NBA Playoff Game 2 Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 05/04/2011
The Los Angeles Lakers joined the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 upsets on the NBA playoffs schedule, but they will attempt to even the series tonight as the Thunder did last night.
The problem for the Lakers in the 2011 NBA playoffs is they never seem to get all their big guys going in the same game. Pau Gasol has been absent most of the playoffs, especially against the Hornets, and Andrew Bynum completely disappeared in Game 1 after dominating Tyson Chandler in the regular season. The Lakers need their big guys to reach the NBA Finals again.
The key matchup in Game 2 is whether the Lakers bench can provide more scoring and slow down the better Dallas bench, led by Jason Terry. The Mavericks bench outscored the Lakers 40-25 in Game 1. That is a huge stat when the Lakers lose by just two points.
Game 2 on the NBA playoffs schedule is tonight at 10:30 Eastern on TNT at the Staples Center in Los Angeles . Check out the entire 2011 NBA playoffs schedule here.
Dallas has renewed confidence after stealing a game in Los Angeles and have a legitimate chance to reach the Western Conference finals. But the Lakers rarely fall in a 2-0 series hole in the Kobe Bryant era, especially when both games are at home. The Lakers were the better team for much of Game 1, but could not stop Dallas in the fourth quarter and Kobe missed multiple game winning shots at the end.
Expect the Lakers to establish Bynum and Gasol early in the game. Kobe Bryant was taking too much of the burden on himself in Game 1, which is not always a recipe for success. If they can get Tyson Chandler in foul trouble early, they can build a big lead, and perhaps hold on to it this time.
Dallas may be complacent with taking one at the Staples Center and lack that sense of urgency tonight. That won't be the case for Dirk Nowitzki, who is as hungry as anyone for a return to the NBA Finals, but you never know with the rest of the team. The three-point shooting should fall a little for Dallas in Game 2, and if they struggle in the first half again, this series will be tied.
