What's up in the NBA Part 2

Today we have Part 2 of our NBA playoff update.  This time guest blogger KWeb breaks down the two remaining teams in the Western conference, the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Mavericks took the first game on Tuesday and game 2 goes tonight in Dallas.

Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki

How they got here: Dallas beat the Portland Trailblazers in six games, and then stunningly swept the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers with four straight victories. They are the favourites to make the Finals from the Western Conference.



Team history: Like your friend who eats chicken too fast, the Mavericks (Mavs for short) have a reputation for choking. They were up 2-0 in the 2006 Finals but then dropped 4 straight and lost. The next year they had the best overall record in the NBA but lost in the first round to the Golden State Warriors. It’s been great regular seasons followed by post-season bitterness in Dallas for years. Some people (well OK only me…) call this team the Vancouver Canucks of the NBA.

Toni Braxton

Player to watch: Dirk Nowitzki. Born in Germany, this 7 foot tall assassin has more shots than the Luftwaffe. He is an example of what makes basketball different from other sports: good offense will beat good defense. He’s got a fade-away jumper that no one can stop. Watch for it.

Meaningless information: Back in the 90s, it was rumoured that Jason Kidd (now back with the Mavs after many years) and then-teammate Jim Jackson (now retired) were involved in a love triangle with Toni Braxton. Everyone denies it, but it’s more fun to believe it happened and it was ugly, right?

Oklahoma City Thunder



Kevin Durant



How they got here: Oklahoma City (aka OKC) beat the Denver Nuggets in 5 games in the first round, and then beat the Memphis Grizzlies in 7 games in the second round. They’ll be the underdogs in the Western Conference Finals against Dallas.



Team history: This team moved from Seattle in 2008 after (basically) Seattle refused to use taxpayer money to build them a new arena. After one horrific season, they have been steadily improving and are now an “up-and-coming” team in the league that is finally delivering on its promise. 



Russell Westbrook


Players to watch: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant is a 6’9’’ shooting guard/small forward who was the NBA’s leading scorer this year…and last year as well! He is a great shooter and defines the word lanky. He is going to be around for a long time. Westbrook is a 6’3’’ point guard with unbelievable athleticism. Every so often he will deliver an absolute monster dunk where he jumps up, arches his back at an incredible angle, raises the ball way over his head and throws it down with supreme power. Trust me, it’s awesome. And oh yeah, and they are both only 22 years old. It makes me feel old. 

Meaningless information: Basketball is interesting because they play music while the game is actually going on. OKC takes this to a new level, pumping out sweet jams like your neighbourhood discothèque. Taio Cruz is heavily featured. Aiiii-yoooo!!!