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.
L.A. not looking like the team we saw in the first half of the season - In the midst of their late season struggles, the Los Angeles Lakers and star guard Kobe Bryant agreed to a 3-year contract extension worth $87 million dollars. The deal will now keep the team's all-time leading scorer in Hollywood through the 2013-2014 NBA season. And with the number one seed in the West already clinched and home court advantage in their control, Phil Jackson has decided to sit his star player for the final two games of the regular season in hopes of a healthy playoff run for both Kobe and his team. With a nagging injury in his right index finger, Bryant will need all the rest he can get considering the team has struggled lately with and without him. But a lot of the team's downfall could be due to the absence of their young center Andrew Bynum who's been out with an injured Achilles tendon since March 19th. He is expected to be healthy and ready however, come playoff time.
Personally, I think L.A.'s late season struggles has a lot to do with the excessive number of homes games the Lakers played in the beginning of the season, as many road trips down the stretch have definitely taken a toll on the players both mentally and physically. With 6 losses in their last 9-games including 2 at home, the Lakers failed to finish the season with the best overall record for the second straight year. & With the 8th seed in the West already decided, the Lakers will have plenty of time to study and dissect their opponent, as they now know they will be facing the new look Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. With sweeps in back-to-back seasons in the first round for the Lakers, another is unlikely. However, the Lakers are still favorites to win the series nonetheless and are expected to move onto the second round and hopefully beyond.
With a dominant young player and potential MVP candidate who can score at will in Kevin Durant, I expect the series to go at least six games if not the distance. My first hopes were to play the Portland Trailblazers who are having some late season struggles of their own. And with a banged up Brandon Roy who's expected to miss the team's first few playoff games, the team will have to overcome a huge obstacle having to deal without their best player. We all know Lakers-Nuggets is who everyone wants to see in the Western Conference Finals again, given it will be a for sure blockbuster, but the team I'm most worried about facing is the San Antonio Spurs. Manu Ginobili and company have definitely turned it up over the last month or so and I'm convinced they can force a game-7 against just about anyone who underestimates them. Go Lakers!
