As the NBA’s Western Conference finals begin tomorrow in Dallas, the third-seeded Mavericks and the fourth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder figure to engage in a very long series that will have NBA betting fans on the edge of their seats.
Western Conference Finals Preview
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks
Sportsbook Odds: Mavericks -240
The Red River Rivalry generally refers to the college football clash between Oklahoma and Texas in October, but this time, there’s a professional basketball version of the same oil country confrontation. The NBA’s West finals will be contested by teams from these neighboring states in the Southwest, minimizing travel and thereby increasing the focus on the pure quality of each team. Who will emerge to face the Eastern Conference champion in the NBA Finals? Let’s find out.
The decisive aspect of this series will not come from the two superstars. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Dallas gunslinger Dirk Nowitzki should both cancel each other out. Durant scored 39 points in Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, proving his worth on a national stage. Nowitzki was the focal point of the Mavericks’ shocking four-game sweep of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the West semifinals. Basketball betting fans know that these two brilliant shooters should be able to create good looks at the basket and knock them down. Both men might very well make a difference in terms of hitting big shots in the final minutes of close games, but in terms of the series-long combat they’ll engage in, Durant and Nowitzki are both going to get their fair share of points. Neither team can stop the other; containment will be the primary policy.
This leads us to the other battles in the series, the ones that will matter a lot more when all is said and done. A primary pressure point will be the matchups in the low post between Tyson Chandler of Dallas and Kendrick Perkins of Oklahoma City. This isn’t a scoring matchup, but each player will be called upon to do the dirty work on the boards while Durant and Nowitzki trade 18-foot jumpers. Oklahoma City fended off Memphis largely because Perkins and his fellow big men, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collision, were able to contain the Grizzlies’ interior duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Memphis had its moments in the paint, but Oklahoma City’s low-post defense proved to be quite resilient, especially in series-defining moments. Collison, who got severely outplayed in the first round of last year’s playoffs against the Lakers, elevated his game against Memphis. If the Perkins-Chandler matchup is even, Collison and Ibaka will figure more prominently in the series, as will Dallas post player Brendan Haywood. The team that can carve out a rebounding edge will take a big step toward the NBA Finals.
The final set of confrontations occurs in the backcourt. Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook is too quick for Dallas’ Jason Kidd, but Westbrook doesn’t make sound decisions and can be contained as long as he’s kept out of the paint. Westbrook will need to be a smart player in order for the Thunder to win this series, and that’s a huge question mark. Kidd will effectively orchestrate the Mavericks’ halfcourt sets, so that should lend a crucial degree of stability to Dallas in late-game possessions.
The X-factor, the area of competition that will probably tip the balance, comes from the wings. Oklahoma City’s James Harden was the team’s most consistent offensive player against Memphis, scoring when Durant struggled and creating offense when Westbrook couldn’t. Harden should post quality numbers in this series and help the Thunder extend Dallas to seven games. However, Dallas has the perimeter shooters Memphis conspicuously lacked. Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic drilled stacks of big shots against the Lakers, and their ability to hit threes should keep the floor spaced for Nowitzki and Kidd. In the end, Oklahoma City will score a lot, but Dallas will score more. Having Game 7 at home, plus the inconsistency of the Thunder at both ends of the floor, should give the veteran Mavericks just enough to pull through. Pick Dallas because of experience, outside shooting, and home court in Game 7.
Betting Pick: Mavericks in Seven
Western Conference Finals Preview
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks
Sportsbook Odds: Mavericks -240
The Red River Rivalry generally refers to the college football clash between Oklahoma and Texas in October, but this time, there’s a professional basketball version of the same oil country confrontation. The NBA’s West finals will be contested by teams from these neighboring states in the Southwest, minimizing travel and thereby increasing the focus on the pure quality of each team. Who will emerge to face the Eastern Conference champion in the NBA Finals? Let’s find out.
The decisive aspect of this series will not come from the two superstars. Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Dallas gunslinger Dirk Nowitzki should both cancel each other out. Durant scored 39 points in Sunday’s Game 7 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, proving his worth on a national stage. Nowitzki was the focal point of the Mavericks’ shocking four-game sweep of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the West semifinals. Basketball betting fans know that these two brilliant shooters should be able to create good looks at the basket and knock them down. Both men might very well make a difference in terms of hitting big shots in the final minutes of close games, but in terms of the series-long combat they’ll engage in, Durant and Nowitzki are both going to get their fair share of points. Neither team can stop the other; containment will be the primary policy.
This leads us to the other battles in the series, the ones that will matter a lot more when all is said and done. A primary pressure point will be the matchups in the low post between Tyson Chandler of Dallas and Kendrick Perkins of Oklahoma City. This isn’t a scoring matchup, but each player will be called upon to do the dirty work on the boards while Durant and Nowitzki trade 18-foot jumpers. Oklahoma City fended off Memphis largely because Perkins and his fellow big men, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collision, were able to contain the Grizzlies’ interior duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Memphis had its moments in the paint, but Oklahoma City’s low-post defense proved to be quite resilient, especially in series-defining moments. Collison, who got severely outplayed in the first round of last year’s playoffs against the Lakers, elevated his game against Memphis. If the Perkins-Chandler matchup is even, Collison and Ibaka will figure more prominently in the series, as will Dallas post player Brendan Haywood. The team that can carve out a rebounding edge will take a big step toward the NBA Finals.
The final set of confrontations occurs in the backcourt. Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook is too quick for Dallas’ Jason Kidd, but Westbrook doesn’t make sound decisions and can be contained as long as he’s kept out of the paint. Westbrook will need to be a smart player in order for the Thunder to win this series, and that’s a huge question mark. Kidd will effectively orchestrate the Mavericks’ halfcourt sets, so that should lend a crucial degree of stability to Dallas in late-game possessions.
The X-factor, the area of competition that will probably tip the balance, comes from the wings. Oklahoma City’s James Harden was the team’s most consistent offensive player against Memphis, scoring when Durant struggled and creating offense when Westbrook couldn’t. Harden should post quality numbers in this series and help the Thunder extend Dallas to seven games. However, Dallas has the perimeter shooters Memphis conspicuously lacked. Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic drilled stacks of big shots against the Lakers, and their ability to hit threes should keep the floor spaced for Nowitzki and Kidd. In the end, Oklahoma City will score a lot, but Dallas will score more. Having Game 7 at home, plus the inconsistency of the Thunder at both ends of the floor, should give the veteran Mavericks just enough to pull through. Pick Dallas because of experience, outside shooting, and home court in Game 7.
Betting Pick: Mavericks in Seven
