Chandler Parsons started the year on a big minutes restriction and when he was completely back to his dominant self, Parsons went down with a knee injury that required surgery. Wesley Matthews is best equipped to guard Westbrook, and is the Mavericks’ best chance to neutralize the Westbrook/Durant pick and roll.
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Nowitzki was the only Mavericks’ player to score in double-digits with 18 points as Dallas was never competitive in the game and shot 29.8 percent from the field.
Not only were the Maverick’s winning games, but Dallas was beating teams that were similarly fighting for its playoff lives, such as Utah, Memphis, Houston and Detroit. Only one other team uses zone more than 2% of the time (the Phoenix Suns).
The Thunder (55-27) enter the playoffs at full strength.
Record: 42-40 nERD: 50.1 Championship Odds: 0.2%.
Oklahoma City won 57 games this season and won the Northwest division for the fifth time in six years and first time in two seasons, finishing third in the Western Conference.
Frustration mounted for the Mavericks, and Nowitzki was called for a technical foul late in the second quarter.
The Mavs also got precious little from David Lee when he was acquired, which is a pity because the Mavs really need a difference maker on the interior.
Oklahoma City is 4-0 against the Dallas Mavericks this season. With Harris on him, look for the Thunder to post up Westbrook and let him run the offense from the block.
The Grizzlies face an uphill battle when they take on the San Antonio Spurs in the first round as major underdogs. They continued the onslaught in the second period, outscoring Dallas 59-33 heading into the half before putting the game out of reach in the third quarter. If the Thunder can haul in offensive rebounds at the rate they have this season, they will be a tough opponent for anyone. Enes Kanter came off the bench to score 16 and grab 13 boards. “Those are times when I have to be aggressive and try to make plays”.
The Thunder are being overlooked, and with good reason.
When given the opportunity, Kanter has excelled for the Thunder. He only played 30 minutes in this game, but he would’ve likely been in the upper 30s had the game been close.
Durant seems to feel that he’s being overlooked when it comes to the elite players in the game today, much like the Thunder’s contender status in doubt after missing the playoffs in 2015. That could be a mistake if a cagey old veteran steps up his game.
If the Thunder can keep up this intensity – although obviously not this margin – they’ll be a lot better off going into the semifinals with the Spurs. The Celtics missed, and the Hawks again got the ball to Teague, who found Paul Millsap alone under the basket for a dunk that pushed Atlanta to a 92-88 lead with 2:56 remaining.
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Westbrook is a unique force among point guards, and Dallas will have to change its scheme depending on who they match up with the athletic freak.
