(left: Dirk Nowitzki and Lebron James)
If you had told me that the Dallas Mavericks would make it to the NBA Finals this year, I would have said what I always say, "They are consistent contenders, they just can't seem to get it done." If you had told me that the Miami Heat would make it to the Finals, I wouldn't have been all that surprised. Two of the top 10 players in the league playing in their prime, coming out of a relatively weak conference and having maybe the best 3rd scoring option available, it would be tough to bet against them. But bet against them "they" did, and the "Heat Haters" have one last chance to get the last laugh before Lebron's clothing line "I told you so" is released. There is no proof he will actually print those shirts, but I'm sure he will have some printed for close family and friends, I know I would.
The Dallas Mavericks had their difficulties facing the Portland Trailblazers in the 1st round, but would ultimately win the series against the oft injured team. The amazing performance of Brandon Roy turned out to be the story of that series and the only highlight for the losing team, but would give hope to the city going into next year. Lakers would be swept by the Mavericks in the semi-finals to the surprise of the entire sports world. And with Phil Jackson officially retiring, it made the Lakers playoff exit all the more difficult to swallow for fans of the purple and gold. Then the Oklahoma City Thunder could not close out games and lost to the Mavs in 5. Blame it on the youth if you want, but closing out games when leading was the biggest road block for the team. And with that, Dallas now seems able to get it done.
Chicago and Boston were the 2 teams that naysayers believed the Heat could never beat in the playoffs. And although both teams looked great at times, they never looked dominant. The hype was immeasurable, but the games themselves left much to be desired.
So now the Mavericks face the Heat for the Larry O'brien Trophy, NBA's holy grail.
Will Dirk and Kidd finally get their chance to hoist the trophy and retire with a giant sigh of relief?
Or will the young and hungry Heat deny the veterans of a championship?
We will have to wait and see.
Stars: (Mavs) Nowitzki and Kidd - (Heat) James, Wade and Bosh
Without going into a list of stats, Dirk Nowitzki is playing at an unbelievably high level. There were moments during the West Finals versus OKC where Nowitzki simply took over the game. His jump shot is flawless and he is not afraid to draw fouls around or far from the basket. Chris Bosh will be facing up against Dirk and although Bosh is a great scorer in his own right, he will not be able stay on Dirk without drawing fouls. Dirk's defense is not top tier either, but I don't expect them to cancel each other out and Dirk will dominate that match up. Some would hesitate to consider Kidd a star at this stage in his career but it is clear he still is. Kidd will have a field day going up against Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers, both players being streaky shooters but weak on the defensive end. James and Wade will have their share of fun going up against the likes of Peja, Brewer and Marion among others who are in no way on the same level as the Heat duo.
EDGE:Heat
Tough guys: (Mavs) Tyson Chandler - (Heat) Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony
This is a series that will be decided by defense, mainly because if the Mavericks can't defend the Heat trio, they will simply be outscored. The Heat have been commended on their defense during these playoffs, keeping most opponents scoring under 100. Tyson Chandler will in no way play at anything less than 100%, which might actually work against him. I love his passion for the game, but early fouls or untimely technical fouls could put the Mavericks in a tough situation. When it comes to Joel Anthony, he knows his role, defend and rebound, both things he does extremely well. He is not expected to score, which I'm sure takes a load off of him mentally and allows him to keep such a calm demeanor, helping to avoid confrontations and self inflicted distractions. However, if Chandler can avoid foul trouble, he should have no problem bullying around Anthony under the rim. Udonis Haslem will have to be at his best all series to have an impact, and even though he showed signs of his old self during the Chicago Bulls series, I still don't think it will be enough to counter Chandler's dominance over Anthony.
EDGE:Mavericks
Team Effort
This I believe, more than Dirk Nowitzki's unbelievable talent, will make all the difference. The Heat will no doubt stick to a tight 8 man rotation leaving the Heat trio very little time on the bench to rest, and even though they are young, fatigue will become an issue. The Dallas Mavericks showed everyone during the Lakers series that if the starters are having a lack luster performance, the bench can give them a huge push. There will be fresh bodies constantly on the floor against Miami, and the majority of the Mavericks bench simply don't come to the arena to watch the game, they play and they play hard. Peja, Terry, Marion, Barea and Stevenson, although not expected to lead in scoring, can do more in my eyes than, Eddie House, Juwan Howard and Jumaine Jones. Miami's true X-Factor is without a doubt Mike Miller. If Bosh, Wade, James, Haslem and Miller can have great games all series long, they will be champions. However, I think the extended minutes they will be forced to play will result in poor performances as the series goes on.
EDGE:Mavericks
PREDICTION: Mavericks win series 4-3
The final decision in my choosing Dallas is the fact that the Heat have no backup plan. If Wade, Bosh and James have a bad game, they will lose, plain and simple. The story of the year has been that if 1 of the big 3 have an off day, the other 2 will pick up the slack, but to quote Chris Bosh "The margin for error is very small". The biggest difference is that the Mavericks proved, against both the Lakers and the Thunder, that if Dirk, Kidd and the starting line up have a bad night, the bench is ready to take over the game, something I don't see the Heat bench being able to do.
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