2012 NBA Playoffs - (2) Thunder vs. (7) Mavs - (2-0 OKC)

inquisitive · Post #101 » by **inquisitive** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:44 pm

Tough series....OKC in 7

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #102 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:13 pm

The poll is at 55 percent favoring with the Thunder and 45% favoring the Mavs.

I think time is catching up to Dirk. OTOH, Brandan Wright is just coming into his own. He and Marion are playing pretty high level defense. Vince Carter is probably done after this but his legs still have some spring in them.

For OKC things are interesting. How is Harden? He was playing about as well as Durant and better than Westbrook at the end of the season. Unfortunate timing for him to get the concussion. I will assume he's okay for the playoffs and that OKC will finish what they started last season. I can't see the Thunder going out in round one. Not gonna happen.

OKC in 6, because I don't think Dirk and Terry can carry them any farther and guys like Wright and Beubois aren't ready to win in the playoffs. Ibaka should be huge for OKC and I think Dirk will have a tough playoffs.

red_power · Post #103 » by **red_power** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:39 pm

Mavericks looks terrible after all-star break and half of their team sits on suitcases. OKC in 6, only because they isn't in best shape right now.

choppermagic · Post #104 » by **choppermagic** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:45 pm

OKC has had a great year and their parts work well together. I am not sure DAL can match that this year. Dirk would have to go back in to God-mode from last year to make it a toss up. I dont think that happens. DAL was close to missing the POs entirely a few weeks ago. I also wonder if Harden is looking forward to facing MWP in Rd two if they advance too ha ha

Spanish_Laker · Post #105 » by **Spanish_Laker** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:30 pm

OKC in 7, but it will come down to the wire, every game will be a hard-fought battle. Dirk and Terry will show up again in the playoffs, but Ibaka's defensive presence will be the X-Factor for the Thunder.

bigball123 · Post #106 » by **bigball123** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:56 pm

Toss up.

bbms · Post #107 » by **bbms** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:07 pm

Thunder in 5.

Post #108 » by **DefenseWins** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:09 pm

If the Mavs kept Chandler and Odom was himself and stayed with the Mavs, I would have picked Mavs in 6.

OKC hasn't ended this season well, luckily for them they will get rest because they didn't rest during the regular season.

So many questions and factors in this series... I think it will rest if Dirk goes ham though.

But... OKC in 7.

bbms · Post #109 » by **bbms** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:20 pm

bledredwine wrote:ohhhh this'll be good. IMO best 1st round series;

1. This
2. Clips/Grizz
3. Heat/Knicks

Heat Knicks is a sweep for me.

yowyOw · Post #110 » by **yowyOw** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:07 pm

EntropyPR wrote:Bold prediction, Mavs in 7

.

Brooklyn_34 · Post #111 » by **Brooklyn_34** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:08 pm

Sinant wrote:If Westbrook doesn't get out of his funk, this could be a really ugly series.

I'll still take the Thunder in six games, but there's definitely upset potential in this one.

Yup...he's been playing like garbage recently.

Also OKC has not been playing exactly good BB recently either.

We'll see how Harden is doing....He KILLED us last year, even though we beat them 4-1. He totally tooled our bench.

The key for Dallas is getting rebounds from their centers. Haywood needs to be a presence on the glass. If he does not come to play, I hope Carlisle gives Wright significant minutes. Wright gives them shotblocking and it's not as if he really has to worry about Kendrick offensively. Dirk is going to have to step up his rebounding, but he usually does anyway (during the playoffs).

If we can get decent rebounding from our center position, I like our chances.
To be honest, the only player that scares me is Harden, surprisingly, for the reason I just gave. He can swing the series.

I am going to take Dallas in 6 games.

bigheadburton · Post #112 » by **bigheadburton** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:20 pm

I don't like what I've seen of Mavs this year and I don't think they have enough extra gears left, Thunder in 6 as long as Harden can play.

gino_giode · Post #113 » by **gino_giode** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:37 pm

Wright is 210 pounds. If he's in, you can be damn sure they'll force it down low. Hell, even Durant would body him up.

sefant77 · Post #114 » by **sefant77** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:41 pm

gino_giode wrote:Wright is 210 pounds. If he's in, you can be damn sure they'll force it down low. Hell, even Durant would body him up.

Wright played almost all his minutes at center and he has really nice defensive numbers. If the Mavs play him the Thunder has to bench Perkins and Wright is able to defend Ibaka or Collison.

bledredwine · Post #115 » by **bledredwine** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:44 pm

bbms wrote:
bledredwine wrote:ohhhh this'll be good. IMO best 1st round series;

1. This
2. Clips/Grizz
3. Heat/Knicks

Heat Knicks is a sweep for me.

Yeah, I actually said that because Heat/Knicks will be fun. I do think the Heat will win in 5. I just find the match ups interesting....

Phailadelphia · Post #116 » by **Phailadelphia** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:16 pm

sefant77 wrote:
gino_giode wrote:Wright is 210 pounds. If he's in, you can be damn sure they'll force it down low. Hell, even Durant would body him up.

Wright played almost all his minutes at center and he has really nice defensive numbers. If the Mavs play him the Thunder has to bench Perkins and Wright is able to defend Ibaka or Collison.

Uh, Wright cannot defend Ibaka.

Josephpaul · Post #117 » by **Josephpaul** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:36 pm

Okc in 6

gino_giode · Post #118 » by **gino_giode** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:44 pm

sefant77 wrote:
gino_giode wrote:Wright is 210 pounds. If he's in, you can be damn sure they'll force it down low. Hell, even Durant would body him up.

Wright played almost all his minutes at center and he has really nice defensive numbers. If the Mavs play him the Thunder has to bench Perkins and Wright is able to defend Ibaka or Collison.

Wright has been given inconsistent minutes all year. It may be a lack of comfort within the defensive schemes, or more likely that he can't replicate the size that Haywood and his less talented counterpart Mahinmi offer.

EscapoTHB · Post #119 » by **EscapoTHB** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:04 pm

I think it's a toss up, but in the end I went with the defending champs, because they beat this same thunder team last year pretty convincingly in 5 games. As a show of respect I have them winning it in 6 this year. But I wouldn't be suprised if the Mavs don't show up and the Thunder win it in 7. Tough first round matchup for the Thunder.

ZB9 · Post #120 » by **ZB9** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:04 pm

Phailadelphia wrote:
sefant77 wrote:
gino_giode wrote:Wright is 210 pounds. If he's in, you can be damn sure they'll force it down low. Hell, even Durant would body him up.

Wright played almost all his minutes at center and he has really nice defensive numbers. If the Mavs play him the Thunder has to bench Perkins and Wright is able to defend Ibaka or Collison.

Uh, Wright cannot defend Ibaka.

is Ibaka Shawn Kemp on offense all of a sudden

Who wins this series and in how many?