NBA Finals Preview - The Miami Three

July 8th 2011 marked the creation of a dynasty, or at least that's what they are hoping.  Three of the most likable players in the league turned into vicious villains over night.  They even don the black uniforms.  No team in my time has had this amount of pressure on them to succeed.  No team has ever had the entire nation rooting for their demise.   

So far so good for the Miami Heat, they are four wins away from validating their bold move in less than a year.  That's right Dan Gilbert, less than a year later.  Lebron has taken the brunt of the criticism because of the matter in which he left Cleveland ("The Decision") and frankly he's just better than the other two.  He's accepted the challenge by taking over the Chicago series, guarding Rose and knocking down daggers in the crunch.

I believe winning this title would mean a lot for Dirk's career and legacy, but Lebron has more at stake in the Finals this year.  If the Heat can't close out the Mavericks then the hate will rain down like investigations in Columbus. Lebron's critics are ready to pounce, ever ready to smear his name at every chance.  Including me. 

I've never been a big fan of him.  Has never really sat well with me that people think he's better than Kobe, even worse Jordan.  Lebron is blessed with more physical gifts than any NBA'er before him.  But everything hasn't clicked for him yet.  He shows flashes of it but there are times when he looks just looks like that guy playing pickup that has 5'' on everyone.  He knows he can score easily during the flow of the game by simply being bigger and stronger.  But when it’s a close game and your team is slumping you have to be able to do more than simply out size your opponent.  

You need a signature move, a signature shot.  Michael had his jumper in the lane, Kareem had the skyhook, Kobe has the turn around, and Dirk even has the one footed fader.  What is Lebron really known for?  Big blocks and ferocious jams?  Flashy and fun but hardly what it takes to close out big games.  I believe this is the year he finally wins a ring (Heat in 6), but not because his game has evolved.  Maybe Lebron doesn't need a "go to" move.  Maybe joining up with Bosh and Wade has bailed James out from learning post moves or a more consistent jumper.  Instead we'll call him a clutch defender and a needle threading distributer. 


I love seeing history and experiencing all time performances; USC '03-'05, Lance Armstrong, Pats '07, Tiger Woods (before November 2010), Kobe vs the Suns '10.  I'm not old enough to fully remember Jordan during the early 90's.  I would love to see Lebron evolve into that iconic player that we all remember and admire just so I able to "witness" it.  But the truth is he's not there yet and won't be even if they win the title this year.  But he'll be one step closer.

NBA Finals Preview - Drik Nowitzki

Dallas has assembled a team chuck full of players who have never tasted championship glory; Kidd, Stojakovic, Marion, Terry, and Dirk. While it would be a touching story for them to win, this year's Finals is all about Dirk. What kind of legacy will he leave behind if he doesn't win a championship? Where does he rank all time before and after a championship ring? Dirk has heard both sides of the spectrum over his career; "he's too soft" and now "he's the greatest seven foot shooter ever."

To be considered one of the "Greats" (Top 15 of all time) you have to taste championship glory at least once. If you only win once then I'll need to see multiple record breaking performances to qualify you for this list. At this point in his career Dirk can't crack the top 20 list, sorry just hasn't impressed in the postseason enough. I'm going to list ten guys and you tell me if he should supplant them: Karl Malone, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek, and Bob Cousy.  Does Dirk beat out any of these guys?


The only one I can argue for is Barkley. Barkley ran into the buzz saw that was the Chicago Bulls in1993 Finals and never came close again to winning a title. Their numbers are almost identical at this point; both have won a league MVP, both have been to 10+ All-Star games, both have been selected to 4+ All-NBA First Teams, and both had been to the NBA Finals only once prior to this season. Here's why Charles Barkley still trumps Dirk unless he takes the title home this year. Barkley was one of only four players to compile 20K+ points, 10K+ rebounds, and 4K+ assists (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley) while standing at roughly 6'5''. He bodied up against some of the all-time great bigs (Ewing, Robinson, Abdul-Jabbar, Olajuwon, and Malone) and held his own even though they had five inches on him. Barkley is a once in a lifetime kind of player given his size but that one glaring hole makes him vulnerable to be surpassed.


Winning a championship is the bar that everyone is measured upon. Winning a championship can completely change one's legacy (Garnett is no longer the loser in Minnesota). While there is little argument that Dirk isn't the greatest seven foot shooter ever, his all time legacy is ultimately still up in the air.

Eastern Conference Finals - Game 4

Dwayne Wade vanished just like he said he can in those awful X-Men commercials. And like he promised he reappeared in overtime when it counted the most for the Heat. With two minutes left in OT Wade hits a nineteen footer to put the Heat up three. With a minute to go Wade put the dagger in the Bull's heart stretching the lead to six. Even on an "off night" (shot 31%) Wade makes his impact on the game. The true value of having two superstars on a team is visible in these situations. Wade's struggles all night fell onto Lebron's shoulders, and he answered. James dropped thirty five as he took over the Heat's point guard duties in the fourth quarter.

