The slimmest of margins

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No time to sit down

I didn't get to write about beforehand, but I do not think the Dallas Mavericks will beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first-round playoff match-up.

Last night's narrow 99-98 Thunder win certainly didn't change anything. It did alter my perception of the fight left in the Mavericks and there was a certain amount of pride watching their upset bid go down in flames.

It was three parts "Everything That We Loved About The 2011 Championship Team" with one part "2012."

For most of the game, it was last year all over again and it was delicious. Jason Terry catching fire. Dirk Nowitzki with 11 fourth-quarter points. Jason Kidd active, hitting big, opportune shots. Shit, we had Vince Carter, of all people, putting the ball on the floor and taking it to the rim. It was beautiful.

Still, up seven points with three minutes left, it never felt like the Mavs were going to win. Hold on, I sort of felt they were going to win when the Thunder cut it to five and then Nowitzki hit that 18-footer straightaway. Yes, then I thought "Man, they're going to pull this off!"

Two Nowitzki turnovers and two Serge Ibaka And-Ones and it was game on.

The killer were the turnovers. The Thunder picked things up in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook was cemented to Jason Terry late, denying him the ball for the most part. And they continued to be physical with Nowitzki. Granted, that resulted in another monumental fourth for Dirk, but it also forced two steals.

James Harden was the true instigator. He picked Nowitzki's pocket and he also started that insane possession with a near-steal on Kidd and winding up -- again, of all people -- Ian Mahinmi -- getting two free throws.

There were also a lot of just poor play. Mahinmi must make Ibaka earn his free throws. Swiping at him and allowing him to finish at the bucket is unexcusable. And say what you will about Jason Kidd and his defense. Yes, the seven steals are nice. Still, opponents are dribbling by him at ease.

Disappointed that Brandan Wright and Roddy Beaubois are looking like personas non grata this series. Seems like they'd be useful against the Thunder athleticism. And it's sort of weird that we're paying Brendan Haywood $10 million to sit most of a playoff game.

What the Mavericks can take away -- rebound edge, defense in Kevin Durant -- are the points Thunder folks are saying and, yet, they still won the game. A lot to like, and a lot to dislike.

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