suns (who we will talk about in a bit), the Mavs aren’t the only team in the West heading into the final couple of months of the season with immense pressure. But with the addition of Kyrie, the team’s ceiling was raised. They need to back that up with their play.