51 was apparently the magic number for the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, as the two teams have played in a combined 51 playoff series (and made a combined eight finals appearances) since the 1990-2000 season. However, not once have the two teams been matched up with each other for a round of postseason action. Led by their respective superstars in Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, the Lakers and Mavericks are unquestionably two of the last decade’s most successful franchises, which not only makes this series as long-overdue, but it sets the stage for a true battle between Western Conference powerhouses. 
While the Mavericks have yet to gasp a breath of championship air, there’s no denying their presence as a formidable team in the Wild Wild Western Conference, as they are powered by the face of their franchise’s history, Nowitzki – who, in my opinion, is the best power forward in basketball. At the same time, while their roster is rich in postseason experience (Nowitzki is flanked by a cast of seasoned veterans/former stars in Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Peja Stojakovic and Jason Terry), the Mavericks’ presence as a true finals contenders has often been placed under high-scrutiny, as they have fallen short of expectations and buckled under pressure in big situations more than a few times.
Although many pegged Dallas over the Portland Trail Blazers as the more favorable second-round matchup for the Lakers, that’s not to say this series is going to be a cake-walk for the defending champs either. The Lakers got their wish of drawing the Hornets in the first round, and everyone saw that the Lakers still had to earn their bid to the semi-finals. So, just because they may have gotten an easier, more susceptible to choking opponent – the Mavericks put a great deal of talent on the floor each night, and even if they fall victim to the purple and gold, they aren’t going to make it easy on Bryant and Co. while doing so.
Since the Nowitzki-era began in the early 2000’s, the Mavericks have been known as a high-octane offensive ball club that likes to put a lot of points on the board. However, as Nowitzki has matured as a player, so has the philosophy of the Mavericks, who gave up only 96.2 points per game to opposing teams this season – compared to 99.3 the year before.
But while the Mavericks have seen growth in so many areas over the years – from their coaching to their defense to their offensive efficiency, they have yet to find an answer for the man who once outscored the after 36 minutes, 62-61.
And it’s not an easy task to do. Not many teams or players can honestly say that they have successfully contained the Black Mamba. Even at a ripe 32-years of age, Kobe’s still as venomous as ever, and you best believe he’ll be looking to sink his teeth into the heart of Mark Cuban when the series kicks-off tonight at STAPLES Center.
So, with the long-awaited matchup of the two franchises set to commence in less than 12 hours, here are three things to expect from Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in the upcoming best-of-seven series.
Next: You Can Hate, But Dirk is Great
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I’ll be the first to say that I Dirk Nowitzki isn’t and never will be one of my favorite players. He’s a pisser if there ever was one, and there’s just something about him that, when he steps onto the court, I just don’t like. But don’t get me wrong, I have deep, deep respect for the man. Defensive deficiencies aside, I think he’s one of the most phenomenal players to ever touch a basketball. Never before has there been a player of his size with such an arsenal of offensive moves and weapons. If he were in the army, he’d be a sniper, a close-quarters combat solider and a fighter pilot – because he can kill you from anywhere on the court. 
And while he may have a history of being the leader of a franchise guilty of numerous choke-jobs, he’s still a fierce competitor. He wants to win, and he’s going to grab you, push you and make you work for everything on both sides of the floor – that’s what makes him the superstar that he is. Especially considering the weight of anticipation attached to this series, along with the fact that he is facing arguably the most storied franchise in sports history – he’s going to want this one more than many others in the past (maybe even more so than the 2006 NBA Finals). That’s what playing against the Lakers does to a superstar opponent – it brings out the best in them. They see the celebrities on the sidelines, the beautiful people in the stands and the championship banners in the rafters – and they want to dethrone all of that.
However, while Nowitzki is great, he’s going to be facing one of the league’s most daunting front courts. For Lakers fans, it’s no secret that the purple and gold sport one of the top post rotations in the league – as Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are capable of putting on all-star performances on any given night. For the Lakers to win, they are going to have to do more than simply slow down one of Dallas’ many offensive weapons, they are going to have to slow down Nowitzki – a former MVP and one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game. Luckily for them, they have three very capable big men to throw at him, and don’t be surprised to see Ron Artest and Matt Barnes get some run time against the Big German.
Nowitzki won’t be slowed easily – he’s got every offensive weapon one could imagine, and he’s going to come out gunning to open the series. He’s the Mavericks’ catalyst game in and game out, and if Dallas has any chance at winning this series, it largely depends on Nowitzki’s production during it. So, expect an array of turnaround, fadeaway jumpers and 3-pointers from Nowitzki over the course of the series.
Next: Dallas might start off hot, but…
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Everyone remembers the 2006 NBA Finals when Dallas took a 2-0 advantage over the Miami Heat then proceeded to lose four straight games and the championship series. Ever since then, they have had a hard time shaking the “pretender” label from discussions about the franchise. Unfortunately for them, it doesn’t help their case that they added Peja Stojakovic to their lineup this season, who has proven to be one of the biggest under-performers during the postseason in past playoff appearances during his time with the Sacramento Kings in the mid-2000’s.
So maybe they do start the series off hot or give the Lakers a big scare at critical moments throughout the series. But based on there history, that might not necessarily be cause for concern, as they are a shoddy team when it comes to pressure situations. They buckled in the 2006 finals, they were upset by the No. 8 seed Golden State Warriors in the first round after winning 67 games during the regular season. Last year, as the second-place team in the West, they were knocked off handily by the aging San Antonio Spurs in six games.
They aren’t the most composed team either – as seen in the Mavs’ displayed frustrations during their 110-82 loss to the Lakers on March 31 this season. They were struggling throughout the game, and with the Lakers nearing the victory, Jason Terry lost his cool, and it resulted in an unsportsmanlike showing from both sides.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4CsP_srJCw
While the Mavericks do have a history of buckling under pressure, they should not be taken lightly. They have a talented roster filled with players capable of giving the Lakers a run for the series. However, while they may possess a wealth of talent, they are still missing one key ingredient to postseason success against the purple and gold.
Next: Yet to Find a Cure
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No matter how hot the Mavericks come out of the gates or how tough of a defensive presence they put forth, they have yet to find a stopper for Kobe Bryant. And just like the environment of STAPLES Center brings out the best in the Lakers opponents, the Mavericks bring out the best in Kobe Bryant. 
With capable post defenders in Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are going to have a much more difficult time scoring on the block than they did against the thin Hornets. However, when you have Bryant on the roster – that isn’t such an awful problem, as he is capable of putting the team on his back and willing them to at least one victory throughout the series.
Bryant is likely going to be matched up against DeShawn Stevenson, Roddy Beabouis and Jason Terry – all undersized guards with lacking defensive skills. And you best believe, with such weak defensive matchups, he’s going to be looking to draw first blood from the get-go.
He lives for big moments – he feeds on them – and he’s going to do whatever it takes to ensure that the Lakers come out of the series on top.
[phpbay]Los Angeles Lakers, 3, “”, “”[/phpbay]