This could be a very interesting series as the matchups look pretty close in this series. I think this series has the potential to be the best one of he first round of the NBA Playoffs. Here’s a look at how I see the matchups in this series:
POINT GUARD: Andre Miller might be getting up there in age but he’s still a very solid point guard. Miller played in 81 games (all starts) for the Trailblazers this year and he averaged 32.7 minutes, 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Miller has aged a lot better than Jason Kidd, so I look for him to have a good series for the Blazers.
Jason Kidd is suddenly looking like he is toast. The Mavericks are hoping that he can get up for one more big playoff run. Kidd played in 80 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 33.2 minutes, 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. I’m thinking that J.J. Barea is going to get a lot of P.T. in this series.
EDGE: TRAILBLAZERS
SHOOTING GUARD: Wesley Matthews was a lifesaver for the Blazers this year due to the injuries to Brandon Roy. Matthews played in 82 games (69 starts) for the Blazers this year and he averaged 33.6 minutes, 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. I think he’s going to have a good series for the Blazers.
DeShawn Stevenson is likely going to start at shooting guard for the Mavericks. He played in 72 games (54 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 16.1 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Mavericks are hoping that Stevenson gives them solid defense while he is on the court.
EDGE: BLAZERS
SMALL FORWARD: Gerald Wallace plays hard at both ends of the court and he’s going to bring a lot of energy to the Blazers in this series. Wallace played in 23 games (15 starts) for the Blazers after coming over in a deal with the Bobcats and he averaged 35.7 minutes, 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Shawn Marion is going to have his hands full with Wallace. Marion played in 80 games (27 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 28.2 minutes, 12.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Marion will have to get his shots off so that he makes Wallace work at both ends of the court.
EDGE: BLAZERS
POWER FORWARD: LaMarcus Aldridge carried the Blazers’ offensively most of this season. He played in 81 games (all starts) for the Trailblazers this year and he averaged 39.6 minutes, 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocked shots per game. The Blazers are going to need Aldridge to play hard on both ends of the court in an effort to tire Dirk Nowitzki out.
Dirk Nowitzki is still an outstanding player for the Mavericks. He played in 73 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 34.3 minutes, 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. The Mavericks are going to need Nowitzki to play good defense in this series as he will be needed inside. Offensively though, the Mavericks won’t change a thing with him.
EDGE: SLIGHT FOR MAVERICKS
CENTER: Marcus Camby is ready to go for the playoffs. He played in 59 games (51 starts) for the Trailblazers last season and he averaged 26.1 minutes, 4.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game. The Blazers are going to ask Camby to play defense and rebound. Whatever offense he gives them will be a bonus.
Tyson Chandler has been the tough guy that the Mavericks have been looking for. He played in 74 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. I have a feeling that the Mavs are going to go inside to Chandler a little more than usual in this series.
EDGE: SLIGHT FOR MAVERICKS
BENCH: The Trailblazers will likely not use a lot of guys off the bench in this series. SF Nicolas Batum will get the most P.T., especially when the Blazers so with their smaller lineup. He played in 80 games (67 starts) for the Blazers this year and he averaged 31.5 minutes, 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. SG Brandon Roy will try to gut out a few minutes in this series with his bad wheels. Roy played in 47 games (23 starts) for the Blazers this year and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. SG/SF Rudy Fernandez will also likely get some P.T. in this series. He played in 78 games (3 starts) for the Blazers this year and he averaged 23.3 minutes, 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Young point guard Patrick Mills likely won’t get much P.T. in this series. He played in 64 games (0 starts) for the Trailblazers this year and he averaged 12.2 minutes, 5.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Recently signed center Earl Barron is likely to get a few minutes in this series. Barron played in 2 games (1 start) for the Blazers this year and he averaged 18.5 minutes, 3.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Jason Terry will provide instant offense for the Mavericks in this series. He played in 82 games (10 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 31.3 minutes, 15.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. J.J. Barea will likely get a lot of time at PG in this series. He played in 81 games (2 starts) for the Mavs this year and he averaged 20.6 minutes, 9.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. SF Pejz Stojakovic is a battle tested veteran who can help the Mavs in the playoffs. He played in 25 games (13 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 20.2 minutes, 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Center Brendan Haywood will give Tyson Chandler a break when he needs one. Haywood played in 72 games (8 starts) for the Mavs this year and he averaged 18.5 minutes, 4.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. SG Rodrigue Beaubois has a sprained foot or he would be starting in this series. He has played in 28 games (26 starts) for the Mavericks so far this year and he is averaging 17.7 minutes, 8.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. SG/SF Corey Brewer came to the Mavs late in the year and he’s a solid defensive player. Brewer played in 13 games (2 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 11.4 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.
EDGE: MAVERICKS
COACHING: Nate McMillan did a solid job for the Trailblazers this year. He is 458-429 (51.6%) during the regular season in his career and he is 12-16 (42.9%) during the playoffs. McMillan will likely keep alternating big and small lineups in this series in an effort to dictate the way this series is played.
Rick Carlisle has been a solid head coach for a while now. He is 443-295 (60%) during the regular season and he is 37-41 (47.4%) during the playoffs in his career so far. Carlisle has been very successful during the regular season but now it’s time for him to step up in the playoffs.
EDGE: SLIGHT FOR MAVERICKS
PREDICTION: I wouldn’t be shocked if the Trailblazers were to win this series as they have quite a few edges. But in the end, I like the Mavericks to win this series in six very hard fought games.
