Dallas Mavericks Offseason 2012: Dirk Nowitzki Needs To Be A No. 2 Player

The Dallas Mavericks weren't built to defend their NBA title after the way their star player Dirk Nowitzki celebrated during the summer leading up to this lockout plagued season. This year's run appears to be in favor of younger, fresher and deeper teams in terms of star power.

Nowitzki turns 34-years-old pretty soon and the days when he can be relied on as a No. 1, go-to player are numbered. Even though his game translates well for an older player, relying on his shooting touch and just the mere ability to get up and down the floor as necessary, the Mavericks are still going to need someone to relieve Nowitzki of his duties as the guy who carries the weight of the team on his shoulders.

"Hey, I mean, if that's the case, I'd love to hand over the keys," Nowitzki said to ESPNDallas.com. "We'll have to wait and see what happens, but I still think I can play some great basketball and can still contribute to a good team."

"I'm probably going to lift more this summer and try to keep my legs strong so we don't all have to go through what I went through at the beginning of the season, because that was pretty ugly," Nowitzki said. "I've got to adjust some of my program."

Read more about the Mavericks at Mavs Moneyball.

2012 NBA Playoffs: Lamar Odom Will Not Receive Playoff Share

After a locker room vote, the Dallas Mavericks decided that Lamar Odom will not be receiving his playoff share of $14,000, according to ESPNDallas.com.

In the end, the players simply felt he did not deserve the reward. Still, Mark Cuban has no regrets about acquiring the veteran.

"I'd do the exact same thing all over," Cuban said. "You go for it. You hit on those things sometimes, and sometimes they don't work. ... He wasn't the first player that didn't work, and he won't be the last."

Odom was dismissed from the Mavericks on April 7. He averaged 6.6 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game, both of which were career-lows. A year ago, he was voted the top sixth man in the NBA.

Since leaving Dallas, Odom has expressed publicly that he still hopes to be considered for Team USA.

For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation's NBA page.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder: This One Is On Carlisle

Dallas may have not been the better team, but they had way too much talent to be swept. It was not Rick Carlisle's finest hour.

Russell Westbrook Dropped A 'Bro' On Me

2012 NBA Playoffs, Mavericks Vs. Thunder: Dallas Loses 103-97

If you needed any more evidence for Tyson Chandler's Defensive Player of the Year Award, the fourth quarter of the Dallas Mavericks season-ending loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder showed just how much the defending NBA champions missed their defensive anchor at the rim.

With Rick Carlisle stubbornly sticking to his ancient perimeter duo of Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, there was an open lane to the front of the rim for James Harden, who orchestrated the Thunder's offense throughout the fourth quarter.

Harden finished the night with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists on 11-16 shooting, none bigger than the lay-up he scored with 11 seconds left and Dallas down 3.

On the other side of the ball, Dirk Nowitzki turned back the clock to 2011, with 34 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 10-25 shooting.

But with the most important member of his supporting cast now in New York, the Mavericks couldn't get a stop when it mattered.

For more news and analysis wrapping up this series, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Mavs Moneyball.

Dallas Fans Still Believe ... Kind Of

Mavericks Vs. Thunder, 2012 NBA Playoffs: Game 4 Tied At Halftime

After banging his head against the wall one final time with an all-veteran starting lineup that featured Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Brendan Haywood, Rick Carlisle finally began adjusting his rotation in the first half of Game 4.

As a result, Dallas and Oklahoma City are tied at 47 at halftime, a marked improvement from the 17 point drubbing the Thunder gave them in Game 3 to put the Mavericks on the brink of elimination.

With Kendrick Perkins out of the game, Haywood doesn't have a player to match up with on the interior, which has resulted in more minutes for Ian Mahinmi and Brandan Wright.

The two younger and more athletic centers have given Dallas more of a defensive presence, especially on help-side rotations, while also combining for 9 points and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes.

The Thunder have been paced by James Harden, as the Mavericks have had no answer for his athletic and playmaking ability at 6'5 220 all series. The Oklahoma City sixth man has 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists on 4-5 shooting so far.

