Sporty Blog - The Sport Blog

Now that the NBA Playoffs are really starting to heat up, we see a few teams standing out above all the rest, namely the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat, in the East and West respectively. And while this isn’t the sexiest matchup wanted by fans, a Kobe vs. LeBron showdown, it is likely what we will all get.

Dallas, able to steal two consecutive home games from the Los Angeles Lakers, are up in the series 2-0 heading back to Dallas over the weekend, while the Heat, heading up to Boston shortly, held court at home and also lead their series 2-0.

While the winner between Oklahoma and Memphis and Chicago and Atlanta will undoubtedly put up a fight, should they play Dallas/LA or Miami/Boston, respectively, the odds are stacked against the teams. The Mavs and Heat are rolling, and it will take a lot to stop the momentum.

According to most sports books and internet casinos out there, a Dallas @ Miami series is what we’re going to have. Assuming that’s true, let’s take a look at that matchup and make a few predictions.

First and foremost, let’s get to the end of it. We like the Dallas Mavericks in a 7-game nail-biter. Why? Well, every scouting report on every locker room wall in the league reads the same about the Miami Heat – “Cannot handle point-guard play.”

Rondo of the Celtics may not have gotten the memo, and Doc Rivers cannot seem to keep his roster healthy enough to run the offense primarily through the point, but Jason Kidd and JJ Barea of the Mavs, with options like Jason Terry, Brendan Haywood, Tyson Chandler and former MVP Dirk Nowitzki to dish off to, will negate the prowess of James, Wade and Bosh over the course of a series.

Because we’re speaking about LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, however, you better believe the series will be intense, and do not be surprised if the Heat crush the Mavs in a game 1. There’s also the lingering myth that the Mavs are soft, and James, a true shark when front-running, will lay the hammer down if he smells blood in the water.

However, the high pick-and-roll offense Dallas is used to playing is unlike anything Miami witnesses in the East. The Mavericks are too fast and too clutch not to hang around in games. And just when Bibby is wearing down on the Miami side, Dallas can switch out Kidd for Barea and inject some high-intensity B-ball in the 4^th quarter of games, forcing Miami to zone-up around the perimeter – bad news with Dirk, Chandler and Haywood on the floor.

We’re still looking at a close series. As far as which players shine at the most opportune times on this type of stage, you’d be better off playing slots online than making a prediction here; but we believe the end result will ring true, regardless of which stars exceed 30-point performances on any given night.

Dallas is simply the better equipped team to last through 7, and we give them 3:1 to win it all.