4 DALLAS MAVERICKS vs. 2 MIAMI HEAT All games broadcast on - times EASTERN GAME 1: THU 9PM @DAL GAME 2: 11th 9PM @DAL GAME 3: 13th 9PM @MIA GAME 4: 15th 9PM @MIA if necessary: GAME 5: 18th 9PM @MIA GAME 6: 20th 9PM @DAL GAME 7: 22nd 9PM @DAL
I like the Heat in 5. If you can beat the Pistons, you can beat anybody. GET WHITE CHOCOLATE A RING
I'll get lynched if I pick against the Mavs living in Texas. So I'm gonna take the Mavs in 6...should be a good series, and American Airlines is loving it, they have their names on both arenas in the Finals, the AA Center in Dallas, and the AA Arena in Miami.
I really don't care much, but watching Dallas is much more fun than watching Miami, and Dirk is playing lights out. I will root for the Mavs, and pick them to win in 6 games.
Even if I don't love either team, anything is better than another boring Spurs/Pistons matchup, so I am happy about that. I will try to catch some of the series because this matchup should be fun.
Had both Miami and Dallas losing in 6 in Round 1. Dallas in 6, as Shaq's peak probably would be around 32/14, which is what Duncan did to them throughout the Spurs series and they survived that. Can't see Walker holding Dirk under 35. Also, I just can't root for a team led by Pat Riley and additionally has Alonzo Mourning on it. As a bonus pick: In honor of Pat Riley returning to the Finals for the first time in a dozen years, one game in the series will be broken into due to the BREAKING NEWS that O.J. has found the real killers and is chasing them down a highway.
Originally posted by redsoxnationHad both Miami and Dallas losing in 6 in Round 1. Dallas in 6, as Shaq's peak probably would be around 32/14, which is what Duncan did to them throughout the Spurs series and they survived that. Can't see Walker holding Dirk under 35. Also, I just can't root for a team led by Pat Riley and additionally has Alonzo Mourning on it. As a bonus pick: In honor of Pat Riley returning to the Finals for the first time in a dozen years, one game in the series will be broken into due to the BREAKING NEWS that O.J. has found the real killers and is chasing them down a highway.
I see why you wouldn't want Riley to win, but Zo?
I'm sorta torn on who I want to win. I'd like to see Shaq get another ring (which would no doubt make Kobe feel great) but the though of David Stern presenting the Larry O'Brien trophy to Mark Cuban would probably be the most awkward moment at a pro sports championship celebration since Pete Rozelle presented the Super Bowl trophy to Al Davis those many years ago.
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Originally posted by QuezzyThe Heat's defense is far from being the Suns' defense. I think Wade is more likely to go off on the Mavs defense, Heat in 5.
How does the Heat defense compare to the Spurs' defense?
Originally posted by BOSsportsfan34 I see why you wouldn't want Riley to win, but Zo?
Didn't he refuse to report to the Raptors because they sucked? I believe he behaved in a Vince Carteresque manner, except Carter at least managed to show up for some of the games.
As for the prediction: Got to go with the Mavs. I realize that his game has probably changed in order to fit in with Wade and Shaq, but I absolutely cannot believe that a team with Antoine Walker playing significant minutes can win the NBA title. Impossible. At some point, he'll revert and start jacking up 30 footers with 20 seconds on the shot clock and the game on the line. Or, he'll simply start turning the ball over because why make a nice fundamental chest pass when you can throw it behind your head to the guy in the sixth row.
(edited by Corajudo on 5.6.06 0949) "Teach children that they have great potential because they are human." -Warrior
Originally posted by redsoxnationHad both Miami and Dallas losing in 6 in Round 1. Dallas in 6, as Shaq's peak probably would be around 32/14, which is what Duncan did to them throughout the Spurs series and they survived that. Can't see Walker holding Dirk under 35. Also, I just can't root for a team led by Pat Riley and additionally has Alonzo Mourning on it. As a bonus pick: In honor of Pat Riley returning to the Finals for the first time in a dozen years, one game in the series will be broken into due to the BREAKING NEWS that O.J. has found the real killers and is chasing them down a highway.
I see why you wouldn't want Riley to win, but Zo?
I'm sorta torn on who I want to win. I'd like to see Shaq get another ring (which would no doubt make Kobe feel great) but the though of David Stern presenting the Larry O'Brien trophy to Mark Cuban would probably be the most awkward moment at a pro sports championship celebration since Pete Rozelle presented the Super Bowl trophy to Al Davis those many years ago.
I've never liked any of the 3 Georgetown centers. Even though I don't like the Nets, the act he pulled there after they gave him an uninsured contract when no one else would was far less than professional. Also, I'll never forget Game 4, 1st round of the 1993 playoffs. The man Johnny Most termed Sir Kevin The Fourth had dug down deep and carried the Celtics back from the brink. Mourning then hits a jumper with time left on the clock to give the Hornets the lead, and you'd think man had just landed on the moon. A technical foul should have been called, but the refs would truly show their colors moments later. In his last act as a pro, Kevin McHale through a perfect alley-oop pass to Dee Brown from mid court, only to have it goaltended. The Garretson ref'ed crew showed they were in the tank and didn't call it (of course the refs had called a phantom goaltending on McHale in overtime of Game 6 in '91 against the Pistons, but heaven forbid they keep David Stern's new flavor of the month from advancing in '93), thus eliminating the Celtics and ending Kevin McHale's storied career.