On the other end of the floor, Dirk Nowitzki has been more aggressive establishing position on the low block, as the Dallas star leads the team with 13 points and 4 assists on 5-11 shooting.

For more on the game, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Mavs Moneyball.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder, 2012 NBA Playoffs: Kendrick Perkins Out Of Game 4

Oklahoma City Thunder starting C Kendrick Perkins will not return to Game 4 of their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, as Perkins limped off to the locker room early in the first quarter with a hip injury:

Kendrick Perkins has a right hip strain and will not return.

— Jeff Caplan (@ESPN_Caplan) May 6, 2012

Perkins hasn't been much of a factor in the series, as his ability to defend the low post is not needed against a Mavericks team who get very little offensively from the center position.

With his absence, Oklahoma City will likely go small with Serge Ibaka at the center position and Kevin Durant at the power power forward in the fourth quarter. Nick Collison should also see some additional floor time at both interior positions.

Without Perkins on the floor, Rick Carlisle may not use Brendan Haywood as much, which would be a big boost for Dallas.

Before he left, he did leave a lovely reminder on Haywood's face as to why he's one of the most disliked players in the NBA:

via assets.sbnation.com

For more on the game, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Mavs Moneyball.

2012 NBA Playoffs, Mavericks Vs. Thunder Game 4: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Rick Carlisle's Mavericks find themselves in a do-or-die situation on Saturday night, as they look to extend their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A Last Gasp Comes Up Painfully Short

The coaching staff didn't trust the younger players and the older players didn't have enough left to stay competitive with Oklahoma City. The result was as ugly as anyone could have imagined.

NBA Playoffs 2012, Mavericks Vs. Thunder: 'Vacation Time' Looms For Aging Dallas

The pulse of the DFW-area media on the NBA Playoffs isn't hard to find after the Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3-0 series lead over the Mavericks: This is an old team about to be reworked, so let's just get this year over with.

The Dallas Morning News is asking (politely, albeit) that the Mavs "fall on their swords" so things will just be over with:

If this is all they've got, the Mavericks should do everybody a favor and fall on their sword Saturday night in Game 4.

Don't bother with the show of resolve. Too late for that now, because it's just a matter of time until the Mavericks are dethroned and vacation begins.

The Ft. Worth Star Telegram is even less friendly, denouncing owner Mark Cuban for his (apparent) failure to land Dwight Howard and Deron Williams in the offseason, and condemning the lockout for stealing the World Champion Mavs'... thunder:

The truly sad part is that we already knew the season was not going to end the way it began with the Mavericks as reigning champions.

Any doubt about that was removed long ago -- not just before the beginning of this playoff series -- but before the season.

That is the most disappointing thing for the Mavericks and their fans.

After waiting so long to finally win an NBA title, the moment was seemingly gone before they got a chance to truly enjoy it, let alone savor it.

It started with the lockout that truncated their off-season of title glory.

For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation's NBA page.

2012 NBA Playoffs, Mavericks Vs. Thunder: With Their Fate Almost Sealed, Mavs Fans Look To Next Year

After the Mavericks' third consecutive loss to the Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, SB Nation's Mavericks blog Mavs Moneyball is preparing for what they deem to be an inevitable elimination at the hands of the young and talented Oklahoma City Thunder. The question for Dallas fans now is - what, if anything, will be the same on this roster come next year?

The Mavericks are almost certainly going to lose this series and they are almost certainly going to be completely different next year. It is not clear that single draft pick (looking at you Roddy) or a single center (looking at you Hay-Mahimni-Wright) or a single SG (Vince-Delonte-Terry) have any part in their future.

The entirety of this current Mavs season has been played with one eye on the future - fans and the front office are aware that this an old, transitioning team, and with post-lockout, pre-season maneuvers, it's obvious Mark Cuban's focus is on rebuilding into a totally new look team in 2012-'13. Of the pieces already gone, Tyson Chandler's fate is still a hot topic:

Those of you who felt that letting Tyson Chandler go was a huge mistake might have watched his old team and new team play basically the same game tonight and might have felt that you were watching a colossal waste. Others, fortified by the offseason to come, might suppose this a necessary pain.

