NBA Championship Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat

[EmpireWF]

The uberheel Heat are on the verge of getting LBJ and Bosh their first championship. To my surprise, they rolled past the Bulls and looked damn good doing so.

The babyface Mavericks are back in their first Championship series since losing to Wade's Heat in 2006. Nowitski has played out of this world at times this post-season and they've been able to keep powerful offenses all shook up this post-season.

Who ya got?

 

[NAHSTE]

Really interesting clash of styles. I'm tempted to pick Miami in 6, but I'm hoping it will be Dallas in 7.

 

[Juggernaut]

Mavs in 5. Let's hope the refs don't fuck it up for Dirk like last time.

 

[James2Stapleton]

Miami in 5!

 

[Bmore]

This will be very close, but I'm going to take Heat in 6. 3-2 going back to miami and they win it @ home.

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

I originally thought 7 games.... then I remembered every time so far that I thought we wouldn't close out a team and we did. Heat in 6... Dirk will get his, there is no doubt about that I don't see any "match-up games" going on against him. Miami's closing speed on defense should really harass Dallas who is a heavy perimeter shooting team at times. It's going to be a good series, BUT.... just to make it clear... the Heat are NOT the Thunder, Westbrook won't be contributing to blowing huge leads against Dallas... just a thought. If Dallas goes to sleep as many times as they did against the Thunder the Heat will close it out in 4-5 games.

 

[manchild24]

James, Wade, Bitch, Miller and Haslem maybe the best starting lineup in the league. Heat in 6 and Lebron's "tainted" championships for teaming and needing two other players of star caliber to win one. If he did this with Wade alone Id say ok, or if he stayed in Cleveland and brought Bosh in with him Id say OK.

Dont even compare them to the Bulls runs with Jordan and Pippen or Magic and Bird. He sold out for a Championship.

Boy where were these clutch performances last year in the playoffs at Cleveland? Lebron owned the Bulls down the stretch as Wade stood by the last two games. Makes you think even more he just wanted out of Cleveland so bad.

If Dirk goes cold, Heat sweep.

 

[FirstTimer]

Heat in 6. If Spoelstra is smart and puts James on Dirk...it could be over in 4.

 

[manchild24]

Heat in 6. If Spoelstra is smart and puts James on Dirk...it could be over in 4.

I thought the same thing.

Whats your match ups here.

 

[G-men]

James, Wade, Bitch, Miller and Haslem maybe the best starting lineup in the league. Heat in 6 and Lebron's "tainted" championships for teaming and needing two other players of star caliber to win one. If he did this with Wade alone Id say ok, or if he stayed in Cleveland and brought Bosh in with him Id say OK.

Dont even compare them to the Bulls runs with Jordan and Pippen or Magic and Bird. He sold out for a Championship.

Boy where were these clutch performances last year in the playoffs at Cleveland? Lebron owned the Bulls down the stretch as Wade stood by the last two games. Makes you think even more he just wanted out of Cleveland so bad.

If Dirk goes cold, Heat sweep.

i dont think that has ever been a starting lineup for the Heat

 

[MrBill]

This is a tough one. I'm going to take the Mavs in 6 but wouldn't be shocked at all if the Heat won the series.

 

[manchild24]

i dont think that has ever been a starting lineup for the Heat

Well Starting may have been the wrong word, but from what the announcers said and what Ive read on ESPN this the lineup Riley had intended when they put the team together

 

[Houston]

The Heat stand no chance.


Dallas in 6 or less.

 

[Primetime]

James, Wade, Bitch, Miller and Haslem maybe the best starting lineup in the league. Heat in 6 and Lebron's "tainted" championships for teaming and needing two other players of star caliber to win one. If he did this with Wade alone Id say ok, or if he stayed in Cleveland and brought Bosh in with him Id say OK.

Dont even compare them to the Bulls runs with Jordan and Pippen or Magic and Bird. He sold out for a Championship.

Boy where were these clutch performances last year in the playoffs at Cleveland? Lebron owned the Bulls down the stretch as Wade stood by the last two games. Makes you think even more he just wanted out of Cleveland so bad.

If Dirk goes cold, Heat sweep.

Or that he had a team around him that would be lucky to win 20 games without him. He had nobody around him to finish what he started, and no one near talented enough to feed him the ball in great scoring positions. The Cavs are fucking horrible, Lebron couldn't do everything himself.

 

[ralaw]

"Clutch" is one of the most overrated discussion topics in sports. During the regular season (which everyone says doesn't matter) most people said LBJ wasn't clutch, but now he makes some shots and now all of a sudden he's clutch. LBJ is the same player then that he is now....the only difference is the shots are falling. Is Derrick Rose less "clutch" now? What about Durant?....we all know Dirk is now all of a sudden a great player...even though hes been doing this for years.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

I hate the 2-3-2 format for the finals btw.

Im pulling for Dallas, but its very hard for me to see Miami losing a 7 game series against anyone ATM.

 

[G-men]

Well Starting may have been the wrong word, but from what the announcers said and what Ive read on ESPN this the lineup Riley had intended when they put the team together

it probably was since the Heat dont play with the conventional "one of each position" lineup that most teams play with. the Heat usually just put out the best 5 players they have available and let things play out, whether theres a PG or even a C on the court or not.

 

[manchild24]

"Clutch" is one of the most overrated discussion topics in sports. During the regular season (which everyone says doesn't matter) most people said LBJ wasn't clutch, but now he makes some shots and now all of a sudden he's clutch. LBJ is the same player then that he is now....the only difference is the shots are falling. Is Derrick Rose less "clutch" now? What about Durant?....we all know Dirk is now all of a sudden a great player...even though hes been doing this for years.

I agree with you 100%, should have quoted it. just like announcers, commentators etc. said it was all Bulls after the first win, then when Miami came back and won game 2 they jump ship.

 

[manchild24]

Or that he had a team around him that would be lucky to win 20 games without him. He had nobody around him to finish what he started, and no one near talented enough to feed him the ball in great scoring positions. The Cavs are fucking horrible, Lebron couldn't do everything himself.

LeBron quit on his team last year, just accept it. he was good enough to get them to the Eastern Conference finals, best record in the East, NBA Finals, he was good enough to single handedly beat the Pistons that year. Now he needs help. Bullshit



theres a fucking surprise, getting groaned because I talk about the Heat. Groan away fuckers, I hope James breaks a leg.

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

The key match up this series is who ever is covering Dirk. The Heat have to take him out of the series for them to have a chance at winning. Dirk has proved himself as a huge threat.

Who will cover Dirk?
Lebron?

Dirk's 30-45 points will not beat the Heat, I say fuck him and just lock down the shooters that he will be kicking it to on the perimeter.... we will see how it plays out tho