NBA Playoffs must-follow storylines: LA Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks

Prediction: LA Clippers in 5

Although the Dallas Mavericks may have the most efficient offense in the history and the LA Clippers may have not played together that long, it is unlikely that this will be a series.

The Clippers are arguably the best team in the league by a good margin when fully healthy and they are at full health. They have too much star power, too much depth, and much better defense. And that is what puts the Clippers over the top.

If the Clippers had a mediocre defense, then this series would be about who can simply score more points in a game and whoever blinks first will lose the game. That’s not the case, however. In the regular-season series, the Mavericks posted a 106.0 offensive rating, which is not close to their season averages. And the Clippers, they have a 115.9 offensive rating.

The Mavericks simply won’t be able to match that defensive intensity to stop the superstar duo. There is an off-chance where the Mavericks have one of the best offensive games, which is why they could take one game off.

But don’t expect this series to go six or seven.

However, that won’t make the series any less entertaining. We still get to see Leonard, George, Porzinigis, and Doncic in his first playoffs, which should be just as exciting.