Mavs/Lakers Predictions?

Well, in the obvious sense, yes it does. Something like 3 series in the history of the NBA have been won by the team who started 0-2 (*cough* Mavs-choke *cough*).

How many teams have started a series 0-2 on their own home floor but then later came back to win? You can probably count those on one hand. Or maybe even one finger.

Tuesday night's game is an absolute must win for the Lakers. If they lose that game then it will be almost impossible for them to come back.

TC
 
The key in my opinion is advantage/disadvantage. Kidd had hold of Kobe for a brief second but once Kobe made his cut, Kidd wasn't fouling him. Kobe tripping was just one of those deals that happens in sports, and Pau lost the ball because Kobe ran into Pau's arm - something that might have happened even had Kobe not tripped. I didn't see Kidd gaining any advantage from the hold, although I could see how a few refs would call it.

Gasol's foul of Dirk was pretty obvious. I was expecting the Lakers to get a huge officiating boost in this game but it mostly didn't happen aside from the Terry foul at the end of the half (no way is that called if the jerseys are reversed), and a couple of Mavs layups in the middle of the 3rd quarter while the Lakers went on the big run where LA got away with clear fouls.
 
I agree with your take Wadster.

Series can go either way. I think it goes 7 and should be entertaining to watch. Hard to believe these 2 teams haven't met up in the playoffs before with Dirk and Kobe.
 
As a lifelong die hard Spurs fan, I don't believe I have ever pulled for the Mavs. That has changed with this series.
 
I thought the refs did fine.

I thought the teams played poorly, especially the Lakers.

I thought there were a number of mental errors, as well, especially on the part of the Mavs at the end of H1 and the beginning of H2.

I thought that the Mavs proved more focused, if that is what you can call it, and that they made the plays down the stretch. The Lakers can answer, but it won't be as easy as turning on a switch. They have some serious systemic issues that play into some of the Mavs' strengths.

The Mavs looked chippier, hungrier. They kept playing til the end and the Lakes did not. If that isn't fixed the Lakers go down in 5 or 6.

This is a tough match up for the Lakes and they need better play from a number of people. Trouble is, the Mavs match up well with the Lakes in the paint where the Lakes want to make most of their hay.

The Mavs have the better bench.

The Lakers have a better starting 5, probably even going to the 6th man, but the gap isn't as big as one might suspect, especially if Gasol and Bynum play as sluggishly as they on Monday.

Gasol is in a funk. He has looked out of whack for weeks now and I can't exactly place the problem. I know he is not the most aggressive guy, but he looks lost alot of the time.

Bynum has limitations to his game and needs Gasol to soften up some space for him, along with some jump shooting from the perimeter to materialize.

That last point is what is really at stake -- the Lakes need to get some shots down from Fish, Artest, and even Blake. They need a little more consistency from Brown, who has great athleticism and no basketball sense. Some of these guys need to knock down some Js.

Kobe needs to playmake a bit more, to help the offensive efficiency improve down the stretch even as he is making big plays on his own. The Laker O went into hibernation on Monday and Kobe, who was hot for a while, couldn't keep it rolling to the end.

Odom had a pretty good game, especially since he spent a good deal of time guarding Nowitzki. I don't expect much more from him, maybe even less, which is worrisome.

The Lakers must win this next game and they must take one of the first two in Dallas. It isn't going to be easy.
 
You would think the way the NBA Playoffs go that the Lakers would be a shoe-in tonight (slam dunk?). They did it vs Hornets last round; Thunder did it last night and Bulls are doing it tonight.

You would expect Lakers to be totally pumped from the get go; Tyson will probably be on the bench with 2 fouls after the first 3 mintues and it'll be downhill (uphill?) from there.

All that being said - I'll be yelling my *** off at the tv to prevent such a trend from occurring.

Go Mavs!

Hook'em!!!
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Lakers can't hit the broad side of a barn. If not for some dumb Mavs turnovers, this one would be over instead of just sitting at 10. Peja is also 0-fer from behind the arc and he's had good looks. Kobe just missed back to back 3s in the same possession. Weird game. Not the shoot out we thought for sure.
 
Wow, the lakers are in trouble. Pau and Lamar forgot to show up for the series. Can't win that way.
 
Artest better not be playing game 3. That was about as low as you can go on that shot to the head on JJ. He's always been a punk, but he out punked himself this time and Stern better take him off the court. Doesn't make much difference in the game because he's playing like crap, but no way he's playing game 3.
 
