or at least 3 of 4. This series will play out exactly like the 2002 mavs-kings series when dallas shot lights out and stole game 2 in sacto. Lolz at all these thunder fans coming out of the woodwork.

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This series will play out exactly like the 2002 mavs-kings series when dallas shot lights out and stole game 2 in sacto.

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I said the same thing last night, this series is eerily similar to that one in many ways both in the makeup of the teams and the results in the first two games. Dallas was the upstart who shot very well in Sacramento only to come home and see the experience of the Kings take over.

I just don't think this OKC team has the stomach to beat Dallas in a seven game series yet. Much like Dallas in 2002, they'll lose at least one game because of a couple boneheaded youthful mistakes late in a close game and others because the other team is just better and more experience.

Some Mavs fans are being a little too casual. OKC is a good team. While I'm not panicking just yet, I will say that OKC shot well in game 1 and lights out in game 2. If they're going to stay hot, we're in serious trouble.

I said before the series started that we were going at least 6 games. At the very least we need to split the next two, otherwise we're done.

I'm with Judge.

JJ, please do post pics of your wife.

TIA

lol, do you guys really expect OKC to shoot lights out and score 110 a game... eff no. Expect dallas to play better defense the rest of the way and hold okc to 95 per game.

I do think it's comical that w/ the checkered playoff history that the Mavs have that ya'll can be so dismissive of OKC. I'm pretty sure they just stole Homecourt advantage from the mavs and still have one of the best young point guards in the NBA, the league's leading scorer, and a veteran Big man that's won a ring in the last 3 years.

Comin out of the woodwork would be what we saw from rangers fans last year.

Been on this board the last two seasons reppin okc

Kendrick Perkins has proven to be less than worthless for OKC this series, he is actually a detriment. He can't guard Dirk, he can't guard Chandler, nobody needs to guard Haywood and he can't score on any of them. OKC is -24 when he is in the game this series IIRC.

As for the "same old Mavericks" comment, the same old Mavericks would have lost the Portland series after that game 4 debacle and would not have swept LA. Hell, the same old Mavs wouldnt have won game 1 of this series.

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Kendrick Perkins has proven to be less than worthless for OKC this series, he is actually a detriment. He can't guard Dirk, he can't guard Chandler, nobody needs to guard Haywood and he can't score on any of them. OKC is -24 when he is in the game this series IIRC.

As for the "same old Mavericks" comment, the same old Mavericks would have lost the Portland series after that game 4 debacle and would not have swept LA. Hell, the same old Mavs wouldnt have won game 1 of this series.

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Lol, ok on the count of 3 please tell me who on the mavericks roster as more, or even as many rings as Perkins...1,2,3, go...I never said he was scoring points, but he's been here before and on a team as young as OKC that's a valuable asset whether you admit it or not.

They sure looking like the same ol mavs last night...no defense, losing at home to the underdog. All I'm saying is to dismiss a team as talented as OKC is arrogant persumption and that's something the mavericks certainly haven't earned.

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Lol, ok on the count of 3 please tell me who on the mavericks roster as more, or even as many rings as Perkins...1,2,3, go...I never said he was scoring points, but he's been here before and on a team as young as OKC that's a valuable asset whether you admit it or not.

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Experience is only an assest if it goes along with some sort of assistance on the court. Jason Kidd, for example. He makes a lot of very "heady" plays in key moments. Perkins can talk a lot of **** and that's about it in this series. Dallas wishes they'd play him more. If you give your team the wisdom and knowledge that comes with experience and championships then do nothing but hurt them on the court, what have you really done?

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They sure looking like the same ol mavs last night...no defense, losing at home to the underdog. All I'm saying is to dismiss a team as talented as OKC is arrogant persumption and that's something the mavericks certainly haven't earned.

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Since Dallas returned to the postseason in 2001, Dallas has covered the spread in all but five home games. Their defense also wasnt the Mavs defense of old. the Mavs defense of old gave other teams a layup line. OKC hit seven contested jumpers in the final fourm seconds of the shot clockin the second half alone last night. They were just hitting contested shots that Portland and LA were not.

