NBA Western Conference Final: OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks

• wes_mantooth

  

  series talk....go
• Laley23

  

  Im not sure the Thunder can take down the Mavs, but my wallet hopes so. Cant wait for the series to start.
• karen lotz

  

  Go team!
• jpake1

  

  I'd like to pick the Thunder, but I'll go with the Mavericks. I haven't seen much production from the bigs in OKC which is a big concern. I'll go with the Mavs in 7.
• wes_mantooth

  

  I think Dallas looks like the best team left in either conference, but I can never trust them...lol
• jpake1

  

  I can't trust them until Dirk holds that trophy.
• wildcats20

  

  jpake1;770360 wrote:I can't trust them until Dirk holds that trophy.

  
  I still won't trust them.
• Terry_Tate

  

  I think it's funny the Mavericks are here after it seemed like a lot of people were picking Portland in round 1. I think Durant and Westbrook will be going to the NBA Finals and it will end in 6, but should be a fun series.
• Iliketurtles

  

  I like the Mavs in 6. I think their bench will come up big in a few games again and will be the difference.
• The Boss

  

  I like the Thunder for a few reasons:
  
  1. Who will guard Westbrook? Kidd will get toasted, Barea isn't good enough.
  2. Who is going to guard Durant? Marion? Peja? Thunder win big in either matchup.
  3. They have match ups for Dirk in Durant and Ibaka, both better than anyone the Lakers could put on him.
  
  A few things to consider, the Lakers were completely lost. They lost everything, no energy, no cohesiveness, no teamwork. I honestly believe that we've overrated the Mavs sweep of them because they just didn't have it. Also, the Mavs played LIGHTS OUT--can they repeat that? I don't know, but I certainly wouldn't expect Peja to shoot like he did, he hasn't all season. And Jason Terry is good but I'm not sure he can be that good again. Dirk will do his thing. And Barea is not going to be able to run wild like he did against the Lakers either. This time off they've had too can be good to rest old legs BUT in MOST cases, that long of a break is a bad thing for a team. I think the Thunder are better than people think, and a lot of that is a result of them struggling to get by Memphis. But Memphis did knock off the #1 and they presented some match up issues that the Mavs don't with their post presence.
  
  All that said, I respect the Mavs. They've been in this position before, they have proven winners and hungry vets--that's a good combo. They certainly won't make it easy, I can't see this going fewer than 6 games and there is a good chance it goes 7. In the end, since you can't comment without making a prediction these days (so that people can tear you apart if your crystal ball doesn't work, as if theirs always does), I'll take the Thunder in 6. But, that is a prediction based on Westbrook sharing the basketball. He needs to get his shots up, but loot at game 7 against Memphis. 14 dimes was it? When he works WITH Durant instead of along side him, they're damn near as good as any combo in the league. And you HAVE to let Durant get his shots, he's too good not to.
• burt07

  From what I read, this is the matchup the Mavericks wanted, apparently they wanted nothing with the Grizzlies. Not positive if I really see it but I expect this to be a very good series, similar to Thunder-Grizzlies. I would have to agree with the sentiment that the Mavs got slightly overrated from their Lakers sweep but that's not to say that it was not impressive. I just don't know about them being the favorite at this point. You could make the argument that they're the most well-rounded team left in the playoffs. The big difference for them, and probably the X-factor in this series is Tyson Chandler. Dirk's never had an inside defender like him as Erick Dampier's corpse is what he's had to rely on for the past years. He's going to have to come up big in this series because yes, Westbrook is going to be able to blow by whoever's defending him. While he's going to be able to do this, he's then going to run into Chandler. Westbrook's going to have to have his jumper going because while he'll be able to get open, it's going to be a little more tricky getting inside.
• The Boss

  

  He did alright against the reason the Mavs didn't want to play the Griz--their front court. Chandler is better than Gasol or Randolph defensively but they didn't make it easy on Westbrook down low, still got his though. I can see why the Mavs wouldn't have wanted to play the Griz, they would have struggled in the paint and Memphis has some tough defenders. I think the Thunder present just as many match up issues as the Griz would though--maybe the Mavs think they're more favorable issues. We'll see. Could be an awesome series, especially if the Mavs offense is still rolling and the Thunder offense plays like game 7.
• The Boss

  

  Good game so far, both teams playing well. Dirk playing REAL well and the Thunder somehow seem like they don't know about JJ Barea. Thought they would have watched some tape or at least had a better scouting report. I guess he's just fired up.
• friendfromlowry

  Perhaps I should have bet on the Thunder to win after-all...
• friendfromlowry

  friendfromlowry;772183 wrote:Perhaps I should have bet on the Thunder to win after-all...

  
  Cue 7-0 run
• friendfromlowry

  friendfromlowry;772188 wrote:Cue 7-0 run

  
  Cue 12-0 run
• The Boss

  

  Westbrook not doing what he should be doing. Durant needs the ball right now, he's on fire too. He just had Barea on him and Westbrook kept it. SMH
• chicago510

  

  As good as Rose v James/Wade has the potential to be, I am captivated by Durant vs Nowitzki right now.
  
  Probably the best mid-range jump shooters in the game, up there with some of the all-time greats.
• The Boss

  

  Thunder are just playing the type of basketball that reminds you that they are young. But this was supposed to be the year they got over that right? Sounds wild but it might be time to find a new point guard for Durant and change the game plan next season. If Brooks can convince him to distribute like he did in game 7 they can win, because he's really good at it. I don't know how he hasn't figured that out.
• wildcats20

  

  The Boss;772353 wrote:Thunder are just playing the type of basketball that reminds you that they are young. But this was supposed to be the year they got over that right? Sounds wild but it might be time to find a new point guard for Durant and change the game plan next season. If Brooks can convince him to distribute like he did in game 7 they can win, because he's really good at it. I don't know how he hasn't figured that out.

  
  I think it's going to be near impossible. Only because Westbrook has the ability to dominate a game at the PG spot, by scoring. Very similar in that aspect to D Rose. I agree, they might need to look at moving him.
• chicago510

  

  Dirk is playing one of the most impressive, efficient games I haver ever seen. 37 points on 11 shots.
  
  Sick.
• friendfromlowry

  Inadvertent? Looked like Terry tried to slap him to me...
• Mulva

  

  Dirk is tearing up.
• friendfromlowry

  Wonder how chippy this series could get. All the Dallas guys don't seem the type to lose their cool, but I'm waiting for Perkins to get pissed and lay someone out. Perhaps Barea...
• friendfromlowry

  Terrible defense.