NBA Playoffs 2011: 10 Reasons Kobe & L.A. Lakers Will Beat the Dallas Mavericks
The 2011 NBA playoffs' first round is almost over, and three conference semi-final match ups are set in stone.
One of which is particularly intriguing, the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
For the first time in playoff history Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki will face off in a postseason series.
Two great scorers, two future Hall of Famers, and two of the league's more successful franchises square off in a best of seven series that tips Monday night in Los Angeles.
But don't wait until mid-May to find out the winner. Here are 10 reasons why this series belongs to the two-time defending champions.
The Hornets Woke a Sleeping Giant
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The Lakers experienced not just one, but two wake up calls in their first round series against the New Orleans Hornets.
Chris Paul and the Hornets stole Game 1 in L.A. to stir up the Lakers, who would win the next two games, including Game 3 in New Orleans.
Paul's triple-double effort in Game 4 would tie the series at two games apiece.
Four days later the Lakers were moving onto the conference semi-finals, proving true the old saying "never wake a sleeping giant."
In the case of the Dallas Mavericks, the giant is already awake.
Andrew Bynum
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The Lakers' game-changing 23-year-old center has been the team's x-factor for four consecutive seasons now.
A healthy Bynum can dominate on the glass, alter shots, and score with ease in the paint.
An unhealthy Bynum is a liability to the franchise, getting in foul trouble early in games, and removing seven feet from the starting line up.
This postseason though, it's been the healthy, double-double averaging Bynum.
Bynum averaged 15.2 PPG and 10.3 RPG in the Lakers' first round series, while blocking nearly 2 shots per game, and altering many more.
If L.A.'s center continues to play like this, no one can beat them in a seven-game series.
Living and Dying at the 3-Point Line
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More often than not, the 3-point line decides the winner of an NBA playoff game.
If you're open and hitting them routinely, you're going to win. If you're settling or struggling, you're going to lose.
Both the Mavericks and Lakers are solid three-point shooting teams.
Dallas shot 38 percent in it's first round series against Portland, while the Lakers shot nearly 37 percent from beyond the arc in six games against the Hornets.
The big difference?
L.A. took just 15 3-pointers per game in the first round. Dallas put up just over 20 per contest.
Two Mavericks' players (Jason Kidd & Peja Stojakovic) are in the top five in 3-pointers attempted in the 2011 playoffs.
Kidd leads all players with 38 attempts from distance, while Stojakovic sits at no. 5 with 31.
The most 3-pointers taken by a Laker thus far?
Kobe Bryant, with just 19 attempts in the postseason. That's half as many as Jason Kidd.
Offensive Efficiency
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The Lakers are moving onto the next round despite Pau Gasol averaging just 13.5 PPG against New Orleans, scary.
L.A.'s offensive efficiency was the solution to Gasol's struggles.
The Lakers are averaging a playoff-best 1.3 points per shot this postseason.
Kobe and company are also ranked third in field goal percentage (46.3 percent), and sixth in points per game (96.5).
The Lakers are fourth best in scoring differential (+7.2) as well, two points better than the Mavericks.
That's Why They Call Em' "Free" Throws
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L.A.'s bruising style of play, in comparison to Dallas' finesse style, will certainly be the difference in this series.
It's no surprise that the more aggressive team always gets to the line more, though sometimes it depends on the home crowd-referee relationship (homer officials).
Though it remains to be seen, the Lakers would appear the more aggressive team.
L.A. got to the line more than 27 times a game in it's last series, while Dallas got there just 24 times.
It doesn't sound like much, but if the Lakers are shooting 80 percent from the foul line and getting there often, the Mavericks are in trouble.
Outside of Dirk Nowitzki (over 10 attempts per game in the first round), the Mavericks have very little other threats to get to the foul line.
L.A. on the other hand, has a plethora of physical inside players that will be looking for contact.
Staples Center
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The Lakers have arguably the most important advantage in this conference semi-final series, home court.
