Dallas at Los Angeles

A bit of the star-power is missing from this game. Dirk Nowitzki will be out, and it is likely that Kobe Bryant will sit this one out as well. That will certainly have a greater impact on Dallas. While the Lakers have fortified what was already a good team by adding more star power in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Add in Pao Gasol, and the Lakers have plenty of answers. The Mavs may be a bit out of sorts without Nowitzki to give them a lift when they need a hoop. Dallas appears to be in flux, and all that remains from their championship season is Shawn Marion, and the idle Nowitski. Los Angeles has really amped it up vs. the Mavs, winning all four of their regular season matchups a year ago. They have now won 14 of the last 17 regular season tilts. The Mavericks have a lot of question marks to start the season, while the Lakers have a lot of answers, and finally have a quality point guard to make the right decisions. Play on the Lakers.