It’s been a long time since we’ve seen these teams play in the postseason. The last time they met (2016) Oklahoma City Thunderin the series where it has the field advantage Dallas MavericksHe defeated 4-1. In fact, we have to say that the Thunder won the last two playoff series between these teams.
OKC is 3-1 in regular season games, and the Thunder have defeated Dallas in five of the last seven meetings played between these teams over the last two seasons. You’ll hear a lot about the two MVP finalists headlining this matchup. Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander meet for the first time in the play-offs after sharing wins against each other in the regular season, 5-5.
Supporting actors’ performance
Of course, it’s all about the names on the sign. So we can expect all eyes to be on Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander, considering their MVP titles. As important as they are to their team, this series will likely hinge on how their supporting players perform.
Doncic can use veteran guard Kyrie Irving as a lethal co-star, while Gilgeous-Alexander has the luxury of playing with an up-and-coming starlet like Jalen Williams. The transfers of Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II, made by Dallas during the last trade period, significantly improved the athleticism around Doncic and Irving.
The youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series, the Thunder have a deep roster, with an elite pass defender in Luguentz Dort and a top-notch rim protector in Rookie of the Year finalist Chet Holmgren.
Mavs’ guards
Doncic and Irving once again proved that they are a nuisance for opposing defenses in the first round. So OKC’s job will be to find ways to slow them down while also limiting how much the athletic Dallas bigs put into scoring with their aerial operations. When Doncic and Irving consistently make successful alley-oops and find big men under the basket, it becomes almost impossible to stop the Mavs.
With SGA checking out Irving and Williams checking Jones, Dort is likely to be the first option to guard Doncic. Holmgren serves as an ideal patch at the back. Offensively, Holmgren will cause problems for Daniel Gafford.
Conclusion
I expect the Thunder to win in Game 7. Prepare yourself for the brilliant performances of Doncic and Irving. Pressure will not affect them. But the real question is whether they can maintain these gaming standards throughout the entire series. That will be tough against OKC, which finished the regular season ranked fourth in defensive rankings. Gilgeous-Alexander has been a consistent performer all season and has an almost perfect complement. The Thunder have a deeper, fresher and healthier roster overall.
2024-05-07 21:32:41
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