2011 NBA Finals: Mavs V. Heat, part deux

[Lamrock]

Heat in 6. I would be elated to see Dirk and co. somehow defeat Miami and get their rings but I don't see it.

[Axel The Great]

Lol, refs in 6. I picked Mavs in 7. I think Dirk will continue to play the way he's been playing these playoffs. The Mavs' second unit can easily outdo the Heat's. Wonder how well Marion can guard LeBron in this series; I thought he did an excellent job guarding KD in the WCF. Team defense will be essential for Dallas. Either way, I'm expecting a hard fought series, hopefully another 7-game Finals, and I'm happy that the Lakers aren't present.

Time for Dirk and Kidd to get the championship that's eluded them their whole careers.

[deihatein]

Fuck you Lamecock, so Mavs in 7.

[Axel]

Miami in 7. I think Miami's perimeter defense is the best the Mavericks have had to go up against so far in the playoffs. Dirk will be unstoppable, but it will not be enough so long as the Heat lock down on everyone else. It will be an interesting match up. I would have favored Dallas because of their bench depth, but with Miller and Haslem coming around, Miami looks very much poised to win it all. Dallas really is missing Caron Butler right now.

[Oznogrd]

Are the Heat the new lakers? Celtics? I mean jeez has anything been done like this ever? How great are they? I bet they win 82 games next year...

Ok i've gotta stop trolling before I want to punch myself.

I just dont see the Mavs hanging with 'em. I'd rather the Mavs win because I want to see Dirk with a ring, but everyt brain cell i have tells me Miami is going to back up 20% of the hype (they still have 6 more championships to go)

[benji]

Are the Heat the new lakers? Celtics? I mean jeez has anything been done like this ever? How great are they? I bet they win 82 games next year...

Ok i've gotta stop trolling before I want to punch myself.

Wait, but:

And everything Jeff Van Gundy says go out the window and the people who didnt drink the koolaid are proven right.

And because it's also from back then:

the odds of me not visiting this forum today were very slim, and now none cause here i am. for no real reason it seems, just to be here see what the vibe is like you know? figured all the miami fans would be super pumped after the unstoppable juggernaut that is the miami heat played their first real game. however....................

[Andrew]

Still think Derrick Choke is the MVP

So much for this, eh?

Funnily enough, I wanted the Heat to win in 2006 but I'd rather see Dirk and Kidd get a ring this time around. I think they can do it too, the Mavericks aren't nearly as offensively challenged as the Bulls and the Eastern Conference Finals was a bit closer than the 4-1 series win would suggest. I'll be bold and say Dallas in five.

[Lamrock]

dei.,

Andrew, You know I couldn't resist.

[rayallen20]

Mavs in 7. Dirk will catch fire as usual and who in miami could guard dirk? LeBron? maybe. I hope Marion can carry his momentum from last game and get his groove back. Will marion be able to guard lebron or at least make every shot tough for him? Chandler will be big. Inside presence and offensive rebounding.

[Alpha_]

Heat in Game 6

[kibaxx7]

Heat in 6 games, but hopefully the series go the full seven games.

[Axel]

Still think Derrick Choke is the MVP

So much for this, eh?

Funnily enough, I wanted the Heat to win in 2006 but I'd rather see Dirk and Kidd get a ring this time around. I think they can do it too, the Mavericks aren't nearly as offensively challenged as the Bulls and the Eastern Conference Finals was a bit closer than the 4-1 series win would suggest. I'll be bold and say Dallas in five.

I'm not sure what series you watched. The Bulls caught the Heat napping in Game 1, but after Game 1, Miami manned up on the boards and kept Rose and everyone else in check. They did this with Dwyane Wade playing poorly 85% of the time. Four games in a row against a team most people were picking to win is quite an achievement, and an epic comeback on the road! Now the Heat will have homecourt advantage.

I really don't see anyone on the Mavericks who the Heat should be fearful of other than Dirk. Wade/LeBron/Miller are long enough and active enough to keep Terry, Barea, and the other role players in check. I think as long as the Heat stay at home on the shooters, and avoid fouling Dirk - just make him work hard for his points - they can contain this team easier than Chicago.

I also expect the Heat to utilize JJ more in this series, since they don't have to worry about him being in a PnR with Dallas' front court.

[Andrew]

I'm not sure what series you watched. The Bulls caught the Heat napping in Game 1, but after Game 1, Miami manned up on the boards and kept Rose and everyone else in check. They did this with Dwyane Wade playing poorly 85% of the time. Four games in a row against a team most people were picking to win is quite an achievement, and an epic comeback on the road! Now the Heat will have homecourt advantage.

I'm not sure what series you watched or indeed what point you're trying to make there. Miami didn't exactly run roughshod over the Bulls, two of the wins were by double digits but both were close up until the final minutes, the last two games were very competitive and decided by less than ten, including an overtime in Game 4. Not exactly a walkover for the Heat, despite the final result of 4-1. The Bulls had a shot to win that series despite being a team that's prone to getting stagnant offensively. I don't think Dallas will have that problem.

[NovU]

Heat in 4.

Do I think the Mavericks are a better team than the Bulls or Celtics? No, not really. Haslem shut Dirk down pretty good back in 2006. And their defense is much worse than the Bulls. Their offense might get them 2 or 3 games at max, but I still like the Heat here.

[jonthefon]

Haslem shut Dirk down pretty good back in 2006.

So relevant.

Though I'm pretty sure if the refs allow whoever guards to Dirk to go at him like Nick Collison did, they'd probably be able to get away with punching him in the face repeatedly while he's trying to get position.