Mavs made them look silly. Great defense! Normally JJB would be my Unsung Hero of the Game - but I think he's the "Sung Hero" and Haywood is the Unsung Hero for his fantastic Defense.

Hook'em!!!
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Dallas really does have the ideal situation at PG in many ways. Well, obviously the ideal ideal is just to have somebody like Chris Paul or Deron Williams playing 90% of the time. But Kidd is still one of the best passers in the league (maybe even the best - his assist numbers are down yes, but IMO that's because Dallas is an isolation team, his minutes are down, and he's not as much of a threat to drive and score at the rim as he used to be), and he's a great leader on both ends of the court. Not just a floor general on offense, but his leadership by example of stepping up to play quality D on Kobe on a team not known for individual perimeter D is worth more than any particular savvy defensive play he might make. I think a lot of people need to eat their words about Kidd over the past couple of years. And then when the old man sits, you bring in the super fast kid with boundless energy to run around and make plays - I like that Barea has the freedom to be aggressive and make some mistakes if that's what it takes to make sure he keeps trying to maximize the advantage of his speed/quickness and make hustle plays, and if he's having a bad game then you bring your vet back or even let Jet bring the ball up a bit if Kidd needs some more rest.

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Good points Stat. Lakers don't look very cohesive. Mavs D may be to blame, but there's not a lot of teamwork in their offense. Bynum scored lots of points on putbacks. Other than that their Offense seemed discombobulated. Let's hope for two more just like it!

Hook'em!!!
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I think that the Lakers are tapped. They didn't really pick up any talent after last year and lost some important ingredients.

I didn't watch the game tonight, but looking at the box score it is clear they are offensively challenged. I do think that the Dallas length is bothering them, but mostly because they can't shoot from the perimeter. 2 of 20 from behind the arc. That's just pitiful.

Personally, I think that they lack real desire to perform and to put up with Kobe. I think Kobe has turned Gasol off and has not found a way to turn him back on, and I think Jackson is willing to let it ride. I don't think he has an answer, either, especially as they are old and need someone to play above their ability. The Lakers are not fun to watch.

The pieces don't fit together very well and they struggle to score no matter who they play. They are not deep. In fact, the bench hasn't been very good for a while.

I think they are done, as in the Kobe chapter is just about over unless they go out and get some fresh labor.
 
I don't know how a rational human being could be watching this series and blame Kobe for the Lakers' problems. If anything, he's the only thing keeping it close.

It's clearly the Lakers big men, who were supposed to have such a clear advantage over the Mavs, that are struggling. Gasol has that ugly Spanish cringe every time he misses a shot. Odom is trying too hard to take it to the rim and usually loses the ball. Bynum cries like a baby when Gasol gets the ball at his spot or when he switches on D and no one fills his empty release point. The Lakers should be dominating around the rim and they're simply not.

And their PG situation has been in the crapper for about 7 years now, but it's usually overcome by Kobe being the distributor and everyone else picking their games up. Barea just owns any of the Lakers' small guys. Fisher is too slow, Blake has lost all confidence, and Brown doesn't even know who he's supposed to guard (which is why he only plays like 15 minutes even though he's shooting 75 percent from the floor).

Like I said in another post, the Lakers just flip a switch because they literally take it "one game at a time," where they can put a beatdown on anyone when they want. But I think they've really lost confidence because they didn't expect Dirk to have a supporting cast this go-around. Without Artest, we're probably going to see more rim attacking and less standing around, but I don't think it will help the Lakers stop the Mavs on the defensive side.
 
The NBA is watching millions of $ go down the drain while the Lakers lose. Expect some serious ref discrepancies coming up ala Sacramento vs the Lakers in the 90's.
 
Great start to the series. I really didnt expect the Mavs to have a chance to win.

I will say this.....if there is any team capable of coming out of this hole its the Lakers.

I expect Kobe and the rest of the Lakers to bring the kitchen sink on Friday.

Outside of Boston in 2010 and San Antonio in 2008...this Mavs team is by far the best team they;ve faced in the playoffs in the Kobe/Gasol era.

That was the one area I really thought we might have a chance.

Not trying to downplay the other teams in the West, but the Lakers have not gone though a bunch of juggernauts on their way to their last three Western Conference titles.
 
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