30 Team Association: Mavericks-Timberwolves Preview - mmcnab91's Dynasty

mmcnab91's Dynasty Blog

30 Team Association: Mavericks-Timberwolves Preview

Posted on March 16, 2013 at 02:59 PM.

(0)

#4 Dallas Mavericks vs. #5 Minnesota Timberwolves

Game 1: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves (4/20, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Game 2: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves (4/22, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks (4/24, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks (4/26, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Game 5: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves (4/28, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Game 6: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks (5/1, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Game 7: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves (5/3, 9:30 p.m.) TV: ESPN
Games 5-7 if necessary

Matchup Preview *|* April 19, 2013

Minnesota Timberwolves
(48-34, 23-18 Away, 25-16 Home)

Dallas Mavericks
(42-40, 22-19 Home, 20-21 Away)

Stats Comparison
109.7	Points Per Game	107.6
106.8	PPG Allowed	107.5
.481	Field Goal %	.483
.388	3-Point %	.403
.854	Free Throw %	.872
44.4	Rebounds	43.9
5.5	Blocks	6.1
7.4	Steals	7.5
12.3	Turnovers	13.1

Projected Starters
Ricky Rubio	Point Guard	Darren Collison
Brandon Roy	Shooting Guard	O.J. Mayo
Andrei Kirilenko	Small Forward	Vince Carter
Kevin Love	Power Forward	Shawn Marion
Nikola Pekovic	Center	Dirk Nowitzki

Injury Report
Lazar Hayward-Sore Knee 5/12		None

Game Notes
Although Dallas is the higher seed by virtue of winning its division, Minnesota seems like the choice to move on in this matchup. Cruising to 46 wins this year, Minnesota got a full season of Ricky Rubio and Brandon Roy, All Star Kevin Love continued to produce at his normal level and center Nikola Pekovic finally came into his own. If Dallas hopes to stick with the Timberwolves in this series, they're going to need O.J. Mayo to continue his rebound season. Mayo averaged a team-leading 22 points a game, finally showing the promise that made him the second pick in the draft five years ago. Dallas is going to need Mayo and Nowitzki to outproduce Love and Pekovic for the Mavericks to be able to top Minnesota in this series.