Thunder aims for payback against Dallas
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Saturday, April 28, 2012
4/28/12 at 6:44 AM
Related story: Bill Haisten's Thunder Insider.
WHEN ONE team is a four-games-to-one winner in a best-of-seven playoff - as Dallas was over Oklahoma City in last year's Western Conference finals - it seems on the surface to have been a one-sided series.
In reality, it was a tight, compelling competition. None of the five contests was decided by more than nine points.
If the young Thunder hadn't been so self-destructive and if Dirk Nowitzki hadn't been so heroic for the Mavericks, Oklahoma City could have advanced to an NBA Finals date with the Miami Heat.
Instead, the Mavs went on to win their first NBA championship.
Dallas and the Thunder are matched again - this time in a first-round series that begins with two games in Oklahoma City. Game 1 is set for Saturday and Game 2 takes place on Monday. The start time for both is 8:30 p.m.
The Mavericks (36-30) are seeded seventh in the West, while OKC (47-19) slipped from a position of command to the conference's No. 2 seed.
Neither team brings steam into the postseason. Dallas is 15-17 since the All-Star break. Since April 2, Oklahoma City is 7-7.
"The next season is upon us now," said Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who this week secured his third consecutive NBA scoring title.
"I think it's a whole new thing," Durant added. "We didn't end the season the way we wanted to, but we've got to erase it. We can't worry about what we did in the regular season. That's out the door.
"We've got to get ready for the playoffs. I think we have another level that we can get to."
Said Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, who ranks fifth on the NBA scoring chart at 23.6 points per game: "I've seen it before. I have seen us turn it up a notch. We started the year off on that level and we can hit that level again."
Oklahoma City benefits from the return of sixth man James Harden, who was sidelined during the final two games of the regular season. Last Sunday, during a double-overtime Thunder defeat in Los Angeles, Laker forward Metta World Peace rocked Harden's head with an elbow. The NBA responded by suspending World Peace for seven games.
After passing a battery of league-required tests, Harden was cleared for participation in the Dallas series.
Key figures in last year's Maverick surge were big man Tyson Chandler, a fiery leader and defender; and guard J.J. Barea, a sparkplug playmaker. Chandler now is a New York Knick. Barea plays in Minnesota. Dallas' acquisition of Lamar Odom was a complete failure.
By anyone's standard, the Mavericks are an old team. Point guard Jason Kidd is 39. Nowitzki and small forward Shawn Marion are 33. Center Brendan Haywood is 32 and sixth man Jason Terry is 34.
Oklahoma City counters with the NBA's best collection of young talent. Durant and Westbrook are 23. Harden and forward Serge Ibaka (the NBA leader in blocked shots) are 22.
Series starts Saturday
Thunder vs. Mavericks
8:30 p.m. Saturday, at OKC ESPN-25, FSOK-27
8:30 p.m. Monday, at OKCTNT-29, FSOK-27
8:30 p.m. Thursday, at Dallas TNT-29, FSOK-27
6:30 p.m. May 5, at Dallas TNT-29, FSOK-27
May 7, TBA, at OKC*FSOK-27
May 10, TBA, at Dallas*FSOK-27
May 12, TBA, at OKC*TNT-29, FSOK-27
*if necessary; Radio: all games on KYAL-97.1
Thunder-Mavericks: regular season
OKC 104, Dallas 102 (Dec. 29, OKC): After a Vince Carter 3-pointer gave the Mavericks a one-point lead with 1.4 seconds remaining, Kevin Durant answered for Oklahoma City. Durant collected an inbounds pass, pivoted, leaped and swished an off-balance trey at the buzzer.
Dallas 100, OKC 87 (Jan. 2, Dallas): For the Mavs, Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 on 10-of-16 shooting.
OKC 95, Dallas 86 (Feb. 1, Dallas): A strong performance by Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (33 points) and a sub-par effort by Nowitzki (eight points on 2-of-15 shooting).