Either way, the season tips towards its end.

For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation's NBA page.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder, 2012 NBA Playoffs Final Score: Dallas Loses 95-79

via assets.sbnation.com

There's not much else to say really.

If there was any doubt as to whether this core was finished, the Dallas Mavericks embarrassing 95-79 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 ended it.

It's hard to pick the lowest moment out of everything that happened in the second half, but letting Derek Fisher breeze to the rim with an uncontested layup in the third quarter probably qualifies.

Rick Carlisle, in an almost admirable display of stubbornness, refused to go away from his veteran guards, letting them ride out the string in the second half as the Thunder guards treated them like turnstiles.

Kevin Durant was ruthlessly efficient throughout, scoring 31 points on 11-15 shooting.

At some point in the second half, Russell Westbrook realized he could dribble into an uncontested jumper at the free-throw line at will, finishing the night with 20 points on 8-19 shooting.

Here's a fun .gif of him pounding his chest in his second half:

via assets.sbnation.com

Dirk Nowitzki, meanwhile, just couldn't get it going against an Oklahoma City team that was determined to be as physical as they possibly could be with him throughout. He finished with 17 points on 6-15 shooting.

In the end, the Mavericks performance proved their front office's lack of faith in them correct, as Dallas has to lick their wounds headed into the summer of 2012 and try to rebuild their team around Dirk one more time.

Just as the 2004 first-round loss to the Sacramento Kings closed the book on the Dirk / Nash / Finley era and the 2007 first-round loss signaled the end of the Dirk / Josh Howard / Devin Harris core, the Dirk / Terry / Kidd core was finished on Thursday night by the Thunder.

For further coverage of this game, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Mavs Moneyball.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder Halftime: Dallas Down 50-41

Rick Carlisle is dancing with the ones who brought him here.

That's the only explanation for the lineup he's thrown out on the floor for most of the first half, with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Jason Terry playing most of the minutes on the perimeter.

The veteran trio combined to shoot 6-21 from the floor while playing little defense on the Thunder guards.

Here's a fun .gif of Serge Ibaka destroying a Terry lay-up attempt:

via assets.sbnation.com

The only thing that is keeping Dallas in the game right now is the poor shooting of Oklahoma City, who besides from Kevin Durant, have gone cold in the American Airlines Center.

Durant, meanwhile, has been the story of the first half, as he's scored pretty much at will through the first 24 minutes. He has 21 points on 8-10 shooting.

DIrk Nowitzki has only scored 10 points on 4-8 shooting, and without much support from the rest of the offense, that just won't be enough to stave off a possible 3-0 deficit.

For furhter coverage of this game, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas storystream as well as Mavs Moneyball.

VIDEO: Maverics Vs. Thunder: Vince Carter Throws Down Monster Dunk

Vince Carter might not be what he used to, but that doesn't mean he forgot how to fly.

With the Mavs and Thunder playing a vital Game 3, Carter rose up and threw a monster dunk late in the first quarter in Dallas.

Check out the video:

If you prefer the GIF:

Mavericks Vs. Thunder: Game 3 Preview, TV Info And More

The Dallas Mavericks are facing a "Game 7" in Game 3, as they'll come home to American Airlines Arena to host the Oklahoma City Thunder down 0-2 in the series.

Last year Dallas only needed five games to advance past the Thunder, but now the focus will be on just getting a "W" at home. Dallas took Tuesday off and had an extended practice on Wednesday.

Despite being down 0-2, the difference in the series could be as simple as Kevin Durant hitting a game winner in Game 1, and Dirk Nowitzki missing a floater late in Game 2.

