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The NBA Playoffs are almost upon us, and it's time to start analyzing each first-round matchup.
The Western Conference's No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed matchup features two teams that should deliver a dramatic seven-game series, and that's exactly what I expect. This is the most star power of any first-round series to date, and the stars will be the deciding factor here.
This is the third time in the last five years that these two teams have met in the playoffs, but this time the teams are much different than their previous matchups.of dallas mavericks With the new look, their defense has developed into one of the best teams in the NBA. Los Angeles Clippers The new look gives you plenty of scoring options to brighten up your scoreboard. But which of these teams will win and advance to Round 2?
dallas mavericks
Starting with Dallas, I'd like to say what they've done since the acquisition. PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford It's almost perfect. These two players opened up so many options for the Mavericks and dramatically changed the tone of the team, especially from a defensive standpoint. Now that the Mavericks have found their final defensive identity, it's become much easier. Luka Doncic Kyrie Irving also played an active role on offense. They are two of the most prolific offensive players in the league and now fit perfectly into a great defensive scheme. The Mavericks may be undersized and dealing with a tough matchup against LA, but I expect Irving and Doncic to take over this series. Focus on offense and give the Mavericks a chance in every game.
Doncic is absolutely capable of hitting 40 and 10 points every game he plays, especially now that we're in postseason play.and kyrie irving He is also known for his elite performances in the playoffs as a second man, so using him as a second option could very well be the best second option ever. The big key is to utilize Ivica Zubac and get him into foul trouble early and force the Clippers to be a little smaller. This would create a more favorable matchup for the Mavericks and reduce stress on both sides of the ball.
Another key is how Kyrie Irving holds up defensively. He has a lot of screens to navigate and go through, and a lot of screens that cause transitions, which is exactly what the Clippers want. They want to target Irving defensively, and he'll likely need to come up with some stops, or at least solid defense, over seven games.
Los Angeles Clippers
This is what it looks like in Los Angeles when they traded for james harden, it was to let everyone know that they're going for it now. That was what they essentially told us we were going to go into “win now” mode with as many superstars on the team as possible. The question is whether it will pay off or turn around. Historically, teams with James Harden usually fail to get the job done because of his style of play. Kobe Bryant hinted at this a few years ago, saying he wouldn't be able to win a title with James Harden because of his ball-dominant style of play, but something could happen this year. It seems like there is no year. Harden has been inconsistent in the playoffs, but you also have to consider that he's never been surrounded by so much talent on one team. He's not dominating the ball anymore, so the ball-dominating style of play is no longer as important a factor.
There is more rhythm and movement to his game as players prefer to play off the ball. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George It's there too. Now, do I personally believe this team can win a championship? No, there are too many players who play a certain way, but they don't fit together well and truly develop in a playoff scenario. can not.I don't see anyone like those three players. russell westbrook Their styles don't mesh well in a postseason environment, so they put together 16 perfect 48-minute performances to win the championship. However, is it possible to win at least one series? absolutely.
But it all depends on what james harden version And then there's Kawhi Leonard. Will James Harden show up with a score-first mindset or a pass-first mindset? If he wants to score, the Mavericks will make him pass as much as possible to throw him off his rhythm and erode his confidence. There is a need. If he wants to pass, you need him to shoot for the same reason. When it comes to Leonard, the question is: Is he healthy and will he stay healthy? He missed the final few games of the regular season with an injury, but head coach Tyronn Lue insists it's not too serious, but how can we be so sure? If Leonard comes into this series anything other than 100%, we'll notice, and I'm sure the Mavericks will notice, too.Well, of course Leonard is going to be a problem.Regardless of what condition he is in, it will be reassuring to know he is in top physical condition heading into the playoffs. If this series had an efficient version of Harden and a healthy version of Leonard, I would say they should win. But it's not a guarantee.
Prediction – Mavericks 6th place
In my eyes, Dallas is one of the only teams in the NBA that has a chance of beating Denver in seven straight games, and if I have that kind of confidence in them, they might show up. There are a number of different unreliable IDs that will have to keep rolling with them to beat this Clippers team. Luka Doncic will be the best player on the court every night during this series, but Los Angeles side of the ball has no answer for him. No one on the team can stop him from putting up offensive numbers, and no one on the team will be able to keep up with him if the game turns to athletics. Luka Doncic has become one of the best players in the league. And now that he's reaching his defensive peak in his individual game, I think he'll lead the Mavericks to a series win because he has control, which is one of the biggest tools a player can have. I think so. Doncic can control the pace in any game and can't speed up or slow down. Having a player like that on your team is invaluable, and that will be evident when he lights up the Clippers in the opening game. I think this is the best chance to go all the way since the Dallas Mavericks actually did it in 2011. But will they? The long road starts with round 1, so let's take a look.
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