Perkins plays like a Dampier with attitude (/stolen from twitter). He's not such a badass when he doesn't have Garnett next to him.

And the 2002 kings put on a layup/dunk clinic that completely demoralized the Mavs. It was the whole team dominating. Tap the brakes on the Mavs

The Mavericks have pretty much gotten whatever they wanted on offense this series. They scored 121 in game one and 100 last night despite about six missed layups from Marion/Chandler and missing 18 threes. If Harden doesnt go ape **** and hit all those contested shots, Dallas wins anyway.

And again, I know the same COULD be about Dirk from game one, but as I've said before Harden simply is not Dirk. The Ticket guys said it best this morning, when Dirk makes shots like that, that's just "Dirk being Dirk". When harden does it, it's "incredible". One is expected, the other is not.

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He's not such a badass when he doesn't have Garnett next to him.

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meaning what?

People who crap on what Perkins does for this team don't watch the Thunder much. This may sound stupid, but if Perkins never shows up, Durant may not even attempt that dunk from last night.

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Since Dallas returned to the postseason in 2001, Dallas has covered the spread in all but five home games. Their defense also wasnt the Mavs defense of old. the Mavs defense of old gave other teams a layup line. OKC hit seven contested jumpers in the final fourm seconds of the shot clockin the second half alone last night. They were just hitting contested shots that Portland and LA were not.

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Oh I see, it's professor plum in the library w/ the candlestick. In case you haven't noticed, the Mavericks are giving up an average of 109 ppg in this series. Sure sounds like the same old mavs regarding being soft on defense.

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The Mavericks have pretty much gotten whatever they wanted on offense this series. They scored 121 in game one and 100 last night despite about six missed layups from Marion/Chandler and missing 18 threes. If Harden doesnt go ape **** and hit all those contested shots, Dallas wins anyway.

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And if Barea doesn't get 3 times his playoff average in game one OKC wins anyway and this series is 2-0 OKC.

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People who crap on what Perkins does for this team don't watch the Thunder much. This may sound stupid, but if Perkins never shows up, Durant may not even attempt that dunk from last night.

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Exactly

The "if player x does/doesn't do this" arguments are pretty stupid. Fact of the matter is, they did.

I felt like the defense on Harden was good last night, and he was draino from everywhere on the floor. Especially in the fourth quarter, where I felt like the Mavericks actually played decent basketball, but the Thunder answered shot for shot and then some.

I think what the Mavs need to do is clear, although not easy: Harden is the guy we need to keep quiet. When he's up against Terry, that's the biggest mismatch on the floor aside from maybe whoever's guarding Dirk. Keep making Durant make those fade-aways which he will likely make half the time anyway, but he's going to get his regardless. Continue to make Westbrook shoot 20 foot jumpers and just don't send him to the line as much - a tall order given his speed, but I'm actually okay with him attempting out-of-control contested layups.

[This message has been edited by Judge (edited 5/20/2011 3:53p).]

What do the Mavs do when KD/Russ/Harden are out on the floor at the same time? Who is the best defensive combo for Dallas against that trio?

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KD/Russ/Harden

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this combo should be on the court at the beginning of every game, at the end of every game, and at every crucial moment in between. brooks inability to see this is holding this team back.

I disagree on them starting, it doesn't matter who starts the game, but the only problem its causing is, Thabo needs to be playing on Terry, and right now their shifts aren't matching up.

[This message has been edited by The Padz (edited 5/20/2011 4:21p).]

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it doesn't matter who starts the game

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it does if the team consistantly gets off to slow starts.

harden is a penetrater, and without looking at the stats, is probably drawing more fouls per 36 than any other player on the team right now, including KD. he takes it to the rack, puts pressure on the opposing defense and gets people in foul trouble. get the dallas big men in foul trouble early and you are looking at a completely different ball game.

and thabo's defense is quickly becoming overrated. he doesn't suck by any means, but the utility he provides on defense might not outweight the black hole he is on offense.

agree on the last account, we've been saying here at work for a few weeks that the gap between their defense isn't enough to make up the gaping hole between their offensive abilities

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Who is the best defensive combo for Dallas against that trio?

