Kobe: "I'm highly concerned"

[DJT]

LOS ANGELES -- The Dallas Mavericks might have planted a seed of doubt in the two-time defending champions' minds while stealing Game 1 and home-court advantage away from the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

"I'm highly concerned," Lakers star Kobe Bryant said after the Mavericks erased a 16-point second-half deficit for a 96-94 victory in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series. "This team can beat us. It's clear. We just have to come in ready to play Game 2."

It's also clear that the Mavericks, who have won back-to-back road games after losing 18 of their previous 20 away from American Airlines Center, believe they can beat the Lakers.

"We're not happy right now. We're not satisfied," said Jason Terry, who scored 15 points as the Mavericks' bench outscored the Lakers' bench 40-25. "We didn't play our best basketball. When we watch the film, we'll realize what we did out there wasn't that great."

Dirk Nowitzki, who led the Mavericks with 28 points and 14 rebounds, echoed those sentiments.

"It's definitely a great win for us, but if you look at their last series, they lost Game 1 and came right back and won the next two and had the series back in control," Nowitzki said. "We'd love to go for it in Game 2."

The Lakers went to Bryant five times in the final three minutes and got two points and two turnovers out of those possessions.

That included a potential game-winning 3-point attempt that bounced off the back rim at the buzzer.

"When he shot it, I didn't look," Jason Kidd said. "I was going to listen to the crowd."

But the mood in the Staples Center visitors' locker room wasn't celebratory. It was all business, with the Mavs already thinking about how they can play better in Game 2.

"You've got to make plays, and you've got to dodge some bullets," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "We did both."

Tim MacMahon covers the Mavericks for ESPNDallas.com.

 

[buzzy]

as long as they don't have 3 wins, the Lakers will be fine

/Mexi

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Even when the Mavs have four wins, the Lakers will still be fine.

 

[buzzy]

Lakers gonna be the first team to come back from a 0-4 deficit. You watch.

 

[Pugz]

lakers wont lose this series, but that game at the end was nasty.

 

[playmaker7]

They'll keep fighting no matter how bad it gets. Just watch

 

[RipCity32]

I would be worried too if I was Kobe.
Lakers look like shit.

 

[playmaker7]

I would be worried too if I was Kobe.
Lakers look like shit.

I see what you mean. At one point they looked liek they had all the control, then just like that...they take that ass whooping

 

[RipCity32]

Not even just yesterday. Dudes made the Hornets looks a lot better than they were.

 

[VC15]

Heat/Mavs NBA Finals

Called it before, calling it again.

 

[.infamous]

Heat/Mavs NBA Finals

Called it before, calling it again.

Heat would win that.

 

[cruzg24]

Those Mavericks are going to give the Lakers a huge fight because they already hate them. And even if the Lakers come back and win this series, its going to take so much out of them they wont be able to win it all this year.

 

[Pugz]

its still nice that the league has TWO heavyweight battles going on in the semis.

 

[RipCity32]

^ Sarcasm?

I'd rather see that in the conference finals.

 

[Pugz]

no. this will help ratings wise and make them more money. lol

 

[Mooche]

Yeah, I'd be a tad bit concerned.. But Kobe is a leader, he'll try and rally the troops. It'll be very key to see how they bounce back this next game.

 

[$tunna]

Even when the Mavs have four wins, the Lakers will still be fine.

Indeed lol

 

[DJT]

lol still everybody counting the mavs out...just wait. Then you will all say they got lucky or I knew they could do it...

 

[Elite]

Lol, the Lakers are so bad

 

[Mexi]

lol still everybody counting the mavs out...just wait. Then you will all say they got lucky or I knew they could do it...

it's funny cause game 3 is a must win for Dallas lol