NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game #2
#6 Portland Trail Blazers at #3 Dallas Mavericks, (DAL leads series 1-0) Best of Seven Series Format: 2-2-1-1-1
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 9:35 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Dallas -4
Current Line: Dallas -3 1/2
Opening Total: 184
Current Total: 183
Money Line: DAL -170 / POR +150
In the 8 playoff series openers over the weekend, the underdog went 7-1 ATS and Atlanta, Memphis, and New Orleans won straight up. Ironically, the only favorite to cover was the one a lot of people considered to be the most vulnerable to the upset, the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks were 57-25 during the regular season, tied with the Lakers for second best record in the West behind the Spurs. However, they struggled down the stretch and played a significant portion of the season without one of their best players Caron Butler who is out with a knee injury. Many people thought Portland was a bad match-up for Dallas as the Blazers are a very talented team that has a good mix of veterans and young talent with playoff experience.
The Mavericks were able to cover the 5 point spread in the first game 89-81, but it wasn’t easy. Portland had their biggest lead of the game of 6 points until Mavs all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki exploded for 18 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Mavericks. Heading into the 4th, Nowitzki was struggling from the field and only had 10 points. He was 13 for 13 from the free throw line all in the fourth quarter. He scored 12 consecutive points at one point in the fourth to ice the game for the Mavs. Nowitzki also pulled down 10 rebounds in the win. Point Guard Jason Kidd scored 24 points, including a playoff career high 6 3-pointers. Kidd also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block for Dallas. Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldrige had 27 points and 6 rebounds in the loss. Point Guard Andre Miller added 18 points and 6 assists in the losing effort.
The two teams split the regular season series 2 games apiece, with each team winning twice on their own home court. All games were decided by 8 points or less. The two teams are 6-6 ATS versus each other in the last 12 games. Dallas is 45-36 ATS in all games this season, including 23-10 after 3 or more wins, and 25-16 versus teams with winning records. Dallas is 32-50 ATS at home the last 2 seasons. Portland is 89-75 ATS in all games the last two seasons.
Portland Center Greg Oden and guard Elliot Williams are both out for the season with knee injuries. The Blazers have 6 players averaging double figure scoring, led by power forward LaMarcus Aldridge with 21.8 points a game. He also averages 8.8 rebounds. Guard Wesley Matthews averages 15.9 points. Small forward Gerald Wallace averages 15.8 points and leads the team in steals with 2 a game since being acquired from the Bobcats earlier this season. Point guard Andre Miller averages 12.7 points and leads the team in assists with 7 a game. Brandon Roy missed significant time with a knee injury this season and is trying to get back to his all-star form. He is averaging 12.2 points a game. Nicholas Batum averages 12.4 points a game. Marcus Camby leads the team in rebounds with 10.3 a game and blocks with 1.6 a game. The Blazers are outscoring opponents 96-95 on the season. The Blazers rank 24th in points scored and 7th in points allowed in the league. Portland is shooting 44.7% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range. Blazer opponents are shooting 46.7% from the field. The Blazers make 80.4% of their free throws. They average 39.3 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of -0.4. The Blazers are ranked #27 in the league in rebounding. They average 21.2 assists and 13 turnovers a game. Portland is ranked #16 in the league in assists. Portland forces 15.7 turnovers a game on defense. The Blazers force 8 steals and 4.4 blocks a game.
As mentioned forward Caron Butler is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said Butler could return if the Mavericks advance further in the playoffs. Butler averaged 15 points a game before the injury. Guard Dominique Jones is also out indefinitely with a foot injury. Guard Rodrique Beaubois is questionable with a foot injury for game#2, after missing the last game. Beaubois averages 8.4 points a game. The Mavericks are led by future Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk averages 23 points and 7 rebounds a game. Three other Mavericks besides Butler and Nowitzki score in double figures. Jason Terry averages 15.8 points a game. Shawn Marion averages 12.5 points a game. Center Tyson Chandler averages 10.1 points. He also leads the team in rebounds with 9.4 a game and blocks with 1.1 a game. Jason Kidd leads the Mavericks in assists with 8.2 a game and steals with 1.7 a game. The Mavs are outscoring opponents 100-96 this season. Dallas is 11th in points scored and 10th in points allowed. Dallas shoots 47.5% from the field and 36.5% from 3-point range. Maverick opponents are shooting 45% from the field. Dallas makes 77.7% of their free throws. The Mavericks average 41.3 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +0.7. They are 14th in the league in rebounds. The Mavericks average 23.8 assists and 14 turnovers a game. The Mavs are 2nd in the league in assists. Dallas forces 13.6 turnovers a game on defense. The Mavs average 6.8 steals and 4.3 blocks a game.
Portland shot 46% from the field in game #1 but were only 2-16 from 3-point range and only attempted 13 free throws for the whole game making 9. Dallas only shot 40% from the field but was 10-19 from 3-point range and made 25-29 of their free throws. That is the reason Portland lost Saturday night. The 3-point shot stats were a little misleading as Kidd went 6-10 from 3-point range by himself and the rest of the Mavericks were only 4-9. If the Blazers make more three-pointers and are more aggressive getting to the free throw line more they will have a good chance to steal game 2 before the series moves to Portland for game 3 Thursday night. One thing to keep in mind is Joey Crawford is assigned as the ref fro this game and the Mavericks are 2-16 all time in playoffs he officiates.
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