Schedule announced:
Sat, Mon, Thur, Sat, Mon, Thur, Sat

Game 1: Saturday, 8:30PM CT

If the Champs can get a split in the first 2 games then it will be an epic 7 game series.

Milking it for one last drop are we?

I'll find a way to milk this all the way to the new trophy ceremony regardless.

Game 1: Sat April 28 Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Game 2: Mon April 30 Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 3: Thu May 3 Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:30 p.m. TNT
Game 4: Sat May 5 Oklahoma City at Dallas 6:30 p.m. TNT
Game 5: Mon May 7 Dallas at Oklahoma City TBD TBD
Game 6: Thu May 10 Oklahoma City at Dallas TBD TBD
Game 7: Sat May 12 Dallas at Oklahoma City TBD TNT

Regular Season is over

Thunder in 5

This gon' be good

Is the 830 times central?

If so, I hate the NBA. We are not on the west coast; this is central time.

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On further review, I sound like a 90 year old.

It's the curse of the 6:00/8:30 TV double-header - we almost always get the later game.

Looking forward to it. I love the Mavs (more than Rangers/Cowboys) but I'll gladly root for the Thunder the rest of the way if they beat us. If OKC doesn't make it to the Finals then they have to fire Scott Brooks.

Go Mavs!

The champs.

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If OKC doesn't make it to the Finals then they have to fire Scott Brooks.

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That's pretty damn harsh and I respectfully disagree. Brooks isn't a hall of fame coach, but he's not average either. OKC would be hard pressed to find someone substantially better who would take the job. They will get to a finals at some point if they keep that team and staff intact. What they don't need is some sort of reactionary BS attitude about coaching change.

Besides, the Thunder aren't even the favorites to get out of the West at this moment. There's this group of hall of famers, looking for a final hurrah, that could possibly screw it up for them.

I'm not counting the Thunder out, and they could very well win it all this year. But don't act like it's finals or bust for a team that has demonstrated significant improvement each year.

Phil Jackson to OKC??????

[This message has been edited by TexAgs1992 (edited 4/28/2012 9:31a).]

OKC, as currently assembled, should be able to beat any team in the west this year in a seven game series. The West is extremely weak and IMO, OKC, is the only western team that could actually beat Miami or Chicago. It all comes down to Brooks and his offense. We saw last year against Dallas just how stagnant it could be and his coaching really crippled OKC in that series. Brooks is the 2012 version of the 1989 Doug Collins.

Interesting stats I saw today. OKC leads the league in turnovers (and Durant has more than Westbrook). But they have the 2nd most efficient offense, because they are also near the top in FTA and FG%.

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Besides, the Thunder aren't even the favorites to get out of the West at this moment. There's this group of hall of famers, looking for a final hurrah, that could possibly screw it up for them.

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Thunder were the clear favorites for the whole year all the way up to the end when the Spurs went on a run. Doesn't help Brooks' case.

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The West is extremely weak

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This shows exactly how little you know about NBA basketball.

Sure lots of good teams but no GREAT teams. Heck name me one West champion since 1999 that the 2012 Spurs could beat. The only one I can think of is the 2006 Mavs and that team beat the 2006 Spurs when Duncan was in his prime. OKC is the only team that can challenge Miami or Chicago. The Spurs will be exposed just like last year. It may be in Round 1 or it could be in the Finals.

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The Spurs will be exposed just like last year.

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Once again showing why you don't know a damn thing.

There's a reason why even the talking heads at ESPN and TNT are now saying the Spurs are the favorite to win it all. People like you are in denial and didn't really watch the playoffs last year.

The Spurs played with 2 of their best 3 players extremely injured last year through April, and they still took the Grizzlies to 6 games. Manu couldn't use his arm and Duncan was playing on one mediocre leg.


Also, the LA Lakers might have something to say about who wins the west this year too. If they can get their team healthy in a couple weeks, they will give OKC a really competitive, possibly down to the wire series. I'm not counting a team out that has as much talent as the Lakers do. They could be a scary matchup for any NBA team if they are clicking.

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Heck name me one West champion since 1999 that the 2012 Spurs could beat.

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This isn't even relevant to a discussion on why the Thunder should or shouldn't be considered a lock to win the WCF sans consideration of coaching.

This is 2012. I don't think any current teams in the entire league would beat any of the west champions from 1999-2005, but that's not something I can support with any kind of real argument besides the same one that you just pulled out of your ass. So why even bother.

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There's a reason why even the talking heads at ESPN and TNT are now saying the Spurs are the favorite to win it all. People like you are in denial and didn't really watch the playoffs last year.

The Spurs played with 2 of their best 3 players extremely injured last year through April, and they still took the Grizzlies to 6 games. Manu couldn't use his arm and Duncan was playing on one mediocre leg.

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So all the ESPN experts picked the Grizzlies to win last year? The #1 seed was just lucky to take it to 6 games? Who's in denial?

The West is indeed wide open this year. The Spurs late resurgence was fueled by depth and youth, which is unique to the crazy lockout schedule and doesn't have as much of an impact in playoff basketball.

The Thunder blew the #1 seed after having a huge early lead, not unlike the 2003 Mavs who basically quit on their coach (or had the coach quit on them depending how you look at it)

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So all the ESPN experts picked the Grizzlies to win last year? The #1 seed was just lucky to take it to 6 games? Who's in denial?

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Many of them did pick Memphis last year, I swear to god you people don't pay attention to ****. Nearly a third of them were taking Memphis. Hell, even about a quarter of all Spurs fans expected to lose.

[This message has been edited by aggie_2001_2005 (edited 4/28/2012 3:55p).]

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Many of them did pick Memphis last year, I swear to god you people don't pay attention to ****. Nearly a third of them were taking Memphis

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Link?

[This message has been edited by Internetfan02 (edited 4/28/2012 4:06p).]

Enough with Spurs fans and their revisionist history.

Mavs as close to full strength as they've been. Delonte will play after 24 hour illness brought on by oysters (wtf). I assume Harden back for OKC.

This game is also on ESPN360.com for those who are not around tv.

"old and slow" lol - What an a-hole.

They just aren't going to call any contact on Dirk are they.

Oh dear. abuse of the elderly

Joey Crawford reffing tonight. Keep attacking, Dirk and let Crawford work his magic

Vince checks in for Dirk. Taking the peja role as Marion shifts to PF

Dallas's defense is looking good so far.

Maybe it is the familiarity with seeing these teams, but after watching parts of 3 EC games today, these two teams just seem better.

I agree with that. Definitely less disparity.

Fisher checks in. Sub in roddy B?

That Knicks Heat game was a travesty. Makes you appreciate the great teams in the West.