An early look at how to play the Lakers

Like all the Mavericks, Tyson Chandler paid close attention
to the Lakers’ first-round series against New Orleans.
 
He saw what gave the Lakers problems. And he saw situations
when they flourished. He believes the Mavericks can use that education to their
advantage.
 
“How to play them,’’ he said about what
he’d learned from the regular season and first round of the playoffs with
regard to the Lakers. “We watched the way New Orleans played them and we
can’t play a slow-paced game. If we play a slow pace, it falls right into
their hands. We got to turn it into a race and get up and down the
floor.’’
 
Chandler also believes the Mavericks are equipped to handle
that challenge, citing mental toughness as a huge improvement in the Mavericks.
 
“The Lakers are a tough team that’s going to go
at you and they execute so well,’’ he said. “But we held our
ground and sustained it.’’
 
Chandler, by the way, doesn’t put much stock in
whether people view the Mavericks as a massive underdog or not against the
Lakers.
 
“If you want to win a championship, whether people
have you picked as favored to win or picked to lose, you got to get
there,’’ he said. “I think our goal is to keep our eye on the
prize and not get caught up in what anybody says.’’
 
Eddie Sefko