Playoff Breakdown: Thunder vs. Mavericks

Grant Belcher, News9.com

Starting Lineups

PG: Russell Westbrook vs. Jason Kidd – Westbrook can blow by Kidd at will, meaning Dallas will likely try other options such as Delonte West and Shawn Marion on him.

SG: Thabo Sefolosha vs. Delonte West – Sefolosha doesn't have a typical superstar small forward to shut down in this series, but he'll be crucial in slowing the explosive Jason Terry off the bench.

SF: Kevin Durant vs. Shawn Marion – Marion has given Durant problems in the past, but as time goes by, Durant is inching ever closer to the "unguardable" category.

PF: Serge Ibaka vs. Dirk Nowitzki – Though Nowitzki has fallen off a bit this year, he was in the "unguardable" during last year's West Finals. It will take a team effort to help Serge with this one.

C: Kendrick Perkins vs. Brendan Haywood – Look for Perkins to help off the less talented Haywood often to help stop Nowitzki in the post.

Why OKC SHOULD Win

The Thunder are, quite simply, more talented than the Mavericks across the board. This year has a different feel than last year when the Mavs went on to become world champions. And they are missing an absolutely crucial piece of that roster in Tyson Chandler. Plus, Lamar Odom's breakdown doesn't help things in a strange year for Dallas. The Mavs' best perimeter defender, Shawn Marion, can only guard one player at a time, meaning Durant or Westbrook should always be going to town on the Dallas defense.

Why Dallas COULD Win

Nobody in Oklahoma City is about to forget what happened in last year's Western Conference Finals. Dirk Nowitzki went into otherworldly mode and started hitting shots no one had seen before. He averaged 32 points on 56 percent shooting (97 percent from the free-throw line) against the Thunder. Nowitzki came out of nowhere to do that last year, but he would have to come even further out of nowhere this year to do it again, as he is having quite the down season. But no one can count him out and breathe easily until he is officially out of the playoffs.

Most Important Player

This one is a tie. The easy answer is Dirk Nowitzki, because he is still one of the toughest players in the league to guard. Nothing that the Thunder threw at him last year, from Ibaka to Durant to Perkins to Collison, was able to slow him down even a little bit. Nowitzki isn't the same player he was last year, but the Mavericks will rely on him all game, every game unless OKC shows it can stop him. The other player to watch is sixth man James Harden for the Thunder. Everyone will be waiting to see how he performs coming off the concussion felt ‘round the world. But Harden will be expected to not only score his usual numbers, but also play a key role in defending Jason Terry.

Best Matchup

Kevin Durant vs. Shawn Marion. Marion is a stout, strong and pesky defender. He loves to get up and underneath players, which is precisely the type of defender that seems to be the most effective against Durant. And with Durant's "rip move" outlawed by the NBA this year, there will be nothing to keep Marion from playing right up against Durant the entire series. However, Durant is a more effective player in almost every aspect than he was last year, and he will have to remember to move around without the ball and make effective passes to keep the Thunder offense flowing.

What Happened This Season

Oklahoma City won three out of four games this season, including the thrilling third game of the season when Durant's buzzer beater dropped the Mavs, 104-102. Dallas' only win against the Thunder this year came on Jan. 2 when they won by 13 points. That win against the Thunder came in Dallas, where the two teams split two games this year. Oklahoma City was 2-0 against the Mavs at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

What Happened Last Year

The Mavericks topped the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals four games to one last season thanks to "Dirkules" coming out of nowhere to play like the best player in the world for a series. He scored 48 points in one of the games and 40 in another, all on incredible shooting percentages. The Thunder had the Mavericks down in multiple games, but Dallas always found a way to claw back into it and ended up taking the series in convincing fashion before going on to claim the NBA title.

Coaching Corner

If Oklahoma City's Scott Brooks wants to earn a spot among the elite coaches in the league, he will have to prove it in this year's playoffs. Durant's game winner against the Mavericks in the third game of the season is a perfect example. Durant hit a long, fadeaway 3-pointer on the final inbound pass out of a timeout that made for a dramatic finish. But for every one of those dramatic, long shots that Durant hits, there are numerous others that don't go in, all of which seemed to be the standard end-of-game play that Brooks draws up in the closing stages. Brooks can prove his coaching prowess by drawing up plays that take advantage of mismatches in this series, of which there will be plenty for OKC. And if a game comes down to the final stages, it might be time for Brooks to think of a more creative way to get Durant the ball, or else go away from him altogether.

Youth vs. Experience

It was one of the big storylines last year: Dallas' old age and experience against the Thunder's youthful energy and lack of experience. Understandably, each player for these teams is a year older than they were last year. But the funny thing is, that means something different for each team. Dallas is a year older, meaning their veterans are a tiny step slower and get worn down slightly easier. OKC is year older, meaning its young players have another year of valuable experience under their belts. Dallas' average age of its starters is more than 33 years old. The Thunder's average starting age? Barely 24 years old.