With the first round of the NBA Playoffs in the books, the table is now set for the semifinals which will include two Western Conference heavyweights -- the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. Although seeing both teams atop the standings has become somewhat of a common occurrence over the past decade or so, it's been a distant 23 years since these teams have met in the Playoffs which in itself describes just how anxious basketball fans are to see how not only this series plays out, but also the match-up between team captains Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. Not to mention the bad-blood shared between both franchises which was seen in their last meeting on March 31. In a 110-82 blowout that saw the Lakers come out victorious, tempers flared following a hard foul resulting in the ejections of Jason Terry, Matt Barnes and Steve Blake.
With both teams coming off of 6-game series' in which they were able to close out on the road against their respective opponents -- New Orleans Hornets and Portland Trailblazers, I won't be surprised if both teams were to lose at least one game on their home court. Another scenario which wouldn't shock me, is if the series was to go the distance, needing all 7-games to determine a winner. However, while that's what TV networks along with NBA Commissioner David Stern are hoping for, I think the series will only go 6-games with L.A. coming out on top.
Similar to the last series where the Hornets were without their All-Star Forward David West, the Lakers will dodge another bullet facing a Caron Butler-less Mavs squad. The ex-Laker who came over from Miami in the Shaq trade hasn't been on the hardwood since January 1 when he ruptured his right patella tendon. Hoping to return to the team for game 1, Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle received notice from Butler's doctor that he wasn't cleared to play. But with plenty of threats on offense such as veterans Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and the aforementioned tandem of Terry and Nowitzki, the Lakers will still have their hands full. Tip off to Game 1 at Staples Center is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.
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