Official Finals Thread: Heat Vs Mavs

[NNpF]

People sure aren't very optimistic about the Mavericks chances in the finals.

Heat in Five? That's ridiculous.

Anyone remember the Spurs series? Duncan was absolutely torching the Mavericks every single game. The key was not letting the other players score.

So what makes this series so different? The Spurs have a better supporting cast than the Heat, so why not let Shaq get his points?

The Mavericks have had a harder road to the Finals than the Heat, beating 2 of the top 4 best teams in the NBA, which also includes the top two defensive teams and the best offensive team in the league.

The Mavericks can play any style of basketball, and still have their superstar on the court. They are just as deep, if not deeper than the heat and are playing defense like they have never played before.

The Mavericks just seem to have something with them this year, they just seem like a team that's not going to lose.

The Mavericks are hotter than the Heat right now. The Heat beat the Pistons because the Pistons beat themselves, you can't give credit to the Heat because the Piston's couldn't hit open shots.

I think either then Suns and Spurs would have beaten the Heat in a 7 game series, and Dallas adjusted to two totally different styles of play in no time. What makes you think they can't adjust to the Heat?

The Mavericks are going to push the ball all game, trying to take Shaq out of the game on defense. They will also put Keith Van Horn on Shaq at times and spread the floor, Shaq will not come out to defend Van Horn from the three point line.

I hate guaranteeing wins, so I won't, but I just feel so confident with the Mavericks this year that I don't think anybody can beat them.

[Unrestrict3D]

-|NN|-[pF]-, the Mavs are hotter than the Heat? I bet to differ: There were two or three games that they could have very easily lost (games one, five, and six) had Phoenix kept their significant leads. A win is a win but I think Miami is going to be a bit much for Dallas and they'll end the series in Miami in game six.

What Miami has that Phoenix didn't have is size and much more depth. Dallas has a very strong bench but I'll go as far as saying Miami has the best bench in the league. Next year when Amare and Thomas are back I think Dallas will have a much harder time beating Phoenix, unless they make some off-season changes.

Please, don't get me wrong, I think Dallas is a great team and they'll win a championship a few years down the road because they've got a great coach in Avery Johnson and Dirk will soon be the league MVP if he keeps up his hard work (he will).

Oh yeah, we wouldn't be having this discussion had Duncan not got screwed over with the no-call in game seven when he was clearly fouled.

[Scotty]

i tip the heat to win, but it will be no sweep-if anything it will go to 7 and Dirk will be finals MVP

[Fenix]

Dallas in 6 or 7. Let's be serious, Shaq isn't as much of a threat than Duncan was and Wade is probably easier to defend than a duo of Ginobili/Parker is. Plus, who will defend Nowitzki? Haslem? Go, Dirk.

[mjje]

Against the Spurs they had to take care of Parker, Ginobili and of course Duncan, plus Dirk was well guarded.
Now there's Shaq and Wade. Shaq is hard but Duncan was, too. For Wade there are some defensive guards in the Mavs lineup.
The one thing that's missing for the Heat though is a defender for Dirk and Howard. So the Mavs will win it in 6 or 7

[Matt]

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.

even if they win, with the way Wade has been playing.....Shaq is the sidekick.

I can't wait to see what kind of adjustments Avery will make. He's been amazing as far as coaching goes.

I'd like to see him have Dirk @ the 5, with Howard @4 and then have Stack, Harris & Terry in.......that lineup could get Shaq into instant foul trouble, he can't keep up either Howard or Nowa and he'd have to actually run back on defense. Even if only for a few minutes in each half. Sure they would probably concede 2pnts on every possession, but it would only take 3,4 possessions to get Shaq out of there.

[debiler]

Finals, baby!!! Too bad I couldn't watch the game, but in Germany, it started at 2.30 am. In halftime, I just dozed off.

But as happy as I am about the Mavs going to the finals, I don't think that they have a chance against Miami unless Dirk brings his A+game and scores at least 30per night. My prediction is Miami in 6.

[Matthew]

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)....

I'm not trying to go off topic here, but I really dont understand the logic behind that? You saw that If Nash had two all star calibure players, they would have made the playoffs? What about last playoffs? Its always an excuse with nash, and always exagerated compliments. When players play well, its becuase of Nash. But when they struggle, its becuase the players arent good?

Also, if you think Kenyon Martin (purely a defensive beast), Jefferson (very athletic but not the player you see today), Dikembe who battled coach Byron Scott and saw next to no minutes and Kerry Kittles who was only effective in transition is better than a mvp candidate in Marion, Boris Diaw who proved his worth time and time again without Nash's contributions, Tim Thomas who played his best basketball this post season and Raja Bell who was pretty good defensively on the perimeter and hit some big shots.

[_marsal]

I agree that Dirk won't be stopped, but why would Miami even bother? He can't win it by himself. I say Wade and Payton can defend Harris and Terry. Posey and Shandon Anderson can do a solid job on Howard. Nobody can guard Shaq. I say Miami in 6 or 7 because noone can stop Shaq and Wade, while on the other hand only Dirk is unstoppable.

