gpikeWestern Conference Finals game one
May 17th 2011 01:05
Oklahoma City and Dallas are prepared to tangle for game one tomorrow night. The Thunder and the Mavericks faced off for three games this year, with Dallas two of the three. Dallas had injured Caron Butler for these games, and were missing Dirk Nowitzki for one and a half of the games. Dallas has a nine day break heading into the game, while the Thunder are ready to go after eliminating Memphis on Sunday. History shows that teams who have extended time off's during the playoffs are not very good. Only a 9-9 record for these teams who have breaks of this size. The stage is set for what is expected to be a super series along with the Eastern Conference. The top four teams are playing still.
Nowitzki has been on a tear thus far in the playoffs. Nobody has been able to slow him from Portland to the LA Lakers, Dirk has been unstoppable. Serge Ibaka gets the task of attempting to slow down the German legend. The Dallas shooters had a near perfect series versus the Lakers, connecting on 49 shots from behind the arc for the four-game series. Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Peja Stojakovic, and Nowitzki each had the shooting touch. Will the layoff cool this guys down? Probably for the first game, though it is hard to say.
Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook has nobody on the Mavericks lineup who matches up well with him. Yesterday, I wrote how Deshawn Stevenson is Dallas's best option, but maybe forgotten man on the bench, Corey Brewer may get a shot. Westbrook will need to up for scoring points in bunches as usual with Kevin Durant. James Harden is the x-factor for the Thunder, if he can score over 15 points then Oklahoma City stand a good chance of winning. The guard from Arizona State, is too streaky though to count on every night. Kendrick Perkins and Tyson Chandler are slated for a great battle down low, with each guy known for being tough. Key matchup's all around here!
For tomorrow, expect a low scoring first quarter as the teams feel each other out. Dallas will steal an advantage during the middle quarters, then a Durant will key a big comeback. But Dallas will buck the trend of teams struggling after time off, and continue to win. The Mavericks pull away in the end, earning their seventh straight win in the playoffs.
Nowitzki has been on a tear thus far in the playoffs. Nobody has been able to slow him from Portland to the LA Lakers, Dirk has been unstoppable. Serge Ibaka gets the task of attempting to slow down the German legend. The Dallas shooters had a near perfect series versus the Lakers, connecting on 49 shots from behind the arc for the four-game series. Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Peja Stojakovic, and Nowitzki each had the shooting touch. Will the layoff cool this guys down? Probably for the first game, though it is hard to say.
Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook has nobody on the Mavericks lineup who matches up well with him. Yesterday, I wrote how Deshawn Stevenson is Dallas's best option, but maybe forgotten man on the bench, Corey Brewer may get a shot. Westbrook will need to up for scoring points in bunches as usual with Kevin Durant. James Harden is the x-factor for the Thunder, if he can score over 15 points then Oklahoma City stand a good chance of winning. The guard from Arizona State, is too streaky though to count on every night. Kendrick Perkins and Tyson Chandler are slated for a great battle down low, with each guy known for being tough. Key matchup's all around here!
For tomorrow, expect a low scoring first quarter as the teams feel each other out. Dallas will steal an advantage during the middle quarters, then a Durant will key a big comeback. But Dallas will buck the trend of teams struggling after time off, and continue to win. The Mavericks pull away in the end, earning their seventh straight win in the playoffs.
The big man from Congo has a tall order in the western finals versus Nowitzki
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