Date / Time: Thursday, May 3, 8:30 p.m. CT

Location: American Airlines Arena, Dallas, Texas

TV: TNT

Radio: 103.3 FM ESPN

Line: Dallas (-3)

For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball. For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder, be sure to check out Welcome to Loud City and join the discussion. For more on the 2012 NBA Playoffs, check out the SB Nation NBA hubpage.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder: How Dallas Can Adjust Down 2-0

Rick Carlisle has more cards than he has shown so far, but if he doesn't play them in Game 3, it will be too late.

Jason Terry: 'Game 3 Is Like Game 7'

Jason Terry has never shied away from the media -- and he's not about to do so now. With the Dallas Mavericks trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder two games to zero in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, Terry told reporters that "Game 3 is like Game 7."

The Mavericks have come painfully close to winning both Game 1 and Game 2, but unfortunately, lost both games by a combined four points.

Now, the Mavericks are desperate for a win in Game 3. No team in NBA history has ever recovered from an 0-3 series deficit, and the Mavericks don't want to find themselves trying to make history.

Dirk Nowitzki agreed with Terry's sentiment.

"I think that the odds are obviously very stacked against you," Dirk Nowitzki said when asked if he agreed with Terry's statement. "It's definitely a big game if we want to have a chance to make this a series.

Game 3 will be held in Dallas on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT.

For more on the Dallas Mavericks, head over to Mavs Moneyball and join the discussion.

Rick Carlisle Sticks With Brendan Haywood

2012 NBA Playoffs, Mavericks Vs. Thunder: Rick Carlisle Is Not Happy About The 'Dirty' Plays

Rick Carlisle has not been a happy man since the NBA's second season started for his Dallas Mavericks last Saturday. With his team in an 0-2 hole on the back of two game-winning last second shots from the second-seeded, Oklahoma City Thunder, Carlisle has got to be frustrated with how things are playing out.

However, thats not the only thing thats getting under his skin. Following a chippy Game 2, Carlisle voiced his concerns about the way the Thunder were guarding his star player, Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki and Thunder center, Kendrick Perkins engaged in a shoving match in the first quarter of Monday night's Game 2 that required officials to break it up. Both players received technical fouls on the play. This was the second time that quarter that Nowitzki had been roughed up, as Serge Ibaka had made contact with his face earlier in the stanza.

Carlisle expressed his displeasure with the events. Here's his comment via USA Today:

"I love hard-played, clean, competitive playoff series," Carlisle said to reporters. "You throw the ball up, may the best team win. The dirty (expletive) has got to stop. We don't want anybody getting hurt out there either way."

It certainly should make things interesting as the series heads back to Dallas for Game 3 on Thursday.

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder, be sure to check out Welcome to Loud City and join the discussion. For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball. For more on the 2012 NBA Playoffs, check out the SB Nation NBA hubpage.

The Problems With The Mavericks Rotation

The most frustrating part of another narrow defeat is Rick Carlisle's refusal to adjust his lineup to maximize Dallas chances of winning.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder Update: Dallas Hanging On Down 7 At The Half

The Mavericks survived a first-half offensive onslaught by the Thunder, as they trail by only 7 at half-time after Oklahoma City opened up a double-digit lead in the second quarter.

Dallas' aging veteran guards have not been able to stay in front of Russell Westbrook and James Harden, with the duo getting anywhere they want on the floor en route to 20 points and 4 assists on 6-10 shooting. The Thunder are shooting 54% from the floor.

Dirk has almost single-handedly kept Dallas in the game offensively, after seemingly being ignited by the Thunder's physical play, which culminated in a double-technical for him and Perkins after the two were in a shoving match. He has 20 points on 8-12 shooting in the first half.

The Mavericks had to downsize their line-up and go small to get their offense going, resorting to a zone with Dirk at the 5 and Shawn Marion at the 4.

The superior floor spacing around Dirk has gotten their offense going, but the line-up's lack of size defensively makes it unlikely to work over the long term.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder: Thunder Getting Physical With Dirk

2012 NBA Playoffs, Thunder Vs. Mavericks Game 2: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Dallas never trailed a series by two games during its entire run to an NBA title last year, but unless they can stop Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, they'll be faced with that deficit this year.