MVP Finals award: Shaq & Flash

[jonnyboy261]

Wait a sec....
if dallas wins, we all know dirk is finals MvP
but if miami wins.... shaq or wade?
prolly shaq but id rather have wade get it.

and about depth in the benches,
miami has an 8 man rotation, while dallas has what a 9-10?
dallas isnt lacking in depth id say about even
too bad mbenga cant play, he could help guard shaq alittle.

another thought which team is better 3 shooting??

well i like both teams, but i wanna be different
sooo im gunna say mavs in 7!!

[iG®]

Agreed with marsal, Miami in 7(or 6, under that- not going to happen). MVP will be Wade fo so.

[sucram]

too bad mbenga cant play, he could help guard shaq alittle.

[Fenix]

I agree that Dirk won't be stopped, but why would Miami even bother? He can't win it by himself. I say Wade and Payton can defend Harris and Terry. Posey and Shandon Anderson can do a solid job on Howard. Nobody can guard Shaq. I say Miami in 6 or 7 because noone can stop Shaq and Wade, while on the other hand only Dirk is unstoppable.

MVP Finals award: Shaq & Flash

That's pure crap. Wade can defend? Payton is still alive? Shandon Anderson will actually play? Miami's perimeter is a joke and Shaq doesn't present a shotblocking threat that he used to. If Shandon Anderson is a legit Howard stopper, than Diop should hold Shaq scoreless. Diop - prevents penetration, is a bigger body than Big Ben and as good of a man defender as him. I'm not saying Diop is better than Wallace, but he can do a better job on him. Dampier is another big body you can throw at him and they're both better than anything Miami has to offer to bother Dirk, not to mention that Dirk is a bigger offensive threat at this point of their career. James Posey became a joke and Antoine Walker is that for years now, Wade can't defend anyone, neither can Williams and Payton is 100 years old. They have a bunch of streak shooters who can either hot or cold and Wade will probably be bothered by Griffin's perimeter defense and Diop's shotblocking.

[Mads]

Miami's perimeter is a joke and Shaq doesn't present a shotblocking threat that he used to.

Seems like Shaq has woke up on defense, he blocked three shots in one game, four shots in another game, and five shots in the final game in the Pistons series. He's not an as good shotblocker as he used to, but he averaged over two blocks (2,3) per game against Detroit.

and Wade will probably be bothered by Griffin's perimeter defense and Diop's shotblocking.

He didn't look to be bothered by the best defense in the league with Rip and Lindsay Hunter's perimeter defense and Rasheed and Ben Wallace's shotblocking...

[scrub]

I'm going for Heat in six.

G1 - Heat
G2 - Mavs
G3 - Heat
G4 - Heat
G5 - Mavs
G6 - Heat

Wade to be named Fianls MVP.

I think Dallas will put up a great fight but I think Miami should overcome them. They key to Dallas is Nowitzki's scoring. Seems pretty obvious but the Heat looked to have the advantage in almost every other position over Dallas. Dirk will probably come out averaging like 35ppg.

I think that Detroit are a better defensive team than Dallas so if Miami can beat Detroit in 6 they should beat Dallas in 6. If Wade can get past Detroit's perimeter defense and inside presence with Ben and Rasheed with the flu I am postive he can get past guys like Jason Terry, Josh Howard and Diop. Even is Shaq isn't at his best I'm pretty sure he is still better than Diop.

[sdude]

Heat will problaby win in 6-7 games if wade and shaq are both healthy. If one of them misses a game then it's anybody's game. Wade for MVP

[Matt]

I say Wade and Payton can defend Harris and Terry

no one is keeping Harris from getting into the paint.

Seems like Shaq has woke up on defense, he blocked three shots in one game, four shots in another game, and five shots in the final game in the Pistons series. He's not an as good shotblocker as he used to, but he averaged over two blocks (2,3) per game against Detroit.

that's because he had to guard Wallace and was allowed to leave him to contest shots....which brings me to.....

He didn't look to be bothered by the best defense in the league with Rip and Lindsay Hunter's perimeter defense and Rasheed and Ben Wallace's shotblocking...

we all saw what happened when Wallace stepped out to help put....alley oop. I believ Diop has much better length to cover more space.

Seems pretty obvious but the Heat looked to have the advantage in almost every other position over Dallas.

C Heat
PF Mavs
SF Mavs
SG Heat
PG Mavs

think that Detroit are a better defensive team than Dallas so if Miami can beat Detroit in 6 they should beat Dallas in 6

if Dallas get the shots Detroit got (but failed to knock down) Miami has no chance of winning. One thing Dallas will do is run, and Miami is not a good transition defensive team except for Wade.

[Sauru]

i am going with dallas in 7

[NNpF]

-|NN|-[pF]-, the Mavs are hotter than the Heat? I bet to differ: There were two or three games that they could have very easily lost (games one, five, and six) had Phoenix kept their significant leads. A win is a win but I think Miami is going to be a bit much for Dallas and they'll end the series in Miami in game six.

