WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Portland Trail Blazers
WHAT: GAME ONE
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
WHEN: 8:30pm CT
HOW: ESPN | KTXA
Well guys, we've pretty much talked about what this game is going to be like. Make sure you keep up on all of our coverage, like this and this, and even this. There are some links after the jump. Also, I know the playoffs mean that tempers may flare more than usual. Blazersedge has asked their members to be respectful, and I'm going to insist that you do the same.
LETS. GO. MABS!
Trail Blazers-Mavericks Preview - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
There was a time when Dirk Nowitzki was a young, rising star, a guy whose expanding skills were making his team more of a championship contender every spring. Now Nowitzki is at the point in his career where teammates talk about wanting to help him finally win a ring. Having been to the NBA finals and won an MVP award, it's the only thing that still drives him.
Shootaround Report: No. 6 Trail Blazers (0-0) at No. 3 Mavericks (0-0) - Mavs Fast Break
In an opening-round series that figures to be all about which team makes the best adjustments, the Mavericks admit that landing the first blow will be important if they’re going to knock the Portland Trail Blazers out of the championship chase.
DMN playoff predictions: Mavericks find a way to beat Blazers in close series
DMN writers unanimously select Dallas to win the series.
Craig Miller: 'Jason Terry's game is not built for the playoffs'
"Jason Terry's game is not built for the playoffs. He's a streaky jump shooter who doesn't play defense and who is prone to freak-out moments. That's the last kind of guy I want on the floor in the postseason. The problem is, he's one of the few scorers they have, so he has to play."
Blazers Nate McMillan cautions against getting "emotionally drunk."
Portland hasn't won a playoff series since 2000, but at least the Blazers have been to the playoffs for three straight seasons now, following a drought of not qualifying from 2004-2008. Blazers coach Nate McMillan would like to believe recent playoff experience _ even though Portland lost 4-2 to Houston in '09 and 4-2 to Phoenix last year _ will help his players keep a balanced mentality.
Dallas Mavericks Blog: Playoffs Galore
The skinny kid from Seagoville has grown into a legitimate NBA star. Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge packed on 15 pounds of muscle last summer and made the big steps from being an excellent supporting cast member to the Trail Blazers’ go-to guy this season. Aldridge is the focal point of Portland’s offense as he fulfills his dream of playing a playoff series in his hometown.