The Mavericks will hope to get more production from their starting lineup on Monday. Double figures in scoring from either Jason Kidd, Brendan Haywood or Delonte West could be enough to make a difference for Dallas.

Dirk Nowitzki's crew has not won a series it lost the first two games in since falling down 2-0 to Houston in 2005.

Game Time: Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT from Oklahoma City.
TV Coverage: Televised coverage can be found nationally on TNT.

For more on the Oklahoma City Thunder, be sure to check out Welcome to Loud City and join the discussion. For more on the Dallas Mavericks, check out Mavs Moneyball. For more on the 2012 NBA Playoffs, check out the SB Nation NBA hubpage.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder: Rick Carlisle Cries Foul On Game 1 Officiating

Rick Carlisle was none to pleased with what he perceived was favorable officiating for the Thunder during Dallas' 99-98 loss in Game 1.

"I've seen this for four years," Carlisle continued. "Dirk Nowitzki's the hardest guy in the league to guard because at 22 feet, if you back up and take your hands off him, he's going to make the shot. So people grab and hold him all the time. I mean, all the time. He shows incredible restraint in those areas."

True to form Thunder coach Scott Brooks denied any such favoritism by the officials towards his players and even lobbed his own complaint.

"If anything," Brooks said, "I should be complaining. We only shot 20 free throws."

For all the latest news and notes about the Mavericks playoff run, head over to Mavs Moneyball while Welcome To Loud City has everything you need to know about the Thunder.

What Did Game One Really Mean?

Dallas played Oklahoma City way closer than most people thought they would in Game 1, which makes their last-second loss all the more heart-breaking.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder Final Score: Kevin Durant's Buzzer Beater Sinks Dallas In Game 1

Kevin Durant's game-winner with 1.5 seconds remaining gave the Thunder a 99-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks and puts Oklahoma City up 1-0 in the series.

Dallas led by seven points with just under three minutes to go in the game but couldn't hold the lead. Dirk Nowtizki was magnificent late with 11 of his 25 points coming in the final five minutes of the game.

Nowitzki was 8 of 18 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line to total his 25 points. Jason Terry hit 8 of 10 off the bench and finished with 20. Shawn Marion added 17 points and eight rebounds while Vince Carter finished with 13 points and seven boards.

Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 28 points and five assists. Durant added 25 and six but was just 10 of 27 from the floor. He did however make the shot that mattered the most. Serge Ibaka gave the Thunder 22 points, six rebounds and five blocks while James Harden returned to action to score 19 off the bench.

Game 2 is on Monday and is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. CT tip off.

For all the latest news and notes about the Mavericks playoff run, head over to Mavs Moneyball while Welcome To Loud City has everything you need to know about the Thunder.

Mavericks Vs. Thunder Halftime Score: Dallas Leads Oklahoma City 51-48

The Dallas Mavericks are leading the Oklahoma City Thunder by three points at the half, 51-48. The Mavericks got a boost when Delonte West was able to suit up after suffering a stomach bug over the past few days.

Delonte West Is Questionable With Stomach Bug

The Dallas Mavericks could be down a player tonight as Delonte West is still suffering from a stomach bug that may cause him to sit out Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

West is listed as a game-time decision and if he is unable to go it will hurt the Mavericks on the defensive end of the court in their attempt to slow down the Thunders offense. West's primary defensive duties are to guard Russell Westbrook and also James Harden.

NBA Playoffs 2012: An Oklahoma City Thunder Q&A

We talk about whether James Harden has recovered from the elbow heard around the world, who the Thunder will play in crunch time and what their strategy will be on Dirk.

Rick Carlisle Calls Mavericks 'Old And Slow' Compared To Thunder

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle talked about the matchup between his team and the Oklahoma City Thunder with Galloway and Company on 103.3 ESPN Radio to talk about the matchup:

On how the Mavs matchup with the Thunder:

Look, we're old and slow and Oklahoma City is young and fast. So, you know, we're going to have to play a smart series, we're going to have to play a hard and intelligent series, and we're going to have to play to our strengths. The whole notion that we wanted Oklahoma City, it's never been about that.

