Who has the edge in Mavs-Thunder series?
DALLAS MAVERICKS (42-40)
vs. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (55-27)
Forwards
Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki is still an impactful player who still needs to be double-teamed and can still take over a game at a moment’s notice. Nowitzki was the oldest player in the league who led his team in scoring this season. The 37-year-old, 18-year veteran averaged 18.3 points. Chandler Parsons underwent season-ending right knee surgery on March 25. However, rookie Justin Anderson moved into the starting lineup at small forward on March 28 and the Mavericks won six consecutive games. Anderson brings much-needed energy, enthusiasm and youth.
Thunder: With his height and long arms, Kevin Durant is a tough matchup. Durant was third in the league in scoring this season at 28.2 points per game. It’s the third-highest scoring average of his nine-year career, while he also played the third-lowest number of minutes (35.8 per game) of his career. Serge Ibaka had nine double-doubles this season. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 108-89 win over Dallas on Jan. 13. Nick Collison, Kyle Singler and Mitch McGary are all serviceable players who can impact a game if they go unguarded.
Edge: Thunder
Centers
Mavericks: Zaza Pachulia racked up a lot of double-doubles early, and then was relegated to the bench. In between, rookie Salah Mejri, second-year pro Dwight Powell and mid-season acquisition David Lee rotated in the middle. Even JaVale McGee got some runs at center before not playing in 26 of the final 28 games due to a coach’s decision. Pachulia finished the season with 26 double-doubles. But he doesn’t have the shot-blocking skills of Mejri. Lee, who was acquired on Feb. 22, injured his right heel against San Antonio and is doubtful.
Thunder: Steven Adams is only 22 years old, but the second-year player from New Zealand has gradually become a force in the middle. Adams averaged 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds and shot 61.3 percent from the field in only 25.2 minutes per game. He would rank third in the NBA in field goal shooting, but he didn’t have enough attempts to qualify. Backup center Enes Kanter is a 23-year-old, four-year veteran from Switzerland. Kanter averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game.
Edge: Thunder
Guards
Mavericks: Deron Williams missed eight consecutive games late in the season with a sports hernia. He returned and averaged 17 points and 5.3 assists in the final three games. He had 23 points and six assists in the playoff-clinching win at Utah. Shooting guard Wesley Matthews had nine games in which he connected on five or more 3-pointers. While Williams was sidelined, J.J. Barea averaged 23.5 points and 6.8 assists and was named the Western Conference player of the week during a 4-0 Mavericks’ run. Devin Harris and Barea are good at drawing charging fouls.
Thunder: Russell Westbrook’s staggering statistics include averages of 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 10.4 assists. In addition to finishing second in the NBA in assists, Westbrook was eighth in scoring, fifth in steals (2.04) and second in double-doubles (54). Not only did Westbrook lead the league in triple-doubles with 18, but he also had nine of those in the past 18 games he played in since March 6. Andre Roberson started 70 games at shooting guard. Dion Waiters is the X-factor at the position against the Mavericks.
Edge: Thunder
Coaching
Mavericks: Watching Rick Carlisle work the sidelines and use his roster is like watching an artist at work. When the Mavericks went 2-10 from March 3-27, Carlisle re-invented his team on the fly. The Mavericks went from a band of run-and-gunners to a slow-down, deliberate bunch that also ramped up their defense. The results: The Mavericks won seven of their next eight games and clinched their 15th playoff appearance in the past 16 years with a hard-fought, playoff-clinching win at Utah.
Thunder: Billy Donovan is in his first season replacing Scott Brooks as the Thunder coach. Donovan has some pretty nice sheepskin from his days coaching the Florida Gators for 19 years. Under his tutelage, the Gators were six-time Southeastern Conference regular-season champions and four-time SEC tournament champions. Florida also won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and ’07 under Donovan, who was a three-time SEC Coach of the Year.
Edge: Mavericks
Intangibles
Mavericks: Not many coaches can effectively make changes on the go better than Rick Carlisle. And that could work in the Mavericks’ favor. Carlisle is generally regarded as one of the top coaches in this industry. And sometimes he can will the self-proclaimed “Masking Tape Mavs” to victory. Not only did he win a title with the Mavericks in 2011, but he also opened more eyes two years ago when he wheeled his team into a first-round playoff series against the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs that lasted seven games.
Thunder: Oklahoma City won 45 games and failed to make the playoffs last year. This year they are a No. 3 seed in the Western Conference after posting a 55-27 record. It also must be noted that the Thunder is probably the deepest team in the NBA, and that depth could wear down the injury-riddled Mavericks. Oh yeah: OKC also has two of the greatest players in the game in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. That’s not a bad pair to start a game with in the playoffs.
Edge: Thunder
Prediction Thunder in 6
This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Who has the edge in Mavs-Thunder series?."