[benji]

The instant Wade drives and gets to the free throw line Dirk is going to have Vietnam style flashbacks and run off to live in a shack in the Alps.

[Axel]

I'm not sure what series you watched. The Bulls caught the Heat napping in Game 1, but after Game 1, Miami manned up on the boards and kept Rose and everyone else in check. They did this with Dwyane Wade playing poorly 85% of the time. Four games in a row against a team most people were picking to win is quite an achievement, and an epic comeback on the road! Now the Heat will have homecourt advantage.

I'm not sure what series you watched or indeed what point you're trying to make there. Miami didn't exactly run roughshod over the Bulls, two of the wins were by double digits but both were close up until the final minutes, the last two games were very competitive and decided by less than ten, including an overtime in Game 4. Not exactly a walkover for the Heat, despite the final result of 4-1. The Bulls had a shot to win that series despite being a team that's prone to getting stagnant offensively. I don't think Dallas will have that problem.

I wasn't trying to be offensive, sorry, but I just really didn't get where you were coming from. Don't let the final score be the only judge as to how the games went. The Heat were unstoppable when it counted in four straight games. Miami stole home court in Game 2, and never gave it back. Performances like these are what separates the contenders from the pretenders. The Bulls are very good, but Rose needs more help, especially on offense. The Bulls scored 10, 20, 17, and 18 points in G2-G5 in the fourth quarter. The Heat outscored them in every one of those quarters, by over 6 per game. The Bulls could not execute in the 4th QTR, and it was obvious they were not on the same level as the Heat, despite the close scores. OKC and CHI seem to be in similar situations to me. They're two young teams that played really well in the regular season, and the playoffs, but couldn't perform in the fourth quarters of the conference finals. Simply not on the same level as DAL and MIA yet... maybe a player or two away from being in the Finals.

Both Dallas and Miami have clutch players who keep them in games at all times. I think this series is going to be a great one to watch. Both teams will have to play hard all the way through since neither is truly out of a game.

[Martti.]

Heat in 5.

[debiler]

Damn, I'm so weak. Just got the League Pass finals package for € 19.99 But it may be the last chance to see the Mavs in the Finals for a long time.
So, see you guys in the middle of tuesday night.

[Andrew]

Don't let the final score be the only judge as to how the games went.

I'm not. Like I said, for the most part the games were pretty close and competitive throughout but yes, Miami stepped up in the clutch and as such they're back in the Finals. Despite their struggles on offense, the Bulls were still in every game and all things considered, had a decent shot at winning the series. They got free throws and they got the shots up, they didn't make them count.

However, the Mavericks are not offensively challenged as the Bulls are, thus I think they have a much better shot at beating the Heat in a seven game series. They have the firepower from the perimeter to punish a zone if it comes and keep themselves afloat offensively if the Heat crowd the paint, something that the Bulls lack.

[NovU]

Though I'm pretty sure if the refs allow whoever guards to Dirk to go at him like Nick Collison did, they'd probably be able to get away with punching him in the face repeatedly while he's trying to get position.

Nick Collison was more like the victim in officiating if that's what you meant.

[jonthefon]

Yeah, because grappling Dirk on every possession without being called for a foul is totally being victimised.

[hova-]

I'm not sure what series you watched. The Bulls caught the Heat napping in Game 1, but after Game 1, Miami manned up on the boards and kept Rose and everyone else in check. They did this with Dwyane Wade playing poorly 85% of the time. Four games in a row against a team most people were picking to win is quite an achievement, and an epic comeback on the road! Now the Heat will have homecourt advantage.

I really don't see anyone on the Mavericks who the Heat should be fearful of other than Dirk. Wade/LeBron/Miller are long enough and active enough to keep Terry, Barea, and the other role players in check. I think as long as the Heat stay at home on the shooters, and avoid fouling Dirk - just make him work hard for his points - they can contain this team easier than Chicago.

I also expect the Heat to utilize JJ more in this series, since they don't have to worry about him being in a PnR with Dallas' front court.

You're completely right when you say it will be a tough task for the Mavs to win this series, but what I don't like is this "Player A and Player B will be able to defend player C and player D".

Honestly, who has been able to defend Barea properly this Playoffs? No Andre Miller, no Derek Fisher (that's for sure, too old), no Steve Blake (he's actually known as an average defender, okay), no Eric Maynor (just too easy), no Nate Robinson (at least he should be quick enough and is at the same height) and no Russell Westbrook (it's getting better now).

One player won't stop Barea. Even D-Wade can't guard him. It's just important to play great team defense on a guy like him. He's just my example. Team D is more important than "Player A covers Player B". This just ain't working.

Same goes for Jason Terry. He's playing like Rip Hamilton played a few years ago. Coming of screens and shooting it -> tough to defend for any team. Also, when he plays the pick&roll with Dirk, it's really really tough to defend. Don't know about the Heat's p&r defense though.

What I want to say is that this series might look like "James, Wade, Bosh > Dirk". But it isn't the case. The Mavs have a very deep rotation and the Heat also have a good bench and and good role players and it will come down to that. I think solid team defense will help the Mavs to contain Miami's offensive threats and when it really comes down to on-ball D, Marion & Kidd can at least limit the damage made by the Heat.

I go with Mavs in 6, because I'm a fucking fanboy and my team is in the Finals, what else should I vote?! Also, I don't want the Miami Thrice owning it right from the start, would be horrible to see that.

[thewhitemamba]

Jim Carrey will outcoach coach Spo

[deihatein]

Too bad Terryble is bad at defense. Barea is meh when he thinks he is Allen Iverson and do fancy dribbles and is also a defense liability.