On how the Mavs plan to deal with Russell Westbrook:

We want to keep Westbrook out of the paint, for sure, but you know, Harden is another guy that gets into the paint and Harden may draw more fouls per minute than anybody in basketball, including Durant and Westbrook. All three of those guys present major challenges and look we'd love Westbrook to take contested 18-foot shots, but we don't want to just give him 18-foot shots because, I mean he's making those.

Dirk On Mavericks' Mindset: 'Let It All Hang Out'

Mavericks Vs. Thunder Playoff Preview: The Matchups

Dallas can exploit many of the same weaknesses they did in last season's Western Conference Finals, but the loss of Tyson Chandler and the emergence of James Harden should ultimately swing the tide.

2012 NBA Playoff Predictions: Sporting News Picks Mavericks Over Thunder

Many are already counting out the Dallas Mavericks, saying they are too old and don't have enough weapons to keep up with the young, up-and-coming, Oklahoma City Thunder. However one writer isn't ready to give up on the defending NBA Champions.

Sean Deveney of the Sporting News likes the Mavericks to beat the Thunder as his "Upset Alert". He writes:

"Oklahoma City has championship aspirations, but before they can get there, they've got to exorcise the demon that has haunted them since last spring-Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki, who displayed individual brilliance, averaging 32.2 points and twice topping the 40-point mark, in carrying the Mavericks past the Thunder in five games in last year's conference finals. Dallas is limping into the postseason, but there is still enough talent on hand to give the Thunder a good first-round run."

If anything maturity and the leadership of the veterans may be on the side of the Mavericks as we head in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

For all the latest news and notes about the Mavericks playoff run, head over to Mavs Moneyball while Welcome To Loud City has everything you need to know about the Thunder.

2012 NBA Playoff Odds: Mavericks Are 33-1 Odds To Repeat As Champs

The quest for the Dallas Mavericks to repeat as NBA Champions begin on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but this year the Mavericks are not even favored to get out of the first round.

The Mavericks are the No. 7 seed and do not have home court advantage and with their less than stellar season this year the Mavericks are a 33-to-1 odds to repeat as champs. While the Thunder have the second best odds and are behind the Chicago Bulls are 15-to-4 to win the NBA title.

The Mavericks will need to play some of their best basketball to just get past the Thunder as they went 1-3 this year against the Thunder. The three loses were fairly close with a nine-point, four-point and a two-point loss this year.

For all the latest news and notes about the Mavericks playoff run, head over to Mavs Moneyball while Welcome To Loud City has everything you need to know about the Thunder.

Full TV Schedule For Dallas-Oklahoma City First Round Series

Below is your full game time schedule for the first round series between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Television stations and times are set through Game Four; all of the "if necessary" games are still "to be determined" in both time and broadcast network on the official NBA schedule, though this Western Conference Finals rematch between the veteran stars of the Mavs and the up-and-coming Thunder is sure to be one of the better promoted series in 2012's first round.

All times are Central:

GAME 1: Dallas at Oklahoma City: Sat., April 28, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

GAME 2: Dallas at Oklahoma City, Mon., April 30, 8:30 p.m., TNT

GAME 3: Oklahoma City at Dallas, Thu., May 3, 8:30 p.m., TNT

GAME 4: Oklahoma City at Dallas, Sat., May 5, 6:30 p.m., TNT

GAME 5: Dallas at Oklahoma City, Mon., May 7, TBD

GAME 6: Oklahoma City at Dallas, Thu., May 10, TBD

GAME 7: Dallas at Oklahoma City, Sat., May 12, TBD

For all the latest news and notes about the Mavericks playoff run, head over to Mavs Moneyball while Welcome To Loud City has everything you need to know about the Thunder.

2012 NBA Playoffs: Mavericks Slated To Face Thunder, Begin Series On Saturday

Dallas will play Oklahoma City in a rematch of the 2011 Western Conference Finals.