Sports

Carlisle To Shan & RJ On Mavs' 'Elusive Formula'

March 31, 2015 / 12:27 PM CDT / CBS Texas

By Mike Fisher | @fishsports

DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) -- The Mavericks are slipping in the Western Conference playoff race. But the confidence coach Rick Carlisle has in his club - with health the lone caveat — is not slipping.

"I think where things are at right now -- this is with the assumption we get healthy -- I like our attack,'' Carlisle tells "Shan & RJ'' on 105.3 The Fan. "The formula for ultimate success for us has been elusive, but you've got to stay the course and work towards what it's going to be.''

Carlisle's Mavs are 2.5 games behind No. 6 San Antonio and three games ahead of No. 8 Oklahoma City, which plays host to Dallas on Wednesday. The Mavericks seem destined for the No. 7 seed and a possible Round 1 playoff meeting with Houston. But if they lose at OKC? The race tightens, and so does the pressure.

"Going forward, we have eight games and they are all very meaningful,'' said Carlisle of how his 45-29 Mavs will close the regular season. "This is the best way to get yourself playing well. As crazy as that sounds, the higher level of competition and the greater need for the team to be together is going to facilitate our best chance of playing well.''

It would also help to have Monta Ellis (calf) healthy. Carlisle sounds less than optimistic about that for Wednesday.

"Monta's doing better, but I'm not sure where he is in terms of playing any time soon,'' Carlisle says. "There are some other guys banged up ... Right now, one of the key elements is health and we're up against it there. (But) things are what they are. We've got to play better.''