The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks tip off tonight at STAPLES Center in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

The two teams have been powerhouses in the West over the last decade (albeit this Mavericks squad has yet to win a championship) and yet neither team has matched up for a playoff series.

Since Dirk Nowitzki joined the Mavericks in 1999, the Lakers have been to the NBA Finals seven times with five rings to show for it.  Dallas advanced to the Finals in 2006 but after taking a 2-0 lead over the Miami HEAT, the Mavericks lost the next four.

Although Kobe Bryant and Nowitzki have never battled in the postseason, the two franchises have met three times in the playoffs, all Lakers wins (’84, ’86 and ’88).

Since the 2006 Finals, the Mavericks have been knocked out in the first round three times.  In 2009, they were ousted in the second by the Denver Nuggets.

Defeating the back-to-back champion Lakers would be a huge success for a Dallas franchise that regularly wins 55 games or more but always seems to fall flat in the postseason.

Through six games in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas averaged 93.3 points a game while shooting 45.5% from the field. 

Across the board the numbers between the Mavericks and Blazers were relatively similar but one stat that jumps out is Dallas’ 38% shooting percentage from three-point range.  In contrast, Portland hit just 30% and that might have been the key difference.

The Blazers managed 88.2 points a night in a series that almost went five games instead of six, were it not for a stunning Portland comeback from down 23 in Game 4.

It also took the Lakers six games to get past the New Orleans Hornets, who gave Los Angeles more trouble than many expected behind Chris Paul’s tremendous series.

The Lakers averaged 96.5 points a game on 46.3% shooting with a solid 36.7% from three.  L.A. yielded 89.3 points nightly on 45.7% shooting (32.1% from three) which is similar to what Portland was able to do against Dallas.

The Mavericks are led by their MVP, Nowitzki, who averaged 27.3 points a game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 44.4% from three.  Jason Terry was their second scorer at 17.3 points off the bench.

If three-point shooting was the difference for Dallas, Jason Kidd (39.5%), Peja Stojakovic (41.9%), DeShawn Stevenson (40.0%), Terry (36.0%) and Dirk were all responsible.

Kidd at 11.7 points, Shawn Marion at 10.5 and Stojakovic at 9.5 rounded out five double-digit scorers in total (well, almost in the case of Peja).

Against the Lakers, the Mavericks will need strong defensive outings from big men Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood and to a lesser extent Dirk Nowitzki and even Brian Cardinal.

The Lakers had six scorers at nine points or higher against the Hornets including Bryant’s 22.5, Andrew Bynum’s 15.2, Pau Gasol’s 13.5, Lamar Odom’s 12.0, Ron Artest’s 11.8 and Derek Fisher’s 9.3.

Defensively the Lakers will have to find a way to slow down Nowitzki which will probably fall to Gasol, Odom and possibly Artest.

Nowitzki’s outside game may make him a difficult cover for Bynum, who has truly blossomed as a defensive anchor in the paint for the Lakers.

While Gasol struggled against the Hornets (shooting 41.8%), Bynum emerged as the team’s second option offensively while shooting 55.6% from the field.

Given that Nowitzki is not the strongest of defenders, Pau may re-emerge while Andrew battles against greater length (than New Orleans’ Emeka Okafor) in Chandler.

Surprisingly, Fisher won’t be the oldest point guard on the floor.  While Derek is still a productive player, at 36-years old he’s not exactly quick (not that he was very fast at 26).

He’ll be playing opposite 38-year old Kidd, who has also slowed. 

Jason is still a productive player who helps orchestrate the Mavericks’ attack but at least Fisher won’t be trying to keep up with the lighting-quick guards who often give him trouble.  Of course the same can be said of Kidd . . .

The Mavericks do have J.J. Barea, Rodrigue Beaubois (still recovering from an ankle injury) and Terry who can bother the Lakers with their speed in the backcourt.

Dallas will have to find a way to counter Bryant, who has historically been a problem for the Mavericks.

Unfortunately it appears that Caron Butler won’t be available for the series after a midseason knee injury.  It will likely fall upon a combination of Stevenson, Marion and Kidd to try and slow Kobe down.

There are some teams that can absorb huge nights from Bryant and still best the Lakers.  Dallas, to date, hasn’t been one of those teams . . .

