Why the Dallas Mavericks Will Sweep the New Orleans Hornets

The Dallas Mavericks are a better team than the New Orleans Hornets.

Last year, they were a better team than the Golden State Warriors.  The year before, Dallas was better than the Miami Heat.  So what's different in "Loserville" this year?  Why will the best team actually win this playoff series?

Let’s break it down and find out.

The Match-Ups

Chris Paul vs. Jason Kidd

Paul is averaging 26.5 points, 5.25 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3.75 steals in four games versus Dallas.

His stats were virtually the same with either Kidd or Devin Harris guarding him, with the exception of the 11-steal game the first game after the Kidd trade, but I don't think he will duplicate that. 

Kidd is averaging 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in three games versus New Orleans.  Kidd is Dallas' leading rebounder against the Hornets, which was huge in the Mavs’ win Wednesday night.

But Paul is the dominant player in this series, so give this one to New Orleans.

Morris Peterson vs. Jason Terry

Peterson is averaging 5.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in four games versus Dallas, and I can't even remember a single moment he was involved in the other night.

Terry is averaging 22 points, 3.25 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in four games against New Orleans.  He has been the Mavericks best player in the four games against the Hornets, and no one from the Hornets has been able to slow him down.

Give the Mavs a full two-point advantage in this landslide.

Tyson Chandler vs. Erick Dampier

Chandler is averaging 12.5 points and 10.25 rebounds in four games versus Dallas. His numbers have declined every single game against the Mavs, and he hasn't hit double digits against them since before Christmas.

Dampier is averaging 6.25 points and 5.25 rebounds in four games against the Hornets.  Dallas has a hard time keeping Dampier on the floor against Chandler and West, but he always has at least one decent game in each series.

Neither team has the advantage here because of how poor Chandler has been after Christmas and how much better Damp has been since Kidd started feeding him passes with a baby spoon.

But if it ends in a tie, this will be New Orleans’ tiebreaker.

Peja Stojakovic vs. Josh Howard

Peja is averaging 16.75 points and 5.75 rebounds against Dallas in four games, and he has significant experience against the Mavs in the playoffs from his Sacramento days. 

Howard is averaging 16.25 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in the four games against New Orleans.  He is not playing well down the stretch, but he was fine against the Hornets on Wednesday.  This one is a push also; I am taking away the tiebreaker New Orleans won above.

David West vs. Dirk Nowitzki

West is averaging 18 points, 10.75 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.75 blocks in the four games against Dallas this year.  No one in the Mavs starting lineup can guard him, and he's done a great job against Dirk this year.

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