Official Finals Thread: Heat Vs Mavs

[Blasphemy]

Well decided to make a finals thread.

I personally think that the Heat are gonna win it all no matter what. THey have a great ass bench, [robably the best I have ever seen. Plus they have the ebst backup center in the league. In the beginging of the season I new they were gonna do good after that great off-season.

You thoughts about the Finals?

[Stevesanity]

Im going with a Heat vs Mavs final and the Heat taking it in 6 if Shaq and Wade stay healthy, but its gonna be one of the more exciting final series we've had for some time. Its a shame the Suns don't have a full strength team, or they'd probably have a really good shot at that title right about now with STAT down low.

[Silas]

I almost want the suns to win to see them try to guard shaq, Diaw vs. Shaq, that would just be murder.

[Dro]

I almost want the suns to win to see them try to guard shaq, Diaw vs. Shaq, that would just be murder.

If the Suns were to make it to the Finals, Brian Grant and Kurt Thomas would see some minutes.

[Axel]

The Suns would win if they made it to the finals. They torched the Heat in the regular season... *flashes back to the 47 point 1st quarter in Phoenix*.

Even though the Heat improved their defense tremendously, there's just no way they can keep up with the Suns. Nash, Barbosa, and Marion would run circles around the Heat, because they're a halfcourt team. Shaq would have to score 30 + points and average at least 15 rebounds a game to make up for the defensive liability he'd be (too slow running up and down the court).

I'd love to see the Suns win it all, but not this year... Miami is my team, so I'm hoping for a Heat/Mavs finals... hopefully the Heat will pull it out in 6, because a game 7 in Dallas doesn't sound too appealing.

[Mads]

I think it might be really close if we should end up with the Suns and the Heat. They are two pretty different teams, and both would exploit the other teams weaknesses.

Advantage Suns: Speed
As Axel said, the Suns are just way too fast for the Heat. In game 6 against the Pistons, Miami was really slow back on defense, Detroit got open looks, especially from three-point range, almost every time they pushed the ball. They didn't make those shots, but the Suns are just too good on the break and from three to not exploit this. Also, Miami is turing the ball over way too much, which will loead to fastbreaks for the Suns.

Advantage Heat: Shaq
Which Suns player will guard a Shaq who seems to be in his best form? The Suns had trouble with LALs forwards, and Shaq could eat Kwame Brown for breakfast. Without Amare they are just awful inside. In game 6 against the Pistons, O'Neal wasn't just the good old Shaq offensively, but he mostly stayed out of foul trouble - because he's quicker on defense than in a long time. So the Suns will have to face him for the entire game... It also seems like Miami has finally found a way to get him the ball more, now their offense starts with the ball in Shaq's hands.

Bottom line - a lot of scoring! Dunks and lay-ups on both ends... and as the two factors, speed and Shaq, seem to even each other out, it'll be an exiting and even series.

[Pera]

The Suns would win if they made it to the finals. They torched the Heat in the regular season... *flashes back to the 47 point 1st quarter in Phoenix*

Oh man just don't remind me of that game.
Personaly I want a Miami-Dallas final.Miami's defense is no match for the Suns.If the Heat's starting 5 can keep up with Dallas's they are going to win it for sure.Heat has the best bench in the league and thats a big advantage.They need to keep Dirk around 20 points or lees,we all know how dangereous Dirk is.But maybe it wont be that way,maybe the Suns will be in the finals and that is true.The Riley needs to tell the players to play really solid D.

[dada]

I fancy Dallas to win it all because their shortcoming has always been their defense and now they have improved greatly and it can keep them in some games. They definitely are retarded on offense like Detroit.

[ixcuincle]

I hope the Mavericks win , because I have a very strong dislike for the Miami Heat , especially when they stun me by winning a series I thought Detroit would win. (although some blame has to be placed on Detroit for not winning a single ECF game away from home)

Go Mavs , sweep the Heat.

[cyanide]

I'd like it if the Mavs win it this year then the Suns win it next year with Amare at full strength.

Ahh, dreams.

[The X]

Heat will win 4-2 against whoever they play....would like to see Dallas or Phoenix to win but think Miami will have to much....

[Jugs]

Dirk4PMVP. Enough said. Although Shaq will be difficult to defend

[Andrew]

I'm hoping the Heat will take it but I'll hold off any predictions until we see the outcome of the WCF. Both the Mavericks and Suns pose problems for the Heat and got the best of them during the regular season but I wouldn't count Miami out just yet.

[Matt]

Well looks like it's Heat @ Mavs.

I think Mavs will win, probably in 7 maybe in 6. They just have real nice depth. Not to mention Nowitzki who is playing insane atm and no one on the Heat can guard him. Josh Howard is the key though.....he'll have his way with whomever is matched up on him.

But most importantly, they run and they have a potent HC offense.

Well at least this matchup gives us the 2 best C's in the league

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I seriously think the Mavericks have too much firepower for the Heat. I see the Mavs winning their first championship in franchise history.

INTERESTING NOTE: Whoever faces the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs is guarenteed to go to the NBA Finals or at least to the Western Conference Finals. In 04' and 06' both teams went to the Finals and in 05' the Suns went to the Conf. Finals.

