Dirk NOWITZKI aka the DIGGLER and Joe JOHNSON aka JOJO.........come up Big for the MAVS and HAWKS respectively to take all important GAME 1

The Dallas MAVERICKS are the ONLY ONES who think they are better than the Los Angeles LAKERS and after GAME 1 that notion has definitely picked up some followers.

It took the MAVS nearly 4 quarters to finally get over the hump and shock the LAKESHOW and Kobe BRYANT to take a 1-0 series advantage. And now the MAVS are looking for GAME 2 to really put the pressure on the LAKERS.

The MAVS All-Star and probably the best known athlete in GERMANY right now.......the DIGGLER.......Dirk NOWITZKI was simply unstoppable and the LAKERS are either going to have to let DIRK be DIRK....and shut the water off everywhere else.......or take Andrew BYNUM out of the Starting LINE-UP and let Dirk play against the LAKERS 6'10" Forward Lamar "LO7" ODOM simply to make DIRK play Defense.

The 2 biggest key in GAME 1 were the MAVS Rebounding and the BENCH.....which I pointed out a post or two ago.......the MAVS have the advantage here...simply based on getting huge production from not only Jason "JET" TERRY but guys like JJ BEREA, Brendan HAYWOOD, Peja STOJAKOVIC, and GAME 1's Player of the GAME off the BENCH.......KNICKS cast-off Corey BREWER.......who looking at what he did MONDAY NIGHT......the KNICKS or SPIKE LEE could've have used him somewhere........not saying any names KICKS BRASS.

SIMPLY PUT........If the LAKERS expect KOBE to get 36 or more every game of this SERIES......they will be GOIN' HOME rather quickly.

A Well-rested BULLS Team waited about a week to see if those same ATLANTA HAWKS they played in MARCH were game to get SWEPT in 4..........Well you can cancel that post game show as the HAWKS get 34 from the most underrated player in the association "JOJO" Joe JOHNSON, although you couldn't tell from his behemoth MAX Contract he received last summer, and get 22 from Former BULLS 1st rounder Jamal CRAWFORD, from Rainier BEACH Seattle Washington area via MAIZE and BLUE one and out, and both combined to shoot 7-9 from the 3point line with JOJO going 5-5.

The BULLS looked a little slow outside the gate and a bad shooting night from NBA MVP Derrick ROSE and a lackluster effort from the Front line of the BULLS.......they now a face a 0-1 deficit and these HAWKS will not back down.

The HAWKS have 3 of the 4 best players in this series when you start talking JOJO, Al HORFORD, and J-SMOOVE Josh SMITH.....and can easily say JAMAL Crawford is maybe #6...REALLY. The HAKWS pose a lot of problems with their SIZE and versatility and NBA Coach of the YEAR Bulls Head Man Tom THIBODEAU and STAFF have their work cut out now the HAWKS got a taste of Winning Formula vs the BULLS.

THE BULLS will have to be more effiecient in their transition Defense, close-out on the HAWKS shooters better, and execxute better in their half-court sets.......and Carlos BOOZER must be involved heavily.......PERIOD.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday May 4 at the UNITED CENTER, the 2nd MADHOUSE on MADISON...and the BULLS and their newly-crowned MVP must handle business because PEACHTREE Street awaits them on FRIDAY and they have no shot if they got to the DIRTY down 0-2.

Big UPS to Jeff TEAGUE formerly of Indinaplois PIKE HS and the Wake Forest DEMON DEACONS........ he played rather well MONDAY.......and I called it......his Speed and Quickness for the HAWKS posed a little bit of a problem for the BULLS as they have not seen the 2nd year guard in any of the 3 previous meetings.