We cashed an easy winner on Golden State Saturday when the Warriors whipped the Dallas Mavericks 111-87. The schedule situation could not be much tougher for the Mavericks over the weekend, as they were playing their third road game in three nights, fifth game in six nights and ninth game in 12 days overall. As we’ve seen throughout this shortened NBA season, veteran and aging players are given some nights off in tough scheduling situations, and Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle gave point guard Jason Kidd the night off at Golden State.

The defending champs are just 2-8 SU/ATS their last 10 games but do get a breather with a pair of home games this week against the league’s two worst teams, Washington and Charlotte. Still, Mavs forward Lamar Odom says the chemistry is not there right now.  Dallas has scored 100 or more points just once in their past 13 games but the Mavericks (23-20) have managed to go 22-21 ATS this season with an 18-25 O/U mark.

The league’s second oldest team has looked old, slow and tired recently and following a pair of “gimmies” this week, the Mavericks schedule toughens and the defending champs will be pressed as they push to stay in the playoff picture. The Mavericks upcoming schedule beginning March 17 looks like this: San Antonio, at Denver, LA Lakers, at San Antonio, at Houston, Houston, at Miami, at Orlando, LA Clippers, Memphis. That’s 10 straight games vs. teams with a win percentage of .537 or better.

Don’t see the defending champs producing profit as they try to stay above .500.

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