Maybe less. I don't believe in the "one week off and they will be rusty" talks. For a team with an average age of over 29, I'm sure they enjoyed the rest and they will come out ready. OKC may be surprised by the intensity the Mavs come out with to start the game rather than the other way around like most are saying.

The Mavs are just on a roll right now. They have won 6 in a row. That's good for the regular season but in the playoffs that is just insane. Terry and Peja won't have the same game they did in game 4 of the Lakers series, but they are the X-factors for the Mavs. They will come out firing.

It's gonna be fun to watch these teams go at it.

I hope you're right. Mavs have been dogs for the previous 2 series. I hope they can handle the pressure when they're expected to win.

Mavs in 6

I hope you're right.

Getting up 2-0 at home would put a lot of pressure on OKC. I'll be there Thursday.

I agree with the OP, Mavs in 5.

Be careful making predictions like this. If you aren't spot on, people will react like you kicked them in the junk.

I think OKC will be the best team the Mavs have faced in the playoffs. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if OKC stole game 1.

I could see this series going either way. It seems like the general consensus is an easy win for the Mavs, but I doubt it goes down that way.

quote:

---

I think OKC will be the best team the Mavs have faced in the playoffs. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if OKC stole game 1.

---

I just dont think so.

We just finished facing
Andrew Bynum (great low post player),
Paul Gasol (all NBA 2nd team)
Lamar Odom (NBA 6th man of the year)
Ron Artest (past Defensive Player of the Year)
Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant (5x NBA champion and probably one of the 10 best players ever)

All these guys(except Artest) have been champions more then once.

When I look at OKC, I dont see a single low block player remotely as good as LaMarcus Aldridge, Odom, Bynum or Gasol.

I see two really good players....and then a bunch of role players.

The Thunder will play hard, but I also see Mavs in 5 games...simply because they are a better team.

I think the Thunder will play us harder than either of the teams we faced in the first two rounds. I can't see this series ending before 6 games.

this reminds me of all the 'rangers in 5' predictions before the world series last year...

This series reminds me a lot of the 2006 Western Conference Finals.

On paper the Mavs are a much better team.

I think the Thunder will come out and play very hard, and might even steal a game or two....

but just like in 2006 when we beat a much tougher Spurs team in Round 2....I think the Mavs have already taken out the best the West has to offer.

Lost in the demolition of the Lakers....is that Los Angeles should have won game 1 and 3.

Its not like the Mavs completely dominated the series.

there's a big difference between could have and should have...

quote:

---

there's a big difference between could have and should have...

---

Your right....and whats your point?

In game 1 the Lakers were up for about 95% of that game.

In game 3 the Lakers were up by 8 with 5 minutes left in the game.

I think this series is going to be close. The Thunder are young and way better than be given credit on here.

I'll take the Mavs in 7.