Dating back to the 2008 postseason, L.A. is a remarkable 33-5 at home in the playoffs.
Three of those five losses came in a Game 1 at Staples Center, including New Orleans' series-opening win two weeks ago.
Including New Orleans, only Boston, Houston and Denver have won in L.A. in the last four postseasons, the Celtics doing it twice (Game 4, 2008 & Game 1, 2010).
The Mavericks will no doubt have their work cut out for them on Monday and Wednesday night, as they try to steal home-court advantage from the defending champions.
Defending the Crown with Defense
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Most would call the Lakers an offensive team, but that doesn't keep them from getting stops when it matters most.
L.A. is ranked fifth this postseason in scoring defense (89.3).
Dallas is ranked third (88.2), however the Lakers have allowed fewer 2-point and 3-point field goals.
Players like Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum make it tough for opponents to shoot a high percentage even from in close.
L.A. is blocking 5.8 shots per game this postseason (5th-best), which is 2.8 better than their opponents (3.0).
On the perimeter Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest pester opposing guards into turnovers and low-percentage shots.
Dominating on the Boards
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The Lakers have two 7-footers in their starting line up, and then bring in 6'10" Lamar Odom (2010-2011 Sixth Man award winner) off the bench.
Their size is good for many things, but most importantly rebounding.
L.A. is ranked third in these playoffs in rebounding differential (+7.3), 5.3 better than Dallas and behind only Oklahoma City and Chicago.
Interestingly though, both L.A. (33.5) and Dallas (37.7) are first and second respectively in opponents rebounds per game.
The Lakers edge the Mavericks in opponents offensive rebounds per game however, ranking second while allowing just 7.7 extra opportunities per game.
Bigger, Better Bench
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Kobe Bryant is smiling because of his dynamic bench.
The Lakers can play any style of basketball with both Steve Blake and Shannon Brown as back up point guard options.
Lamar Odom needs little introduction.
And then there is Matt Barnes, not an overwhelming player by any stretch, but still a very good defensive option for the defending champions.
L.A. has settled into it's nine-man rotation for the playoffs, and there is very little missing.
Jackson Has Been There, Done That
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L.A. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson has a resume longer than "War and Peace."
It's no secret that Jackson has won 11 NBA championships with both the Bulls and Lakers.
However, someone should alert the Mavericks that Phil is 7-1 in conference semi-final series with the Lakers (14-3 overall).
Jackson will be looking for his 230th playoff win as a head coach Monday night in L.A.
Prediction: Lakers March on into Conference Finals for Fourth Consecutive Season
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Some see this series going seven games, while others envision a Lakers' sweep.
How about we settle in between somewhere?
The Lakers are without a doubt the better team and should win the series, but Dallas is the no. 3 seed, and Dirk Nowitzki has been here before.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers win 4-1.
How: I like L.A. to get up early on Dallas with two wins at home in Games 1 and 2.
The Mavericks take one of two at home, winning Game 3 in Dallas before falling behind 3-1 in the series after a Game 4 loss.
The Mavericks fight hard on the road in Game 5 but fall short again, ending their season one round further than 2010.
Why: The Lakers match up to well to keep this series close, and Dallas is too good and has too much pride to get swept.
The key to this series will be Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea. Quick and crafty point guards give the Lakers fits. Take Chris Paul for example.
Paul single-handedly earned the Hornets two wins they should never have had in their first round series with the Lakers.
The only match up where L.A.'s opponents have the advantage is at point guard, with Derek Fisher.
Jason Kidd is nearing 40 years old, and sadly he doesn't have the quickness or the explosiveness to take out the two-time champions.
Kobe Bryant can score and defend his man as the two-guard.
Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom have the clear advantage in the paint.
And even Ron Artest has the defensive tools to slow down the best small forwards in the league.
If the Lakers are going to lose, it's going to take a point guard like Rajon Rondo to beat them.
Patrick Clarke is a Featured Columnist for the Phoenix Suns and a student at Towson University.
