Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks have been unbeaten in the Playoffs since losing to Portland in game four of the first round. Photo courtesy of the AP.

I know that the Rip City Project is a Blazer blog, and I also know that the Blazers’ season is over. But since last Sunday was a historic day for basketball, I felt like I had to add my two cents to the story that is the Dallas Mavericks’ sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers. And to be honest, Portland was the last team to beat the Dallas Mavericks in these Playoffs, and every Blazer fan’s second favorite team is who ever is playing LA, so the Mavericks/Lakers story is at least somehow Blazer related.

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These two teams faced off a little over two weeks ago, a 101-89 Portland victory. Since then Dallas has won 4 of 6, with two home losses to Orlando and Oklahoma City. Portland meanwhile has won 5 of 6, so both teams are coming in with their heads up. You know Dallas’ personnel by now so you know they are incredibly talented. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Caron Butler all have the ability to steal your soul. So talent is not their problem. Dallas’ problem this year has been consistency. Since the All-Star Break, some games they have been tremendous and others they have been mediocre. Seriously…just look at their recent stretch. One day they lose by 12 to us, a couple days later they beat Denver by 16, then they get blown out at home by Orlando. They are like that girl in college who is super attractive but for some reason she shows up to a class looking a beast…they just shouldn’t do the things they do sometimes.

The keys to that win over Dallas two weeks ago were…..de-fense, clap clap. Portland was excellent in rotating, taking things away and playing great defense as a unit. That will have to continue tonight as I’m sure Dallas will be more prepared for a stronger Blazer defensive team. Portland has held opponents to 90 or below in 7 of their last 9 games, losing only one of those games (at Phoenix). The personnel is there to frustrate Dirk and co….but Portland has to be prepared for others to step up. Jason Terry in particular fancies sticking it to the Blazers and if you recall Caron Butler not only killed us last time, but he got in a cussing match with a fan and lost some dough. He might decide to show up in Portland to kick ass and chew straws…and he might be all out of straws. The defense needs to be there and Portland needs to be in attack mode. I know we have guys who can hit the mid-range but I’d like to see a little more aggression in attacking the basket. And then…there is the bench. *sigh*.

This is a playoff preview of sorts, not just because these two teams may match up in the first round but simply because these are two playoff level teams playing for something. It should be fun to watch. I firmly believe that Dallas is the ideal first round opponent for the Blazers, and while the seeding may make that tough to happen…let’s hope the Blazers prove me right tonight.

Now it’s time for some show and tell. Jimmy brought his frog, Susie brought her dad’s Ken Griffey Jr. autographed baseball and we brought some defensive possessions of one of Portland’s best wire-to-wire defensive games of the season. Let’s take a look.

Defensive Possession One: We’ll start things off early in the first quarter. It’s not a great defensive stand, but it does show the Blazers being aware of what the offense is doing early on in the game. Watch which way their heads are looking, and how far they sink in the middle to be ready to help.

Just before Andre Miller gets picked off by Dampier, everyone is in ideal help position. You would like to see Camby show a little more, as in jump out and meet Butler coming off the screen, but Butler passed it off quickly and Camby stays with him in the post as Miller recovers. This is the correct decision. Dampier gets open on the elbow extended but, that not being his range, has to take a dribble and a Rudy-floater in the lane with Camby sliding in front of him. Good example of giving the right attention to the right people.

Click through for more video analysis of Portland’s defensive possessions and Dirk Nowitzki getting away with a forehead slapper.