I have such a low opinion on Dallas Mavericks

[housecall]

There was some rumors about a month ago that C.Butler would be ready for the playoffs,then he didn't show in the first round,a new rumor surfaced that he might be back for round#2.Its become like the Shaq&Haslem combacks,i'll beleive it when i see it.Butler's toughness and good play on the offensive end gives the Mavericks a better chance in beating the Lakers in a series.Im not very optimistic about them beating the Lakers without him.  

[Who]

Coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that the Mavericks won't get Caron Butler back for the Round 2 series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"He is not going to play in this series," Carlisle told KESN 103.3-FM, and added that Butler has yet to be cleared by doctors.

Butler has been out since Jan. 1 when he ruptured his patellar tendon in Milwaukee. He has been moving well, but he still lacks enough strength in his lateral movement to be cleared for contact drills.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20110429-mavericks-won_t-have-ex-laker-caron-butler-for-round-2.ece

[mc34]

A lot of this depends on which Gasol shows up for this series. If passive Pau Gasoft shows up for this series, the Mavs have a real good shot at taking it. Gasol's numbers were better in the last 3 games but he still didn't look very aggressive looking for his shot or for rebounds. Another x-factor is whether Chandler can stay out of foul trouble. I've never been a big fan of the Mavs either, but I gotta root for them in this one

[LancerQ]

I've always hoped that the Lakers would lose before the Finals, they're just really tough to beat, but I knew in my heart they would be the one the Cs would battle if we reach there.

[Jon]

I've always hoped that the Lakers would lose before the Finals, they're just really tough to beat, but I knew in my heart they would be the one the Cs would battle if we reach there.

Well, I think OKC has a shot against them.  And I agree.  I don't want the Lakers in the Finals, and not just because of them being tough.  The sooner the Lakers have zero shot of winning a title this year, they happier I'll be. 

[jsingh1699]

i dont think the mavs have anyone that really matches up well with bryant.

roddy b is too small
marion is too slow (i think he matches up well with odom tho)
brewer is not strong enough, but prob the best option
stevenson talks alotta trash, not sure if he actually backs it up
kidd is too small
terry would be a joke
stojakvic never learned to play defense

bryant and artest will abuse their wings.

[Who]

Shawn Marion has been a very effective defensive player against Kobe Bryant over the past two seasons since joining Dallas.

[ElChe]

Did your opinion change a little bit? As i said before, they have a great chance here, their bench is much better, actualy they have one of the best benches in the league, and Dirk is just great... But this is just the first game and everythink is possible...

[PosImpos]

Any game Bynum is contained, Dirk outplays Pau by a wide margin, and Kobe takes far more outside shots than any of the other Lakers take in the paint is a game the Mavs have a very good chance of winning.

[ElChe]

Any game Bynum is contained, Dirk outplays Pau by a wide margin, and Kobe takes far more outside shots than any of the other Lakers take in the paint is a game the Mavs have a very good chance of winning.

Agree, and bench points Dallas 40 LA 25, Artest only 2 points and guarded by Stojakovic who is 34...

[PosImpos]

Any game Bynum is contained, Dirk outplays Pau by a wide margin, and Kobe takes far more outside shots than any of the other Lakers take in the paint is a game the Mavs have a very good chance of winning.

Agree, and bench points Dallas 40 LA 25, Artest only 2 points and guarded by Stojakovic who is 34...

Artest is so limited offensively at this point that all it takes to guard him is somebody who is similar to him in size.  He's basically a thicker, stronger Bruce Bowen (at least that's the role he plays on the Lakers).  It's also good to put a knock-down shooter against him who is not a primary option (like Peja) because he will leave the shooter open when he helps out inside.

[ElChe]

I just hope Dallas will win this against LA, i dont like them at all, that arogance... And i dont like Phil Jakson too, he is a good coach, great coach actualy, but to be honest, every time he won a ring he had a wonderfull team, and such a great players... just wonder what he would accomplish with some average team without superstars...

[Fred Roberts]

Watched the whole game last night, and Dallas really stole it. They stayed close with great shooting from Terry, Peja, Dirk and timely alley oops from Kidd to Chandler. They got some dumb fouls, bad calls and LA built a big lead but they kept making runs. They've got to be feeling great. I know I am anytime the Lakers lose!

[Edgar]

If this series goes 0-2 very unlekely I will be an ultra happy mas
just better If we tie tonight

[Q_FBE]

Did anybody make it to the end of the Lakers Dallas game last night?

Dallas came back and won that game and were mentally tough doing it.

Gasoft was Gasoft.
Ron Artest was invisable.
Dirk Nowitzki punished Lamar Odom.
Tyson Chandler outplayed Bynum.
Jason Kidd is better than Fischer. 

Dallas showed me a blueprint.

Dallas leads the series 1 game to None so there.

Kinda ticks me off that we were the only road team to lose Game 1 of the 2nd round