[Unrestrict3D]

I'll take Miami in six games. I think Miami's players' post-season experience will help them though a tough series agains the Mavericks. I also think San Antonio taking Dallas to a seven games series and Phoenix taking them to six might factor in on how the series goes. I'm looking for Shaquille O'Neal to continue his playoff onslaught of the opposition and bring gold to Miami.

For Miami, this is the one chance that they have, in my opinion. Veteran players such as Payton and Mourning may not have much left in the tank and will probably retire after this year. I think O'Neal will retire in 2-3 years because I see some health problems coming back to haunt him once again (knees?).

Let's go Miami!

[Alcoholic]

This is cool, neither team has been in the finals before.

[Lakers08]

INTERESTING NOTE: Whoever faces the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs is guarenteed to go to the NBA Finals or at least to the Western Conference Finals. In 04' and 06' both teams went to the Finals and in 05' the Suns went to the Conf. Finals.

wait a sec 2004
Spurs didn't reach conference finals.....Lakers defeated them

[/img]

[mvpshaq32]

so many mavs supporters....
if miami dusted detroit, they can do it against dallas. no problem
lets just hope dwade gets better and both teams will give it their all
if shaq will back to his dominant old ways, miami will dominate
i mean he has averaged 20+ pts and 12 rbs(i think) in finals games.
and he has won 3 final mvp awards in the 3 championships he has gotten.
and excellent game for jwilliams. i think he will do tht again in this dallas series.
dallas will have no answer for the heat.
heat in 5

[MVP]

It will be an interesting series. Experience goes to the Heat. The Mavs may feel some jitters in this one...but Avery Johnson will keep everyone calm.

Who will guard Dwayne Wade? He'll probably have to face Howard, Daniels, and Griffin throughout each game.

Diop and Dampier will probably use up most/all of their fouls each game.

Both teams have good depth. The Mavs will probably use more of their bench then the Heat will.

I would like to see Payton and Zo get their ring, but I'm also not fan of Shaq.

[BZ]

I think the Heat would win this year's finals. Mainly because I've never really liked the Mavs... and what's up with the Suns? Steve Nash gets to consecutive MVP's in a row, and he never took his team to the Finals... Jason Kidd not only had better seasons that Nash, but the Nets made it to the Finals. Absurd.

[The X]

Nets had a better team BZ....Kidd had 2 All-Star calibre players in Kenyon Martin & Richard Jefferson....Nash had Marion....you could argue that Nash had guys like Diaw, Thomas & Bell (not a strong argument IMHO) but Kidd had guys like Kerry Kittles & Dikembe (I think)....if Suns had a healthy Amare & Kurt Thomas then they probably would've been good enough to get over the hump....last year was more of a fairytale run & they got beaten by a very good Spurs team that ended up winning the title....so you shouldn't really compare the two of them....for the record, so you don't think I dislike Kidd, I think Kidd is a better all-time player than Nash & should've won MVP with that Nets' team

[Andrew]

I've edited the thread title accordingly.

No disrespect intended to the Mavs but I'm sticking with the Heat in, let's say...six games. It's difficult to pick against a 60 win team especially one like the Mavericks but the Heat have already downed a 60 win team in Detroit and are playing their best basketball of the season. They'll have also had an additional day's rest though that's nowhere near the advantage they might have possessed if the WCF had gone to seven games.

Whoever ends up winning, I think this is going to be a really good Finals with some interesting subplots and great basketball. Youv'e got a coach in his first full year in Avery Johnson, Pat Riley back in the Finals, Shaq and GP back in the Finals, Zo there for the first time, the Mavs there after finally overcoming the Spurs, Nowitzki playing MVP basketball, various role players stepping up...it should be a great finish to what has been an enjoyable and exciting 2006 Playoffs.

And for what it's worth, it was the most anticipated matchup in the poll on the main site receiving 39% of the vote.

[Lakers08]

Game 1 HEAT
Game 2 MAVS
Game 3 HEAT
Game 4 MAVS
Game 5 HEAT
Game 6 HEAT

C
O'neal vs. Diop
Adv. Miami
Shaq is almost unstoppable...Sometimes you need to double team him...
Diop is low scoring....but in blocking he averaged 1.8 blocks per game this season

PF
Nowitzki vs. Haslem
Adv. Dallas
Haslem is good on rebounding averaging 7.8 this playoffs...
Nowitzki is a better rebounder...12.1 rebounds a game this playoffs....and he can step back and sink a three

SF
Walker vs. Howard
Adv.Dallas
Walker is averaging 13.2 PPG this playoffs.That's why Miami is improving...
Howard is better in scoring with 17.3 PPG and rebounding with 6.7 RPG

Gonna continue this tommorow....gud nyt

[Amphatoast]

damn i really feel the mavericks have too much fire power for the heat.
But the way shaq played vs. the Pistons for a few games-

i have no doubt he will be able to produce like that for 4 games for all it is.
Even if it meant it was his last 4 games in the NBA, he has to do this for the city of Miami, thats why he is here and to get rid of the 3 titles with Kobe monkey on his back.