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Dallas Mavericks Set For Playoff Battle With Houston Rockets

By Adam McGee

Apr 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) sets the play during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) sets the play during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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It went to the death in the Western Conference, but the 2015 first round playoff matchups are finally decided. Although the Dallas Mavericks entered their game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night safe in the knowledge that win or lose (and they won 114-98) they would be the seventh seed, their opponent remained very much up in the air.

San Antonio, Los Angeles, Memphis and Houston all entered the night in the mix for the No. 2 spot, and the matchup against Dallas. A Spurs loss to the eighth-seed clinching New Orleans Pelicans split it wide open, and from there wins for the Rockets and Grizzlies allowed the rest to take care of itself.

As you can see, that means the Mavs find themselves matched up with their in-state rivals, the Houston Rockets. How does that matchup shape for Dallas though?

Well, the regular season series between the two teams finished 3-1 in Houston’s favor, but with Dallas never losing by more than seven, that isn’t necessarily something that should be looked at in too much detail.

The Rockets could well have the MVP in James Harden, but aside from him, they have plenty of threats that the Mavericks can nullify, and in that sense drawing Houston could prove to be the best possible outcome.

Dallas may have split the season series with the Spurs, but considering their recent form you’d have to be crazy to want them in a playoff series, while both the Clippers and Grizzlies have looked dominant against the Mavs in previous meetings this year.

The loss of Patrick Beverley at point guard to injury shouldn’t really be understated for Houston either, and as a result, this could be a series that plays into the hands of the often maligned Rajon Rondo.

Jason Terry (“The Jet”!) may be a bit of a legend around these parts, but in 2015 does he really have what it takes to run an NBA team at this level?

The game also takes on an extra dimension when you turn to the small forward spot on Dallas’ roster. Chandler Parsons signed with the Mavericks last summer as a restricted free agent, having broken out with the Rockets the previous season, and having been expected to re-sign there by pretty much everybody around the league.

That could add a little edge in itself, but first Parsons will have to get healthy, having not played in two weeks thanks to a niggling knee injury.

Parsons will have until Saturday night to recover anyway before the Mavericks kick off their campaign in pursuit of another NBA title.

The series schedule is as follows (Games 5-7 if necessary):

Game 1: Sat. April 18, Dallas at Houston, 9.30pm ET, ESPN

Game 2: Tue. April 21, Dallas at Houston, 9.30pm ET, TNT

Game 3: Fri. April 24, Houston at Dallas, 7.00pm ET, ESPN

Game 4: Sun. April 26, Houston at Dallas, 9.30pm ET, TNT

Game 5: Tue. April 28, Dallas at Houston, TBD

Game 6: Thu. April 30, Houston at Dallas, TBD

Game 7: Sat. May 2, Dallas at Houston, TNT

Next: Can Everything Fall Into Place For Dirk One More Time?

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