Monday, June 05, 2006
NBA Finals
One of the most exciting playoffs in a long time, the 2006 NBA Playoffs come to a close with the NBA Finals, beginning Thursday night in Dallas. Do you envision Shaq getting his 4th ring? Or do you see Mark Cuban bawling like a baby as he clutches the Larry O'Brien Trophy?Please include in the comments who will win it all, in how many games, and who is your NBA Finals MVP?
My analysis/predictions can be found below...
Backcourt: Edge for Miami
Both frontcourts are very talented, but D-Wade has been phenomenal throughout the playoffs and the Dallas defense will be focused on him throughout the series. The Heat need an x-factor like Jason Williams to play at a level similar to his game 6 performance vs Detroit (21 pts, 6 ast, 1 to). Dallas also has strong backcourt play, particularly from Jason Terry and Devin Harris. However, you wonder if Devin Harris' playing time will be diminished with Adrian Griffin most likely being assigned to guard Dwayne Wade.
Frontcourt: Edge for Dallas
This is an extrememly intriguing battle. Dirk has seemingly been unguardable as of late and Shaq has played like the old Shaq throughout these playoffs. However the real center of attention in the frontcourt battle is Erick Dampier...yes Erick Dampier. After watching Nash win his second straight MVP, Dampier, the man Dallas choose to acquire instead of re-signing Nash, has the biggest series of his life now. If Dampier can stay out of foul trouble and contain Shaq than perhaps he can quiet the Cuban haters (one of these is none other than Dr. Evil) who stil resent the fact that Cuban choose to pay Dampier $73 million, rather than give Nash an extra year on a contract offer. This is a big IF though, luckily for Dampier, Desagana Diop has emerged as a defensive presence and will assist Damp with this tough task. As for Dirk, I can't find one player in the NBA, let alone the the Heat roster, who can shut down Dirk for more than a game. Miami will most likely take turns with Haslem, Posey, and Walker attempting to guard the big German. However, double-teams seems imminent and that will free things up for other Mavs, including swingman Josh Howard. Josh Howard is no longer an "x-factor" but rather the second option who the Mavs expect to show up and play big each and every game this series.
Dr. Evil, at the age of 17 (Pre-Steroids), shown here extremely excited after witnessing his first Mavericks playoff game, as Dallas defeated the Utah Jazz in 5 games. In Nash's playoff debut, he averaged 18.4 points and 7 assists, leading the Mavs, alongside Dirk Nowitzki, to the franchise's first playoff series victory of the decade. Dr. Evil thought this duo could lead the Mavs to several NBA championships, however after not offering Nash a 6th year, the point guard left in 2004 for Phoenix, and not only has he won back to back MVP awards, but Dr. Evil hasn't had a good nights sleep since then, constantly waking during the night, to the thought of "what if?"
Coaching: Even
Certainly Pat Riley has much more experience coaching in the finals, let alone the playoffs, than Avery Johnson, however AJ not only is the reigning Coach of the Year but he manifested how good of a coach he is with his several adjustments he made throughout the San Antonio and Phoenix series (Devin Harris, then Desagana Diop).
I think this will be a close series, however I will take the hometown Mavs in 7, with Dirk as my MVP.
8 Comments:
I would like to know where Dr. Evil received his steroids...I already know he received fashion tips from Mark Cuban! As for the finals, it's tough to bet against Shaq at this point. He is a (large) man on a mission and may make D-Wade one of the NBA's all-time great players during the NBA Finals!
Adam, I agree with most of your analysis. However, I think you have to give the backcourt edge to the Mavs as well. D-Wade is great and we are not going to completely stop him, but Howard's length and quickness is going to frustrate him, and a healthy, active, and strong Griffin coming off the bench, rested, with the sole purpose of stopping Wade is going to slow him. No one on Miami can guard Terry and Harris is too quick too. I bet on Jason Williams getting frustrated and playing well 1 out of 2 games at best.
As for the big men, Diop and Dampier will at least CONTAIN Shaq sometimes, allowing the mavs NOT to have to double down. If Walker and Williams and Payton aren't getting open shots, it's going to be tough for them to score.
The mavs series against san antonio is enough for me to pick them again. They beat the best team in the league (superior to the heat) and they did it with superior coaching and superior play.
Home court will come up big, but the Mavs are the best road team in the league, and quite frankly, we're not going to need it.
Mavs in 6
(After all this ESPN education, you can't come up with a better prediction aaron? come on, you're killing me)
It's going to be all about the Mavericks ability to play Harris and Terry at the same time. The size of Wade will make things very difficult, but Harris is the key. If they can somehow play those two with Howard, Dirk, and Dampier/Diop and assign Howard to Wade, I give Dallas the edge. The problem is that if Dallas plays that lineup, Harris or Terry will have to guard either James Posey or, more likely, Antoine Walker, a recipe for disaster.
If Harris and Terry don't play together, Miami wins in 6. If they can play together and not lose too much on the defensive end, I say Mavs in 7. I'm still not sure which one to say yet.
And kudos for calling the coaching matchup even. I'm so tired of hearing how Riley's experience will give him the edge against Avery. Avery has already outcoached Gregg Popovich (an experienced playoff coach in his own right) and Mike D'Antoni, another spectacular coach. He'll be fine coaching against Riley.
Mavs in 6. Jason Terry will be finals MVP and Diop will be the target of my mancrush throughout the series.
I stand behind my statement that Cuban has done nothing for this franchise from the standpoint of personel...Josh Howard, Jet Terry, and Devon Harris are his only additions worth mentioning since 2000. If we had Dirk and Nash that would be 2/5 best players in basketball...those teams win championships...but I am an MFFL (Mavericks Fan For Life)....Evil....ps - I predict Mavs in six...we win the first 2 at home...Miami takes 2/3 at their place...we win game 6...by the way American Airline is the big winner here...they have the American Airlines Center and the American Airlines Arena...Adrianna Lima is hot
anyone hear steve kerr's prediction? he chooses the mavs. wanna know why? he says we already beat the two best ranked defenses in the league (memphis and san antonio) and then we beat the best offense in the league (phoenix)
I like you steve, but I still hate you for what you did to us in 03'
Speaking on Steve Kerr, can I get a good broadcaster in the house? I am really pissed off. It is one thing not to have TNT, but the inferior ESPN/ABC crew, but the play-by-play, color man, halftime crew, and sideline crew were horrible choices. HERE IS WHO THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD...OBVIOUSLY:
Play-by-play: Mike Tirico
Color: Snapper Jones and Bill Walton
Sideline: Jim Gray
Halftime show: John Saunders, Tim Legler, Greg Anthony, Stephen A. Smith
I just spoke with Stu Pradia and after watching game 1 of the NBA finals, without hesitation insisted the Mavs would win in 6. He said he couldn't believe he was uttering those words, but he did say them.
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