2015 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference First Round Previews and Predictions

Apr 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

(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

(2) Houston Rockets vs (7) Dallas Mavericks

Key Matchups: James Harden vs …uhh…uhh

Season Series: Rockets won 3-1

Mavericks

No one outside of the Dallas area believes in this Mavericks team anymore. The Mavs offense has gotten significantly worse since they traded from Rajon Rondo — that’s not a small sample size anymore — and their defense isn’t good enough to compete for a championship (17th in the NBA).

The addition of Amar’e Stoudemire after the NBA all-star break was nice, but it wasn’t enough. And it certainly won’t be against the Rockets. This is not a great matchup for Dallas. Simply because they don’t really have anyone that can guard James Harden.

If all else fails, at some point in the series, we’ll probably see Rondo get the assignment if that’s not the plan from the first jump.

Rockets

Similarly, like the Mavericks, there aren’t many believers in the Rockets either. However, that’s mostly because of their own doing. They’ve come up short in the playoffs before — and again and again and again and again.

On top of that, Harden, of all people, hasn’t individually performed well, either. During the last years, Harden has shot 38 percent from the field. Quite frankly, he’s just come up short.

However, he’s going to have the matchup to quickly correct that — and quiet the naysayers. There’s no one on the Mavs team that can lockdown Harden. He could potentially have his way, offensively, in this first round, breaking out of his recent playoff funk.

And he will.

Prediction: Rockets in 5

Next: Clippers vs Spurs