Team MVP:  Dirk Nowitzki – 33-year old power forward Dirk Nowitzki did not come into the 2011-12 season in good playing shape.  He worked his way back during the season and he finished strongly.  Nowitzki played in 62 games (all starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 33.5 minutes, 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Biggest Surprise:  Brandan Wright – The Mavericks signed 24-year old power forward Brandan Wright off the junk heap when the lockout was lifted and he really rewarded them for it.  Wright played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 16.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game.  Wright shot an amazing 61.8% from the floor in this game.

Biggest Disappointment:  32-year old forward Lamar Odom was supposed to help the Mavs replace center Tyson Chandler, but he was a GIGANTIC BUST!  He played in 50 games (4 starts) for the Mavericks last year and he averaged 20.5 minutes, 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  Odom only shot 35.2% from the floor, 25.2% from the three point line and 59.2% from the free throw line last year, which is pathetic.  The Mavericks wound up sending Odom home a couple of weeks before the playoffs started.

POINT GUARD:  39-year old Jason Kidd looked like he was running on fumes this year.  Kidd played in 48 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 28.7 minutes, 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.  But, maybe the bright lights of the playoffs can revive Kidd’s game for a couple of weeks.  Kidd has played in 142 games in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 40.1 minutes, 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

23-year old Russell Westbrook needs to not be too selfish in this series.  He played in 66 games (all starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 35.3 minutes, 23.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.  He has played in 23 games so far in the playoffs and he is averaging 37.0 minutes, 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  The Thunder need Westbrook to play well in this series, so he needs to keep his teammates involved offensively.

EDGE:  THUNDER

SHOOTING GUARD:  35-year old Vince Carter played pretty solid for the Mavericks this year.  He played in 61 games (40 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 25.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  Carter has played in 56 games in the playoffs so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 40.3 minutes, 23.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

27-year old Thabo Sefolosha is a defense first player for the Thunder.  He played in 42 games (all starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 21.8 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  Sefolosha has now played in 27 games in his NBA career in the playoffs and he is averaging 17.8 minutes, 4.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

EDGE:  SLIGHT FOR MAVERICKS

SMALL FORWARD:  33-year old small forward Shawn Marion is going to have his hands full against Kevin Durant in this series.  Marion played in 63 games (all starts) for the Mavs this year and he averaged 30.5 minutes, 10.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  He has played in 92 games in his NBA career in the playoffs and he is averaging 37.8 minutes, 15.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game.

23-year old Kevin Durant is going to be the main man for the Thunder in this series, as usual.  He played in 66 games (all starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 38.6 minutes, 28.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game.  Durant has played in 23 games in his career so far in the playoffs and he is averaging 41.4 minutes, 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game.

EDGE:  HUGE FOR THE THUNDER

POWER FORWARD:  33-year old Dirk Nowitzki is the key for the Mavs in this series.  He played in 62 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 33.5 minutes, 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  Nowitzki didn’t play his best basketball during the regular season and unless he steps up in this series…..the Mavericks have no chance of advancing.  Nowitzki has played in 124 games so far in his NBA playoff career and he is averaging 41.3 minutes, 25.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

22-year old Serge Ibaka is by far the best defensive player in this series, but he’s going to have his hands full with Nowitzki.  Ibaka played in 66 games (all starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 27.2 minutes, 9.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists and a NBA leading 3.7 blocked shots per game.  Ibaka has played in 23 games in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 28.0 minutes, 9.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 2.8 blocked shots per game.

EDGE:  MAVERICKS

CENTER:  32-year old Brendan Haywood is going to have to step up in this series for the Mavs.  He played in 54 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 21.2 minutes, 5.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  Haywood has played in 49 games so far in the playoffs and he is averaging 15.3 minutes, 3.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.

27-year old Kendrick Perkins will be counted on to rebound and play D for the Thunder in this series.  Perkins played in 65 games (all starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 26.8 minutes, 5.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  Perkins has played in 85 games in the playoffs in his NBA career so far and he is averaging 26.2 minutes, 6.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.

EDGE:  THUNDER

BENCH:  The Mavericks will likely go only five deep with the bench in this round.  34-year old shooting guard Jason Terry played in 63 games (1 start) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 31.7 minutes, 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  Terry has played in 83 games in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 35.4 minutes, 17.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  28-year old guard Delonte West is also going to get his fair share of P.T. in this series.  He played in 44 games (33 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 24.1 minutes, 9.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.  West has played in 54 games in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 29.6 minutes, 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  24-year old power forward Brandan Wright had a solid year for the Mavs in 2011-12.  He played in 49 games (0 starts) for the Mavs this year and he averaged 16.1 minutes, 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game on 61.8% shooting from the floor.  Wright has never played in the playoffs.  25-year old center Ian Mahinmi played in 61 games (12 starts) for the Mavs this year and he averaged 18.7 minutes, 5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  He has played in 8 playoff games so far in his career and he is averaging 6.5 minutes, 2.5 points and 1.0 rebound per game.  24-year old shooting guard Rodrigue Beaubois might also get some P.T. in this series.  He played in 53 games (12 starts) for the Mavs this year and he averaged 21.7 minutes, 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  Beaubois has only played in 4 games in the playoffs so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 7.8 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

The Thunder are hoping that 22-year old shooting guard James Harden will be cleared to play in this series.  He played in 62 games (2 starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 31.4 minutes, 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  He has played in 23 games so far in his NBA career in the playoffs and he is averaging 28.6 minutes, 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  The Thunder also hope that 37-year old point guard Derek Fisher steps up with the bright lights of the playoffs on.  Fisher played in 20 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 20.4 minutes, 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  31-year old power forward Nick Collison is going to be ready for some action behind Serge Ibaka.  Collison played in 63 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 20.7 minutes, 4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  He has played in 34 games in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 22.4 minutes, 6.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  34-year old center Nazr Mohmmed is going to have to give the Thunder 10-15 solid minutes per night behind Kendrick Perkins.  He played in 63 games (1 start) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 11.0 minutes, 2.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  25-year old SG/SF Daequan Cook could be important for the Thunder in this series if James Harden isn’t going to play.  Cook played in 57 games (22 starts) for the Thunder this year and he averaged 17.4 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Cook has played in 24 playoff games so far in his career and he is averaging 14.8 minutes, 4.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

EDGE:  SLIGHT FOR MAVERICKS

COACHING:  Rick Carlisle led the Mavericks to a NBA Championship last year, but they didn’t do too well with the bullseye on their backs this year.  The Mavericks finished up with a 36-30 (54.5%) record in 2011-12.  Carlisle is battle tested in the playoffs where he is 53-46 (53.5%).

Scott Brooks motivated his team big time this season as they finished with a 47-19 record (71.2%).  He needs to prove himself in the playoffs though as he is only 11-12 (47.8%) in his career there.

EDGE:  SLIGHT FOR MAVERICKS

PREDICTION:  THUNDER IN FIVE GAMES