2011 Playoffs second round preview of Lakers vs Mavericks

[Eat Like A Bosh]

Lakers should take this series, Dallas doesn't have an effective Kobe check.
Bynum+Gasol > Chandler + Haywood

[kentatm]

Caron Butler has a 0% chance of playing in this series per Rick Carlisle today on ESPN 103.3 in Dallas

[Cone]

hasn't dirk historically struggled against the lakers? gasol, bynum, and odom match up extremely well with him. they won't shut him down or anything but i doubt he puts up more than 20 and 8.

u doubt that dirk puts up 20 and 8? your fu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]kin stupid

[Optimus Prime]

Lakers in 6. Dallas has Dirk, a 93 year old Jason Kidd, and a bunch of nice roleplayers. The only real concern is if the Lakers lose focus and decide to take it easy because they think they can "turn it on" any time they want. I am really getting tired of the Lakers lazing around until they need to get their butts in gear. If they played hard all the time, they could finish teams off much quicker and save themselves a lot of trouble.

[tpols]

The Lakers will be more focused going into this series than they were against NO. It just seems like they're starting to build their post-season momentum.

This is why the mavs should be worried. LA came out thinking New Orleans would be a breeze and they paid for it and seem to have learned from it.

LA in 6.

[LA_Showtime]

u doubt that dirk puts up 20 and 8? your fu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]kin stupid

more than that, yeah. he's not gonna average 31/11 or 25/12 against the lakers.

[thomaspynchon]

Lakers should take this series, Dallas doesn't have an effective Kobe check.
Bynum+Gasol > Chandler + Haywood

HAHAHAHAHA Kobe shoots well below 45% against Dallas. if anything, it's the worst possible matchup for him with Marion and Stevenson switching off on him.

[creepingdeath]

hasn't dirk historically struggled against the lakers? gasol, bynum, and odom match up extremely well with him. they won't shut him down or anything but i doubt he puts up more than 20 and 8.

20 and 8? When he averaged 22/10/4 in the regular season including a game that destroyed his averages because he was only able to use one leg? Hell naw. You better hope Pau plays better than against the Hornets. 13.5 / 6.8 / 3.7 is pathetic for a player of his status. But I'm pretty sure he saved all his greatness for my team.

[R.I.P.]

Shawn Marion and Deshawn Stevenson are the ones who need to guard Kobe.

Shawn Marion actually does a pretty good job on him.

If Deshawn Stephenson gets burned, we could also try Corey Brewer.

His length and athleticism could bother him.

But honestly, I'm not worried about Kobe that much.

I would agree, if I didn

[Hawker]

Caron Butler has a 0% chance of playing in this series per Rick Carlisle today on ESPN 103.3 in Dallas

F[COLOR="Black"]u[/COLOR]ck.

[jtj5002]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPm2NUWTbB0

[Hawker]

I think the Lakers will win but anything can happen. Dirk has to go off every game...

[Replay32]

If dallas can somehow control the defensive boards and get fastbreak points consistently, then they might have a chance. The lakers live off of 2nd chance points which completely demoralizes a team.

But the problem with the mavs is there best big man (who is 7ft btw) is a soft outside shooter that doesn't like to get mean and bang. This puts the Mavs at a huge matchup disadvantage against the lakers.

Sure Dirk can score, but to beat the lakers you have to bang with the their bigs, be a strong defender in the paint, and dominate the glass.

I'm not worried about Chandler getting mean and nasty, but he can't do it alone. The Mavs ain't winning this series because of the type of player dirk is. And he's 7 ft for crying out loud.

The 2 teams in the west that matchup well with the lakers are OKC and Memphis. These two teams will be harder for the lakers to get past compared to San Antonio or Dallas.

[thomaspynchon]

I love how nobody is giving Dallas any chance here. It's going to be great to see my boys go in and win both games in Los Angeles

[crisoner]

What ESPN thinks....

Abbott Lakers In 5
Adande Lakers In 6
Arnovitz Lakers In 7
Broussard Lakers In 6
Ford Lakers In 7
Hollinger Lakers In 5
Legler Lakers In 6
MacMahon Lakers In 7
McMenamin Lakers In 6
Rose Lakers In 6
Sheridan Lakers In 7
Stein Lakers In 7
Thorpe Lakers In 5
Wilbon Lakers In 5