The assistant to Rick Carlisle was a key member of the 1995 Houston Rockets that won the NBA championship out of the six-hole. They remain the lowest-seeded team to win the title.

Elie, a valuable sixth man on the '95 Rockets, said Thursday he can see some parallels between that team and these Mavericks, although history guarantees them nothing when the playoffs begin Saturday in San Antonio.

"We're floating under the radar, just like our '95 team," Elie said. "Nobody is talking about us, and that's good. It feels like that '95 team."

The '95 Rockets won nine road games in the playoffs to reach the title. They survived five games in which they would have been eliminated had they lost.

The biggest difference between that team and these Mavericks is that Houston had won the title the previous season. The Mavericks have been playoff fodder the last two seasons.

Since '95, no team seeded lower than third (the Spurs in 2007), has won the title. Every other champion has been either a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

DMN

3. San Antonio vs. 6. Dallas

Day Date Location TV Time

Sat. April 18 at San Antonio ESPN/Ch. 21 7:00

Mon. April 20 at San Antonio TNT/Ch. 21 8:30

Thu. April 23 at Dallas NBATV/Ch. 21 7:30

Sat. April 25 at Dallas TNT/Ch. 21 3:00

Tue. April 28 at San Antonio* TBD TBD

Fri. May 1 at Dallas* TBD TBD

Sun. May 3 at San Antonio* TBD TBD

Western CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

(Best-of-7; *if necessary)

1. LA LAKERS vs. 8 UTAH

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sun. April 19 at Los Angeles (Ch. 8) 2:00

Tue. April 21 at Los Angeles (TNT) 9:30

Thu. April 23 at Utah (TNT) 9:30

Sat. April 25 at Utah (ESPN) 8:00

Mon. April 27 at Los Angeles* TBD

Thu. April 30 at Utah* TBD

Sat. May 2 at Los Angeles* (TNT) TBD

2. DENVER vs. 7. NEW ORLEANS

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sun. April 19 at Denver (TNT) 9:30

Wed. April 22 at Denver (TNT) 9:30

Sat. April 25 at New Orleans (ESPN) Noon

Mon. April 27 at New Orleans TBD

Wed. April 29 at Denver* TBD

Fri. May 1 at New Orleans* TBD

Sun. May 3 at Denver* TBD

4. PORTLAND vs. 5. HOUSTON

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sat. April 18 at Portland (ESPN) 9:30

Tue. April 21 at Portland (NBATV) 9:00

Fri. April 24 at Houston (ESPN) 8:30

Sun. April 26 at Houston (TNT) 8:00

Tue. April 28 at Portland* TBD

Thu. April 30 at Houston* TBD

Sat. May 2 at Portland* (TNT) TBD

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

(Best-of-7; *if necessary)

1. CLEVELAND vs. 8. DETROIT

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sat. April 18 at Cleveland (Ch. 8) 2:00

Tue. April 21 at Cleveland (TNT) 7:00

Fri. April 24 at Detroit (ESPN) 6:00

Sun. April 26 at Detroit (Ch. 8) 2:30

Wed. April 29 at Cleveland* TBD

Fri. May 1 at Detroit* TBD

Sun. May 3 at Cleveland* TBD

2. BOSTON vs. 7. CHICAGO

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sat. April 18 at Boston (ESPN) 11:30 a.m.

Mon. April 20 at Boston (TNT) 6:00

Thu. April 23 at Chicago (TNT) 7:00

Sun. April 26 at Chicago (Ch. 8) Noon

Tue. April 28 at Boston* TBD

Thu. April 30 at Chicago* TBD

Sat. May 2 at Boston* (TNT) TBD

3. ORLANDO vs. 6 PHILADELPHIA

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sun. April 19 at Orlando (TNT) 4:30

Wed. April 22 at Orlando (NBATV) 6:00

Fri. April 24 at Philadelphia (ESPN2) 7:00

Sun. April 26 at Philadelphia (TNT) 5:30

Tue. April 28 at Orlando* TBD

Thu. April 30 at Philadelphia* TBD

Sat. May 2 at Orlando* (TNT) TBD

4. ATLANTA vs. 5. MIAMI

Day Date Location (TV)Time

Sun. April 19 at Atlanta (TNT) 7:00

Wed. April 22 at Atlanta (TNT) 7:00

Sat. April 25 at Miami (TNT) 5:30

Mon. April 27 at Miami TBD

Wed. April 29 at Atlanta* TBD

Fri. May 1 at Miami* TBD

Sun. May 3 at Atlanta* TBD