What Miami has that Phoenix didn't have is size and much more depth. Dallas has a very strong bench but I'll go as far as saying Miami has the best bench in the league. Next year when Amare and Thomas are back I think Dallas will have a much harder time beating Phoenix, unless they make some off-season changes.

Please, don't get me wrong, I think Dallas is a great team and they'll win a championship a few years down the road because they've got a great coach in Avery Johnson and Dirk will soon be the league MVP if he keeps up his hard work (he will).

Oh yeah, we wouldn't be having this discussion had Duncan not got screwed over with the no-call in game seven when he was clearly fouled.

And San Antonio didn't?

Avery Johnson managed to take San Antoni's bench out of the series after switching to Devin Harris. Brent Barry, Horry, Nestorovic and Mohammad got next to no playing time, because they couldn't keep up with the Mavericks running game.

This means the Mavericks can easily take Shaq, Mourning and Walker out of the game. I still believe that the Pistons just didn't play to their full potential, and Miami had little to do with that.

I can't force anyone to change their minds, I'm not saying anyone who picks Miami is wrong, but I just am too confident with the way the Mavericks have played these playoffs to pick against them.

For all any of us know, one of these teams may not be able to handle the pressure of the Finals and the other may totally dominate the series, but I think it will be a very close series, most likely going to 7 games.

[Mazzocchi]

It's going to be tough but I still believe in my Mavericks to win

[_marsal]

That's pure crap. Wade can defend? Payton is still alive? Shandon Anderson will actually play? Miami's perimeter is a joke and Shaq doesn't present a shotblocking threat that he used to. If Shandon Anderson is a legit Howard stopper, than Diop should hold Shaq scoreless. Diop - prevents penetration, is a bigger body than Big Ben and as good of a man defender as him. I'm not saying Diop is better than Wallace, but he can do a better job on him. Dampier is another big body you can throw at him and they're both better than anything Miami has to offer to bother Dirk, not to mention that Dirk is a bigger offensive threat at this point of their career. James Posey became a joke and Antoine Walker is that for years now, Wade can't defend anyone, neither can Williams and Payton is 100 years old. They have a bunch of streak shooters who can either hot or cold and Wade will probably be bothered by Griffin's perimeter defense and Diop's shotblocking.

Hell, reading what you said makes me wonder how in the world did Miami even get to the finals
Wade is a solid defender at least, while Payton can provide sparks of him old self. I'm not saying S.Anderson can shut down Howard, I'm saying he can contain him. And there's no way Diop and Dampier can do a better job on Shaq than BigBen. They'll get in foul trouble very fast. I don't see how Posey and 'Toine are a joke If there weren't for their scoring against Detroit, there would be no finals. Did you even watch any of Heat's games? I honestly believe that Walker is playing the basketball of his carrier. And correct if i'm wrong, but didn't Rip average near 50 FG% this season and shot only 38% against the Heat? I believe Wade had something do with that, don't you? The weakest link in this Heat lineup is Williams, but if his hot shooting translates into the finals, that won't be a problem for Heat. And yeah, Griffin & Diop sure are better defending duo for Wade than Prince/Hunter & Both Wallace's

The only way for Dallas to be successful is to play small with dirk at C..but on the other hand, who will help in the paint when Wade or Williams penetrate?

I still say Heat in 6/7.

[BIG GREEN]

I already see this is going to be another wonderful thread featuring tons of jackasses. I shall prepare myself for some flamming and banning. With that said...i pat myself on the back for predicting mavs vs. Heat. Mavs are gonna win it in 7. However, i hope im wrong.

[dada]

He didn't look to be bothered by the best defense in the league with Rip and Lindsay Hunter's perimeter defense and Rasheed and Ben Wallace's shotblocking...

I would like to believe a guy averaging around 5 turnovers a game in that series was at least slightly bothered by their defense.



Anyways, I fancy Dallas i 6/7. Yes Detroit has a stronger defense but I'll take my chances with an offense less likely to choke during the playoffs. Offense isnt really Detroits strongest points and if you look at it they held the Heat to around 89 point per game which is about their season average. Normally Dallas' defense has been its weaker point but they are playing very strong this year. Ben Wallace is a great defender and all but people tend to forget he gets so many blocks playing help defense and not as much one on one. He is an undersized C and when you man up on a guy like Shaq the weight and height difference becomes very obvious. I'd rather throw some 7-0 270+ lb guy on Shaq compared to a 6-9 240 lb guy (Ben).

Anyways, again I say Dallas in 6/7.

[shadowgrin]

Have anyone visited NBA.com? Is it just me or is that yellow?gold? color scheme for the NBA Finals is irritating to the eyes?

[frenchy]

My choice is the mavs cause they will have the homa advantage
So I will say Mavs in 7 games
Nowitski more than 35ppg
Wade 27 ppg
Shaq 11rpg