By the way, I am a huge fan of Lebron playing the point. Before the season I assumed the starting lineup would be the following: Lebron at the 1, Wade at the 2, Miller at 3, Bosh at the 4, and Haslem at the 5. Obviously due to the injuries they weren't able to put this lineup into play during the regular season. Last night we got a glimpse of what I expect the Heat to run in crunch time minutes for the remainder of the playoffs. James at point generates countless matchup problems; I mean he's 6'8'' and 260. It allows him to drive and create like he did so many times in Cleveland. However, while he's similar in build to Magic, his passing skills aren't exactly on par yet. With time though he could develop into impossible match up at the point and acquire the true vision necessary to run the point in the NBA.

Game 4 Western Conference Finals

Today's number is 25.  Twenty-five times Oklahoma City gave the ball back to Dallas without even attempting a shot and yet they were still in this game with a chance to win in the closing seconds.  Anytime you double your opponent's turnover total it doesn't bode well for your outcome.  Durant was one turnover away from a triple-double.  You're two best players accounted for more turnovers than the entire Dallas squad.  The youth and inexperience has busted through the floodgates and ultimately crushing the Thunder in this series.
The only number that stands out is 25.  The Thunder outscored the Mavs in the paint, in transition, and rebounding the ball.  You win those three battles and I guarantee you win the overwhelming majority of your games.  I don't want to rain on Dallas's parade that's going down Wednesday night, they have played well all playoffs.  They set records for three pointers made versus the Lakers and have continued to rain them down on the Thunder.  Dallas hasn't overly impressed me this postseason (maybe I'm just bitter), but for some strange reason their opponents play their worse basketball against them.  I credit Rick Carlisle for a superb coaching effort and putting a team together that can light you up for 48 minutes no matter who’s on the floor. 
Their mix of speed and knock down shooting is proving to be a difficult match up for teams this postseason. The Lakers tried to out size them, Dallas stretched the floor and let "Mini-Me" loose to terrorize the Laker guards.  The Thunder have played lock down defense onDirk but nothing slows the seven footer.  Their offense is potent, there is no doubting that.  But can their defense match the intensity of the Eastern Conference Finalist (aka the Heat)?  If not, can you win a title by simply out scoring your opponent?  I say no.

Game 2 Recap Western Conference Finals

Scott Brooks took one of those shots that you yell at your player when they miss or just shake your head if it somehow goes in.  I like to call this one the Kobe Bryant.  If the Mav's come back and take Game 2 from the Thunder the talk would be about Brook's "stubborness."  Instead the focus falls on Westbrook and how he'll deal with being benched.  I believe Brooks was simply performing his normal rotation when Maynor entered the game but Westbrook's temper tantrum solidified that he would be enjoying the remainder of the game on the sidelines.
Now in Game 3 we look to see how this young team, especially Westbrook, over come the scrutiny of their starters sitting for the majority of the fourth quarter.  The pressure now falls Oklahoma City to make use of home court like they have so many times this postseason, 6-1 at home.  The battle of experience versus youth is on display in this series maybe more than ever.  I believe that Game 4 is the most pivotal game in a seven game series. However, if OK City gets production from their bench (James Harden) again and takes Game 3, then I see a sweep in the second leg of this for the Thunder heading back to Dallas up three games to one.  Loud City is one of the loudest stadiums to play in, can only imagine the volume during a Game 4 up two games to one.

Game 2 Heat and Bulls

As is tradition we now have to focus on Lebron's emergence as a clutch scorer and how the Bulls lack proven scorers other than Rose. I believe on Monday all we could talk about was how deep Chicago was and how they would simply outlast Miami in this series. Let's be honest, if the Bulls can replicate Game 1's performance this weekend then we'll all be jumping ship and swimming back Chicago's way. It amazes me how fickle and forgetful we are.
The Bulls made their run in the 4th and eventually took the lead. A few dumb possessions and a couple of dagger jumpers from Lebron and the Heat even the series. If the Bulls were more effective with their possessions after taking the lead it puts the pressure back on Lebron to come from behind. But instead the Heat make easy transition opportunities and Lebron feels comfortable to hit those big jumpers.

The true morale to this story is: "don't overreact." This series is still a tossup and can easily go either way. Both teams showed their strengths and their weaknesses in games 1 and 2. I fully expect for Chicago to pull even in the series and take one of two while in South Beach.  Who wins this series no one can predict but it will be a hell-of-a battle with the winner taking the crown in the finals.  Defense wins championships and the East are the superior defenders.

Hello Taj Gibson

One of the Greats