Defending Champion Mavericks are the First to Fall in the 2012 NBA Playoffs

Whenever you see clips of the first episode of a new reality show you always see someone talk about not wanting to be the first person voted off. Why? Being the first to officially lose sucks.

The same can be said for the NBA playoffs. Much like those reality shows, there has to be someone that loses first. This season it is the defending NBA champions, the Dallas Mavericks.

With a 103-97 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home Saturday night the Mavericks were swept in a seven game series for the first time in franchise history. They appeared to be on the right track for a win at the start of the final period after going off in the third to take a 13-point lead. However, the Thunder countered by outscoring Dallas 35-16 in the fourth to secure the win.

Oklahoma City will get a little rest as they await the outcome of the Lakers/Nuggets series. Los Angeles beat Denver 92-88 on Sunday to take a 3-1 series lead. They will look to wrap the series up on Tuesday.

For Dallas it is time to wonder if maybe they should have tried a little harder to hold onto guys like the new Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler if they really wanted to win another title. Dallas owner Mark Cuban has blamed the new collective bargaining agreement and the increased penalties for big spending teams for the personnel decisions.

Fans will find out after the season whether money will be an issue for the team this off-season. Should they expect to land either Deron Williams and/or Dwight Howard, Cuban better be ready to open the coffers.

Article by Travis Pulver