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From The Sports Network
By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor


Dallas Mavericks: 4th Seed, West (58-24)

Houston Rockets: 5th Seed, West (51-31)


(Sports Network) - Southwest Division rivals will square off in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, as the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks will lock up with No. 5 Houston.

This is the second time that Dallas and Houston have met in the postseason. In 1988, the Mavericks eliminated the Rockets, 3-1, in the first round.

During the regular season, the teams split four games as each club picked up win at home and on the road. In last year's playoffs, Dallas fell in five games to Sacramento in the first round, while the Rockets were also eliminated in five in the opening round by the Lakers.

The Mavericks had a fantastic regular season as they were 58-24, which is the second-best record in franchise history. They won a franchise-best 60 games in the 2002-03 campaign.

Dallas enters the postseason as the hottest team in the NBA. The Mavericks won their final nine games of the regular season and scored more than 100 points in seven of those contests.

Avery Johnson, who became the eighth head coach of the Dallas franchise after Don Nelson resigned on March 19th, has had a huge impact on the Mavericks' success, while All-Star Dirk Nowitzki is once again the go-to guy. Johnson has the respect and confidence of his team and knows what it takes to win the league from his experience as a player.

Nowitzki had an MVP-type season, as he averaged 26.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, which were both team-highs. He is an all-around great player who is not afraid to carry the team on his back.

Even though the team lost star point guard Steve Nash to Phoenix through free agency last offseason, the Mavericks were once again able to put together a deep roster. Center Erick Dampier, who was acquired from Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal prior to the season, is the man in the middle that Dallas has always been missing. The 29-year-old Dampier contributed 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 59 games this season.

Jason Terry and Michael Finley are a solid backcourt for the Mavs. They both can drain the outside jumper and move well in transition. Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn highlight a deep bench for Dallas.

The Mavericks are ready to try and earn their first berth in the NBA Finals. Dallas did make it to the conference finals in 1988 and 2003.

Houston is the second hottest team in the league coming into the playoffs, as it finished the campaign with seven straight wins. The Rockets allowed 100 points just once in their final seven outings.

Tracy McGrady will appear in the playoffs for the first time as a Rocket. He had an excellent first campaign with Houston, as he led the team in scoring (25.7 ppg) and assists (5.7 apg). He scored in double-digits in 77 of the 78 games he played in this season.

Yao Ming teams with McGrady to give the Rockets a deadly inside-outside combination. Yao averaged 18.4 points and a team-high 8.4 boards in 80 games this season, which was his third in the league.

McGrady and Yao are the key ingredients to the Rockets' success. With two All- Stars on its roster, Houston management needed to fill out its roster with veterans and role players who understand the scheme.

The Rockets have been playing winning basketball as they won 18 of their final 24 regular-season games. However, Houston has not won a playoff series since 1997.

FRONTCOURT: Three All-Stars are included in this frontcourt matchup. The Rockets have Yao and McGrady, while the Mavericks counter with Nowitzki.

Nowitzki teams with Dampier and Josh Howard to give Dallas a solid frontcourt. The 7-0 All-Star forward can play inside or outside. His game is complete and because of his versatility and size he creates major matchup problems. Howard is athletic and is a perfect complement to his frontcourt partners. He can get out in the open court for some east hoops and is also a decent defender.

The Mavericks are finally entering the postseason with a center that will get them the presence down low that they have lacked in past playoff runs. Dampier is a strong rebounder and will be able to hold his own in the paint and on the blocks against the other strong centers in the West. A series like this one is the reason why Dallas acquired a player like Dampier last offseason.

Yao and McGrady will work with veteran Clarence Weatherspoon, who will be asked to concentrate on his rebounding and defense, as Houston's starting frontcourt. Yao, who has averaged 15 points and 7.4 rebounds in his five-career playoff games, will need to come up big on both ends of the court if the Rockets hope to beat Dallas.

McGrady will also need to bring his best game each game for Houston to win this series. He needs to put up big numbers in the scoring column and must be able to get the ball to Yao inside when he is being double and triple teamed.

EDGE: EVEN


BACKCOURT: Terry and Finley give Dallas an advantage over Houston's Bob Sura and David Wesley in this matchup.

Terry and Finley are more athletic and should be able to use their quickness and skill to breakdown Sura and Wesley. Terry can play either guard spot, while the high-flying Finley can work at shooting guard or small forward.

Sura and Wesley are both veterans and are not afraid to take the big shot in crunch time. They are not flashy, but they can both handle the ball, hit the outside jumper and play solid defense.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


BENCH: The Mavericks are as deep as any team in the league. They have depth up front and in the backcourt. Stackhouse, who can play shooting guard or small forward, is a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, and forward Keith Van Horn are the first two players to come off the pine for Dallas. They are not strong defensively, but both can light it up from the outside and are capable of scoring in bunches.

Guards Marquis Daniels, Devin Harris and Darrell Armstrong are also solid reserves. Daniels can play shooting guard or small forward, while the rookie Harris will see his minutes at the point and the 36-year-old Armstrong has plenty of experience. Veterans Shawn Bradley and Alan Henderson will eat up some minutes up front when needed.

Veterans Jon Barry, Mike James, Dikembe Mutombo and Scott Padgett will take up the minutes when the Houston starters need a rest. James, who won a title with the Pistons last season, and Barry can both hit the outside jumper and are able to handle the duties at the point as well. Mutombo will be used to give Yao some minutes to rest, while the 6-9 Padgett can add some offense if he can hit his outside jumper.

EDGE: MAVERICKS


COACH: Johnson has convinced the Mavericks that they have to play defense in order beat the best teams in the league. He has Dallas playing with more energy, enthusiasm and intensity. Johnson won a title during his playing days as a member of the 1999 San Antonio Spurs NBA Championship team.

Jeff Van Gundy finished his second season as the head coach of the Rockets. Prior to landing in Houston, Van Gundy led the New York Knicks to six straight postseason appearances to go along with a berth in the 1998-99 NBA Finals.

Johnson and Van Gundy both stress defense and they know what it takes to win in the postseason.

EDGE: EVEN


PREDICTION: The Mavericks and Rockets played great basketball at the end of the season. Confidence is at an all-time high for both clubs, but there can only be one winner.

MAVERICKS IN SEVEN




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04/21 14:49:56 ET