Originally posted by QuezzyThe Heat's defense is far from being the Suns' defense. I think Wade is more likely to go off on the Mavs defense, Heat in 5.
How does the Heat defense compare to the Spurs' defense?
So far in the playoffs, about 8 points per game less.
Originally posted by QuezzySo far in the playoffs, about 8 points per game less.
You have to consider the playoff opponents: The Spurs played Dallas and Sacramento, while the Heat played NJ, Chicago and Detroit. The Mavs and Kings are clearly better offensive teams. That's not even close to a fair comparison.
And, if you look at the 82 game regular season, San Antonio's defense was far better (fewer points allowed, lower FG%, more steals, more TOs forced, etc). Moreover, that was in the West rather than the East.
Miami's defense is only slightly above average in today's NBA. I don't even think it's as good as the Mavs' defense.
"Teach children that they have great potential because they are human." -Warrior
I like the Mavs in 7. Posey will (in my mind) get the task of slowing down Dirk, and I think he'll do a decent enough job of it. However, though I think Shaq and Wade will play very well, I feel that Devin Harris, Jason Terry, and Josh Howard will exploit Jason Williams, Gary Payton, and Twan, respectively, and the fighting Mark Cuban's will hoist the trophy after (what else) and OT Game 7.
Originally posted by QuezzySo far in the playoffs, about 8 points per game less.
You have to consider the playoff opponents: The Spurs played Dallas and Sacramento, while the Heat played NJ, Chicago and Detroit. The Mavs and Kings are clearly better offensive teams. That's not even close to a fair comparison.
And, if you look at the 82 game regular season, San Antonio's defense was far better (fewer points allowed, lower FG%, more steals, more TOs forced, etc). Moreover, that was in the West rather than the East.
Miami's defense is only slightly above average in today's NBA. I don't even think it's as good as the Mavs' defense.
I don't know where the belief that the Mavericks had an easy time with the Spurs defense comes from. The Spurs held them under 90 points and two other games were high scoring because of overtimes and I don't even think the Spurs defense was playing their best basketball so no I don't think the Mavs offense will destroy the Heat's defense. On the flip side there was only one game where one of the Spurs players didn't score 30, so either Shaq or Wade will probably score 30 every game this series and then you still got the other one, Walker, Williams, Payton, Haslem...
Dirk's going to get his 25-30, period. There's not a lot that can be done about it. What Miami needs to do is take three tacts in this series: 1) make sure everyone else (Terry, Howard, Harris, etc) doesn't get theirs, too and if they are going to score, make them do nothing but shoot 20 footers to do it 2) Attack Dallas, and particularly Dirk on defense by going to the basket early and often and 3) not have this series turn into a track meet.
That and if Miami takes the attitude of "how they gonna stop US?", they'll win. Besides, Dallas is better on defense than they used to be, but they're not as good on defense as the team Miami just beat, decline or no decline.
George Clooney, you been reading about all that? You been seeing that?
No gloating Mavs fans on the board?? No Heat apologists making excuses?? I had an online bet with a Mavs fan here a couple years ago during the playoffs. We were gonna switch Mavs/Lakers sigs for 10 posts or something but he got banned before we could make it official, plus the 2 teams ended up never meeting each other anyway.
So yeah, Mavs are up 2-0, Shaq only has single-digit points & rebounds in a big game 2 in the finals and nobody cares? Damn.
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeSo yeah, Mavs are up 2-0, Shaq only has single-digit points & rebounds in a big game 2 in the finals and nobody cares? Damn.
I dunno - the home team is SUPPOSED to win at home, so does it really matter if they win by 3 or by 30?
I am with Chris on this. They held serve. I would like to see the Mavericks win, but with start times at 9:15 PM Eastern, I am not going to see much more than the first half of any game!
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeSo yeah, Mavs are up 2-0, Shaq only has single-digit points & rebounds in a big game 2 in the finals and nobody cares? Damn.
I dunno - the home team is SUPPOSED to win at home, so does it really matter if they win by 3 or by 30?
I'll get excited when somebody gets a road win.
If the stat they threw up on the screen last night is correct, then only two teams have come back to win after trailing 2 games to none in the finals.
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If the stat they threw up on the screen last night is correct, then only two teams have come back to win after trailing 2 games to none in the finals.
Because I'm a geek (and have Wikipedia at my disposal, making me a geek with power,)
The 1969 Celtics/Lakers series was won 4-3 by Boston despite L.A. winning the first two games, both at home.
In 1977, the Philadelphia 76ers won Games 1 and 2 at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, only to lose the next four games.
Honorable Mention:
The New York Knicks lost the first three games of the 1951 NBA Finals to the Rochester Royals before winning Games 4, 5 and 6 to tie the series. The Knicks were denied the championship in Game 7 by a 79-75 loss in Rochester.
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