2011 Playoffs: (2) Lakers Vs. (3) Mavericks

Lucky escape for the Mavs with Kobe missing at the buzzer like that but a great win for them nevertheless. We saw the Hornets take Game 1 from the Lakers as well though and ultimately they couldn't capitalise despite drawing first blood and some great performances from Chris Paul. Simply getting the split in LA to start the series would be alright, but I believe the Mavericks have to go back to Dallas up 2-0 to really have a good shot here, otherwise I can see the Lakers storming back in six or perhaps even winning the next four straight to take it in five.

Its a pitty i cant watch theese games.

I never knew that Kobe has never gone against Dirk in the playoffs, thank you Sportscenter

Watched the replay of the game. It didn't feel like a playoff game at all.

Zanshadow are you really so dumb you don't get when to use the bored thing? Or are you still butthurt your boys were bawling their eyes out after you claimed they were bored?

Lakers in 6, awesome game by Bryant & Nowitzki. Some of the shots that guy makes, damn.

I really hope this series goes into seven games so I can watch a few games of this series after my exams are over next Monday. Looked like a really good game from the replays, too bad it started at 10:30 ET.

too bad it started at 10:30 ET.

aaand that's the beauty of living here... the game doesn't end at 1:30 AM for us. as Jaosming already knows, west coast = best coast

I don't really care if a game ends at 1:30, normally I'd watch a game that late, but I've got an AP Calculus exam and a Physics exam next week. I'm getting less sleep without watching basketball for three hours. But it would be better to start earlier, so I can catch little snippets of the game while it's happening.

but I've got an AP Calculus exam and a Physics exam next week. I'm getting less sleep without watching basketball for three hours.

so how that affects what you do with 3 hours of your life THIS WEEK i do not know.

Those West Coast games are the only ones that are bearable for me. 10:30 is 4:30 a.m. here, so at least it feels a bit like "morning" and not like getting up in the middle of the night. I usually have breakfast at halftime and go to bed after it to catch at least two hours of sleep more.

Kobe back to his 29-shot, 0 assist self.

Sweet victory... I love how the Mavs played Melo, but also went out there, & Really tried too win. central time zone... had to get some Zsss for exams. Saw 1st half, thought we were gonna lose by then.

The Knicks are eliminated and don't play in the west.

I'm guessing he meant "mellow" but wrote "Melo" by mistake.

Houndy probably also wonders why people can't seem to spell "terrible" correctly.

Nah, that stuff it's alright. It's the NBA errors that are turrible.

Mavs steal two games @LA! Really, I doubt there's anyone who'd expect this. I'm really starting to like JJ Barea and Brendan Haywood finally found someone he can guard in the Lakers big men (I actually think he's the right one to guard Bynum as their bodies are quite similar).

If there's someone not made for Playoff basketball, I'd go with Steve Blake. Poor boy, played so bad.

Lamecock prediction of Lakers at 5 is looking good right now

Kobe's bored. He allowed the Mavs to win so he can prove that he's better than the Blazers by being down 0-2, tie the series, and win it unlike the Blazers who can't finish the job.

Oh and Deshawn Stevenson banking it in from downtown and making "I'm on fire gestures" was just off the mark.

Great win by the Mavericks, they've certainly got a good shot at pulling it off. I hesitate to count a team like the Lakers out unless it's 3-0 or 3-1 but with the series going back to Dallas and the way the Mavs got the job done in Game 2, it's got to be slightly worrying for Lakers fans.

Barea was huge down the stretch though it's obvious he's still got some room for improvement in terms of his basketball smarts. He was a bit out of control at times with some silly passes and a couple of ill-advised shots, in a closer game that could've killed them. He tended to make up for it on the next play though. Pretty funny situation with Haywood getting that basket interference call, not really his fault as he was doing it to protect himself but again in a closer contest that would've been a costly error to put up the shot while he was still hanging on the rim.

Artest's elbow at the end was a bit dirty. I know it's the Playoffs, but that was poor sportsmanship and the way the league is strict about these things, a bit of a dumb move if nothing else. It'll probably be a fine at most but you don't want to give the NBA any reason to watch you more closely or consider a suspension.

I agree with you, Andrew. Barea tears the defense apart on one play just to take a silly three pointer with 18 seconds on the clock the other play. It's tough for a guy like him to not get out of control when things are working out well, because he's living from his explosiveness and quick decision making.

Still, his turnovers are often unnecessary, like that alley oop pass he wanted to play for Shawn Marion on the break which got caught off.

I hope they don't suspend Artest, because more minutes for Odom would in my opinion help the Lakers. Artest is such a bad shooter and even he can't guard Dirk properly, so I would not play him as much as Jax does (well, he may know better, 11 rings ...)

Rajon Rondo used to play a little out of control like that, getting fancy when he just needed to make the smart play. I won't draw too many comparisons between the two as Barea isn't at Rondo's level (then or now), but it strikes me as a similar habit and if he can settle down a bit, he could really establish himself as a good and dependable backup point guard for the Mavs and eventual starter once Kidd hangs it up.

The Lakers having a sieve at the PG spot also helped in making Barea look good.

Jon Smith approves of the 2-0 Mavericks lead.