OKC 95, Dallas 91 (March 5, OKC): Durant, Westbrook and James Harden combined for 60 points. The Thunder prevailed despite shooting 38 percent from the field.
2011 Western Conference finals, Best-of-seven series
Dallas vs. Oklahoma City
Game 1 (at Dallas)
Mavericks 121, Thunder 112
Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki was phenomenal, scoring 48 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the field. At the foul line, he was 24-of-24. Thunder forward Kevin Durant finished with 40 points, but Russell Westbrook misfired on 12 of his 15 shot attempts.
Game 2 (at Dallas)
Thunder 106, Mavericks 100
Oklahoma City got a 23-point performance from James Harden and played significantly better defense than in Game 1. Eric Maynor, Nick Collison and Thabo Sefolosha are members of the Durant-Westbrook supporting cast, but they made important plays to prevail in Game 2. OKC had a 50-29 advantage in bench scoring.
Game 3 (at Oklahoma City)
Mavericks 93, Thunder 87
Oklahoma City had a terrible first half, missing on 13 of its first 16 shots and trailing by 23 points. Westbrook scored 30 points, but the Thunder reserves had a miserable evening. After getting 50 points from its bench in Game 2, OKC got only 16 in Game 3.
Game 4 (at Oklahoma City)
Mavericks 112, Thunder 105 (OT)
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City led by 15 points. Nowitzki was the star of the Dallas rally. The Thunder finished with 25 turnovers and was 2-of-13 on 3-point attempts. Durant missed on all eight of his 3-point shots.
Game 5 (at Dallas)
Mavericks 100, Thunder 96
The Thunder was in control for most of the game, but Nowitzki converted on a huge 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining - a shot that gave Dallas its first lead of the fourth quarter. The Mavs won the series four games to one and advanced to the NBA Finals. Dallas defeated the favored Miami Heat to capture its first NBA championship.
- BILL HAISTEN, World Sports Writer
2011 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS, BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES
Dallas vs. Oklahoma City
GAME 1 (AT DALLAS): Mavericks 121, Thunder 112
Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki was phenomenal,
scoring 48 points on 12-of-15
shooting from the field. At the foul
line, he was 24-of-24. Thunder
forward Kevin Durant finished with
40 points, but Russell Westbrook
misfired on 12 of his 15 shot attempts.
GAME 2 (AT DALLAS): Thunder 106, Mavericks 100
Oklahoma City got a 23-point
performance from James Harden and
played significantly better defense
than in Game 1. Eric Maynor, Nick Collison
and Thabo Sefolosha are members
of the Durant-Westbrook supporting
cast, but they made important
plays to prevail in Game 2. OKC had a
50-29 advantage in bench scoring.
GAME 3 (AT OKLAHOMA CITY): Mavericks 93, Thunder 87
Oklahoma City had a terrible first
half, missing on 13 of its first 16 shots
and trailing by 23 points. Westbrook
scored 30 points, but the Thunder reserves
had a miserable evening. After
getting 50 points from its bench in
Game 2, OKC got only 16 in Game 3.
GAME 4 (AT OKLAHOMA CITY): Mavericks 112, Thunder 105 (OT)
With five minutes left in the fourth
quarter, Oklahoma City led by 15
points. Nowitzki was the star of the
Dallas rally. The Thunder finished
with 25 turnovers and was 2-of-13 on
3-point attempts. Durant missed on all
eight of his 3-point shots.
GAME 5 (AT DALLAS): Mavericks 100, Thunder 96
The Thunder was in control for most
of the game, but Nowitzki converted
on a huge 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining
— a shot that gave Dallas its first
lead of the fourth quarter. The Mavs
won the series four games to one and
advanced to the NBA Finals. Dallas
defeated the favored Miami Heat to
capture its first NBA championship.
—BILL HAISTEN, World Sports Writer
Original Print Headline: Time for payback
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki celebrates during the series-clinching Game 5 of the Western Conference finals last season against the Thunder. Starting Saturday, the two foes will meet again, this time in the first round. ERIC GAY/Associated Press file
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