Given that the Lakers and Mavericks haven’t met in the playoffs since the 1980s, there isn’t a lot of history to base a rivalry on but Mark Cuban and Phil Jackson have playfully thrown jabs at each other through the years.

Jason Terry and Matt Barnes have some bad blood after the last meeting of the two teams when five players were ejected (a few minor tussles).

It will be interesting to see how the series unfolds.  It’s imperative for the Mavericks to steal a game in Los Angeles, preferably for Dallas the first one.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Jackson has never lost a series when his team wins the opener and the Lakers are hoping to send Phil into retirement with his fourth three-peat.

If there’s no split, the Lakers may get the series in five games.

If Dallas can get one of the two, they’d have a real shot to win if they manage to hold home court for Game 3 and 4.

Prediction:  Lakers in 6.

NBA Postseason Power Rankings – Week 3

5/2/11 – Half of the teams are gone as the NBA Playoffs advances to the second round.  The Memphis Grizzlies continue their impressive run, after taking out the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, with a road win in Oklahoma City.  The Boston Celtics fail to steal the opener in Miami.  The HEAT will have the opportunity on Tuesday to hold home court before the series shifts to Boston.  The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks tip off on Monday as do the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.  Can Atlanta survive a Kirk Hinrich hamstring injury that may keep him out the entire series?  The NBA Playoffs, three weeks in . . .

Memphis Grizzlies (5-2)

Are the Grizzlies the best team left in the postseason?  Maybe, maybe not . . . but they’ve won twice on the road and have yet to lose at home.  They knocked out the Spurs and looked exceptional against a very strong Thunder squad.

Miami HEAT (5-1)

The HEAT, led by the guy who has the hardware (Dwyane Wade), took it to the Celtics in Game 1.  It was difficult to judge Miami by the series against the Philadelphia 76ers but the win over Boston on Sunday was impressive.

Chicago Bulls (4-1)

The Bulls have some health issue of their own with both Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer banged up a bit but they should be able to take advantage of the inconsistent Hawks in the second round.

Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)

The Lakers had a very bumpy start to the postseason but now, six games in, look like the team that won two-straight titles.  Will that continue against the Mavericks?

Dallas Mavericks (4-2)

The Mavericks have a lot to prove and can do so with a series win over the Lakers.  That’s not going to be easy . . .

Atlanta Hawks (4-2)

Do the Hawks go with Jeff Teague?  Jamal Crawford?  Kirk Hinrich was a major part of why Atlanta advanced past the first round.

Boston Celtics (4-2)

The Celtics weren’t going to win two in Miami.  It was going to be either one or zero and they’ll give the HEAT everything they can handle on Tuesday.

Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2)

The Grizzlies play defense but the Thunder managed 101 points, so beyond a tough shooting night for Russell Westbrook – OK City has to look at what happened on the other side of the ball (114 points allowed).

New Orleans Hornets (2-4)

The Hornets were an admirable underdog vs. the Lakers, led by Chris Paul who averaged 22 points, 11.5 assists and shot 54.5% from the field and 47.4% from three.

Portland Trail Blazers (2-4)

Portland battled the Mavericks but just couldn’t get the Brandon Roy from Game 4 as often as they needed.

San Antonio Spurs (2-4)

Unexpected.  Understandable but unexpected.

Orlando Magic (2-4)

It doesn’t matter what the Magic do or say – or what Dwight Howard does or says – the speculation will be rampant . . .

Indiana Pacers (1-4)

Coach Frank Vogel may have gotten rid of the interim tag after giving the Chicago Bulls a tough (albeit short) series.

Philadelphia 76ers (1-4)

The Sixers played with a ton of heart against the HEAT but how much upside is there in this particular core?  That’s what Philadelphia has to come to terms with (either way) this offseason.

Denver Nuggets (1-4)

The Nuggets are done for the year.  Free agents include Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler (restricted) and Arron Afflalo (restricted).  Also, Nene can opt out of his $11.6 million for next season . . . but would prefer a long-term extension if the Nuggets will give it to him.

New York Knicks (0-4)

The New York Knicks decide to keep Chauncey Billups at $14.2 million, guaranteeing him another $10.5 million because they weren’t going to find anything close to a replacement this summer.