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What can you do? There's no real "perfect combination" for those three defensively.

Put Chandler in the middle to clog up the lane, make Westbrook take jump shots. Never give KD and Harden a clear path to the basket and make them hit contested jumpers. Close better on three-point attempts.

If KD and Harden are going to continue to hit contested 20 foot j's and fade-aways every game, the Thunder deserve to win the series, plain and simple.

If Harden starts to heat up because he's hitting over the smaller JET, I'd like to see Corey Brewer log some minutes on him, perhaps get Harden to cool off a bit before brining JET back in. If Brewer is in, Peja/Marion would have to be on Durant though.

Oh, and most importantly - rebound. I was very frustrated with the lack of rebounding by Dallas last night. It's a shame Chandler can't play 48 minutes because Haywood is really starting to remind me of Dampier - a far cry from how he was playing in the middle of the regular season. He barely even looks like he's trying, or exerting any energy. The result is him tasting Durant's jock as he gets the basketball tomahawked down his throat.

[This message has been edited by Judge (edited 5/20/2011 4:40p).]

subbing brewer for terry takes care of the defensive end, but i'm not sure Dallas has enough firepower to keep up if terry sits for extended periods of time, unless kidd is going to bomb 3's like he did last night

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They sure looking like the same ol mavs last night...no defense, losing at home to the underdog.

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Good Lord Dude. The Mavs had won 7 in a row and finally lost their first playoff game at home. I don't know what more you can expect of them.

I knew that OKC wasn't going to be an easy series by any means. However they are very young and regardless of their talent I believe there is a learning process they must go through. I still think Dallas wins in 6 or 7 games.

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subbing brewer for terry takes care of the defensive end, but i'm not sure Dallas has enough firepower to keep up if terry sits for extended periods of time, unless kidd is going to bomb 3's like he did last night

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Probably. Dirk and Peja are both requirements in a lineup that features Brewer at the 2.

Don't take this one too lightly Mavs' fans. I see comments about OKC shooting lights out to steal one. I believe game 1 was won because Dirk had one of the best shooting performances in NBA history, and that isn't likely to occur again, even given the fact that nobody on OKC can guard Dirk

Mavs probably take the series in 7, but I think you underestimate OKC and mistake how the first 2 games really have gone. Keep in mind that OKC's backups won the game last night, and Dirk still had a great game (10/17 shooting I believe)

A lot of Mavs fans have comments on how OKC shot lights out. Yes, they shot well, but there is a reason for that. The reason is that OKC is uncovering some severe weaknesses that Dallas has on the defensive end. Yes, a lot of people love Barrea as they see him as a guy who has no business being out there but still putting up a lot of points. But, he has gotten killed on the defensive end, especially when trying to cover Harden.

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."
-John Wooden

Mavs will respond to OKC like they did after Brandon Roy destroyed them in game 4 in the first series.

Dirk needs to touch the ball more often in the 3rd quarter.

Literally 75% of the possessions need to go through Dirk when he's in.

accountant, rewatch game 2, OKC didn't find a weakness in the Mavs genius, they could throw anything up and it went in.

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lol, do you guys really expect OKC to shoot lights out and score 110 a game... eff no. Expect dallas to play better defense the rest of the way and hold okc to 95 per game.

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gold

Here's to hoping my "sports promise" comes true tonight.

Oh JJ....I have a few more to bump if the Mavs win the whole thing..There is some gold from this season and lots of simple,gs and others fail.

Money call dude

Read these comments (and others) knowing nothing else and you get the feeling that OKC has had multiple playoff runs and tons of experience, and that their opponent just lucks it way to a win. They don't reflect a team that just lost a playoff series 4-1 after struggling to win one 4-3 with multiple OTs.

Yes, I realize Mavs history can bring out the cynic in everyone, but look at the stats for heaven's sakes: if OKC doesn't shoot 50%+ (I would actually argue it would need to be 53%, but let's just say 50% for now) against the Mavs, they will lose. That's 6 points higher than their season average and virtually unsustainable over 7 games. The argument of less than 50 might have done it tonight ignores the Mav's comebacks. The game lasts for 48 minutes, and sometimes more.