To get to the second round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder are faced with the task of taking down the defending NBA Champions, the Dallas Mavericks.
The Thunder enter the postseason as the second seed and are at 15-to-4 odds to win the NBA title. Dallas is at 17-to-2 odds, which the Miami Heat have the best odds from Vegas, sitting at 9-to-4.
The Thunder won three of the four games from the Mavericks during the regular season, however the three victories were all by single digits, including one being a two-point win.
To many basketball observers the Mavericks window is closing, while the Thunder expect to be a true contender for many seasons to come.
For all the latest news and notes about the Thunder playoff run, head over to Welcome to Loud City, while Mavericks fans should check out Mavs Moneyball. Both sites are part of the SB Nation Network of blogs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a hard road ahead, as does any team hopeful for the NBA title, with one formidable opponent after another on their way to the Finals. However, given the Thunder's recent performance and their first round draw, it might be particularly difficult for a stunned team led by Kevin Durant to make it as far as many think. Sean Deveney of the Sporting News is picking an upset in the first round and has the Dallas Mavericks besting the favored Thunder in the end.
He writes, "Oklahoma City has championship aspirations, but before they can get there, they've got to exorcise the demon that has haunted them since last spring-Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, who displayed individual brilliance, averaging 32.2 points and twice topping the 40-point mark, in carrying the Mavericks past the Thunder in five games in last year's conference finals. Dallas is limping into the postseason, but there is still enough talent on hand to give the Thunder a good first-round run."
Both teams are not at their functional best, so it could go either direction. If James Harden is ready and available to play, however, it could be the sort of wake-up call the team needed at the right time.
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and, hopefully, James Harden begin to lead the charge this Saturday in their search for the 2011-12 NBA Playoffs as the schedule has finally been released. The first opponent? The defending champions. The Dallas Mavericks will be the first of several formidable opponents if the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to make it all way to the NBA Finals, and given the recent concussion suffered by Harden, the road could prove tougher than expected.
Ready or not, it all starts Saturday. The full series schedule is as follows:
Game 1 (Saturday, April 28, in OKC) - 8:30 p.m. CT (ESPN) Game 2 (Monday, April 30, in OKC) - 8:30 p.m. CT (TNT) Game 3 (Thursday, May 3, in Dallas) - 8:30 p.m. CT (TNT) Game 4 (Saturday, May 5, in Dallas) - 6:30 p.m., CT (TNT) Game 5 (Monday, May 7, in OKC) - TBD (TBD) Game 6 (Thursday, May 10, in Dallas) - TBD (TBD) Game 7 (Saturday, May 12, in OKC) - TBD (TBD)
