The Los Angeles Lakers blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter in the first game of their second round series against the Dallas Mavericks.  Kobe Bryant had 36 points in the loss, and failed to hit what would have been the game-winning shot.

As a Lakers fan, the start to this series scares me.  The Mavericks are a very good team with a lot of very savvy veterans.  Their bench has been very consistent averaging 40 points per game.  The Lakers have been up and down so far in the playoffs.  It seems like one night they look like the defending champs, and the next night they play down to their competition.

Pau Gasol needs to step up and play like the All-Star that he is.  When he is playing up to his full potential, he is one of the most dangerous power forwards in the league.

Dirk Nowitzki has played extremely well this year, and is also one of the best big men in the league.  Nowitzki has struggled traditionally against the Lakers, however, in a seven game series, the match-up of Nowitzki and Gasol is an interesting one.  On the one hand, Gasol has the advantage down low in the post, but Nowitzki can play more on the perimeter, which makes the defensive assignment for each a difficult one.

If the Mavericks can protect their home court against the Lakers, who are one of the best road playoff teams in the league, then the Mavericks may be the favorite to come out of the west and move on to the championship round.