One of the biggest benefits of taking care of business in the first round is the added rest you can give your injured players, which is why the Oklahoma City Thunder's sweep of the Dallas Mavericks could be a big deal in their efforts to reach the NBA Finals.
Kendrick Perkins Injury: No Timetable For Thunder Center’s Return
Thunder center Kendrick Perkins left in the first quarter of their Game 4 victory with a hip strain, and it's still unclear when he will be able to return:
Thunder say center Kendrick Perkins has a right hip muscle strain and didn't specify when he would return to action.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 7, 2012
While he didn't contribute much against the Mavericks, his ability to defend the low post will be absolutely essential in a possible second-round series against the LA Lakers.
For updates and perspective on the Oklahoma City Thunder, head on over to Welcome to Loud City.
See More:
