2010-11 NBA Playoffs / Finals

[mgent]

You guys watched the game last night right?

The Miami Heat dominated that game.

The Mavs dominated the 3 point line.

The Heat got layup and dunks, one right after the other, over and over via Lebron and Wade's passing.

The Mavs hit a lot of long range shots.

In a defensive series, that hot shooting happens once in a blue moon.

In the long run, the team that gets the most quality looks and easier baskets will end up winning the series.

Actually I think how you perform in the clutch is a more telling indicator.  Crazy shooting didn't win the game, the Heat were up by 4, the Mavs played good defense on Wade and LeBron, and LeBron didn't hit any stupid 3s like he did vs us and Chicago.  I think Dallas only hit 2 3s in the final minutes and both were WIDE open.

Plus this is the Mavs we're talking about, they're good for one of those games every so often.  I was saying before the game that they really needed a Game 4 from the Lakers series.  Good thing they listened.

[LB3533]

You guys watched the game last night right?

The Miami Heat dominated that game.

The Mavs dominated the 3 point line.

The Heat got layup and dunks, one right after the other, over and over via Lebron and Wade's passing.

The Mavs hit a lot of long range shots.

In a defensive series, that hot shooting happens once in a blue moon.

In the long run, the team that gets the most quality looks and easier baskets will end up winning the series.

The Heat don't get quality looks out of the half court as much as the Mavs. If the Mavs don't let the Heat get transition points their offense bogs down a lot.

You're right, the Mavs did get a bunch of quality looks, but most of them came from the perimeter.

The Mavs also had good penetration in last night's game, but again that was due to them making outside shots.

And there is no doubt that Miami thrives in transition. But last night's game, the Mavs kept their turnovers down, 6 only into the 3rd quarter.

Mavs hit 4 of their 13 three's in the 4th period.

[LB3533]

You guys watched the game last night right?

The Miami Heat dominated that game.

The Mavs dominated the 3 point line.

The Heat got layup and dunks, one right after the other, over and over via Lebron and Wade's passing.

The Mavs hit a lot of long range shots.

In a defensive series, that hot shooting happens once in a blue moon.

In the long run, the team that gets the most quality looks and easier baskets will end up winning the series.

Actually I think how you perform in the clutch is a more telling indicator.  Crazy shooting didn't win the game, the Heat were up by 4, the Mavs played good defense on Wade and LeBron, and LeBron didn't hit any stupid 3s like he did vs us and Chicago.  I think Dallas only hit 2 3s in the final minutes and both were WIDE open.

Plus this is the Mavs we're talking about, they're good for one of those games every so often.  I was saying before the game that they really needed a Game 4 from the Lakers series.  Good thing they listened.

Lebron didn't make his 3 pointer and the Mavs did make theirs in that 4th quarter.

That's the ball game.

Winning the game during clutch period is all well in good, but good teams tend to put teams away earlier in the game.

Comebacks are all well and good, but most of the time they fall short.

Miami has had double digit leads in 3 out of the 5 games. Dallas has had zero double digit leads.

Miamis "largest lead" average is 11.2 in these 5 games.

Dallas's "largest lead" average is only 7.4 over these 5 games.

The Mavs have definitely won the "come from behind" game. And the Mavs have played the best during the late game situations, but Miami has dominated the majority of each and every game.

You keep hearing both Dirk and Carlisle say that they keep digging themselves into a hole and it's tough for them to keep playing from behind, trying to fight back each and every game.....

Only the lesser team keeps playing from behind game in and game out.

[Kwhit10]

You guys watched the game last night right?

The Miami Heat dominated that game.

The Mavs dominated the 3 point line.

The Heat got layup and dunks, one right after the other, over and over via Lebron and Wade's passing.

The Mavs hit a lot of long range shots.

In a defensive series, that hot shooting happens once in a blue moon.

In the long run, the team that gets the most quality looks and easier baskets will end up winning the series.

Actually I think how you perform in the clutch is a more telling indicator.  Crazy shooting didn't win the game, the Heat were up by 4, the Mavs played good defense on Wade and LeBron, and LeBron didn't hit any stupid 3s like he did vs us and Chicago.  I think Dallas only hit 2 3s in the final minutes and both were WIDE open.

Plus this is the Mavs we're talking about, they're good for one of those games every so often.  I was saying before the game that they really needed a Game 4 from the Lakers series.  Good thing they listened.

Lebron didn't make his 3 pointer and the Mavs did make theirs in that 4th quarter.

That's the ball game.

Winning the game during clutch period is all well in good, but good teams tend to put teams away earlier in the game.

Comebacks are all well and good, but most of the time they fall short.

Miami has had double digit leads in 3 out of the 5 games. Dallas has had zero double digit leads.

Miamis "largest lead" average is 11.2 in these 5 games.

Dallas's "largest lead" average is only 7.4 over these 5 games.

The Mavs have definitely won the "come from behind" game. And the Mavs have played the best during the late game situations, but Miami has dominated the majority of each and every game.

You keep hearing both Dirk and Carlisle say that they keep digging themselves into a hole and it's tough for them to keep playing from behind, trying to fight back each and every game.....

Only the lesser team keeps playing from behind game in and game out.

The Celtics had a lead going into the 4th quarter in 3 of the 5 games against Miami and only won one of them.

[samantha28]

You guys watched the game last night right?

The Miami Heat dominated that game.

The Mavs dominated the 3 point line.

The Heat got layup and dunks, one right after the other, over and over via Lebron and Wade's passing.

The Mavs hit a lot of long range shots.

In a defensive series, that hot shooting happens once in a blue moon.

In the long run, the team that gets the most quality looks and easier baskets will end up winning the series.

Actually I think how you perform in the clutch is a more telling indicator.  Crazy shooting didn't win the game, the Heat were up by 4, the Mavs played good defense on Wade and LeBron, and LeBron didn't hit any stupid 3s like he did vs us and Chicago.  I think Dallas only hit 2 3s in the final minutes and both were WIDE open.

Plus this is the Mavs we're talking about, they're good for one of those games every so often.  I was saying before the game that they really needed a Game 4 from the Lakers series.  Good thing they listened.

Lebron didn't make his 3 pointer and the Mavs did make theirs in that 4th quarter.

That's the ball game.

Winning the game during clutch period is all well in good, but good teams tend to put teams away earlier in the game.

Comebacks are all well and good, but most of the time they fall short.

Miami has had double digit leads in 3 out of the 5 games. Dallas has had zero double digit leads.

Miamis "largest lead" average is 11.2 in these 5 games.

Dallas's "largest lead" average is only 7.4 over these 5 games.

The Mavs have definitely won the "come from behind" game. And the Mavs have played the best during the late game situations, but Miami has dominated the majority of each and every game.

You keep hearing both Dirk and Carlisle say that they keep digging themselves into a hole and it's tough for them to keep playing from behind, trying to fight back each and every game.....

Only the lesser team keeps playing from behind game in and game out.

The Celtics had a lead going into the 4th quarter in 3 of the 5 games against Miami and only won one of them.

It does not matter in the Finals who the "best team" is. As Erik Spoelstra says, there are no good or bad wins in the finals, just wins. I think that we should not overanalyze the wins and just sit back and enjoy good bball.

[RyNye]

Only the lesser team keeps playing from behind game in and game out.

By that logic, the 2006 Mavericks were better than the 2006 Miami team. Or, for that matter, the 2008 Lakers were better than the 2008 Celtics. Or we could go further back and look at the finals in 1977, 1975, or 1969 (according to your reasoning, the Bill Russell Celtics were inferior to the West/Baylor/Chamberlain Lakers. Yeah, who cares if they won titles, because they were obviously the inferior teams since they had to play from behind.

[slamtheking]

... just sit back and enjoy good bball.

But how can you do that when the C's aren't playing?   

[samantha28]

... just sit back and enjoy good bball.

But how can you do that when the C's aren't playing?   

i know, i know. I'm telling myself, however, the Cs aren't in the Finals this year because it's Dallas's time to win it.

[mgent]

... just sit back and enjoy good bball.

But how can you do that when the C's aren't playing?   

i know, i know. I'm telling myself, however, the Cs aren't in the Finals this year because it's Dallas's time to win it.

I never looked at it that way, maybe that's what the basketball gods had in store.  No problem with Kidd and Dirk getting rings, they're too good to not have them.  Plus I'd love to have a fellow German represent.

[soap07]

Predictions for tonight?


I still say Miami goes on and wins the series. Maybe I'm stubborn - but in all 3 Dallas wins, the Mavs needed improbably comebacks and prayer shots (especially in Game 5) to win. You can only go back to the well so many times on that me thinks.

[PosImpos]

Miami wins tonight in a blowout after Tyson Chandler blows his knee out under the basket early in the second quarter.

OH WAIT!

That was last year.

[PosImpos]

Predictions for tonight?


I still say Miami goes on and wins the series. Maybe I'm stubborn - but in all 3 Dallas wins, the Mavs needed improbably comebacks and prayer shots (especially in Game 5) to win. You can only go back to the well so many times on that me thinks.

I think theyve done it so many times this postseason that you cant really call it fluky or luck. Although spome of the threes the Mavs hit last game were very unlikely.

[soap07]

I think theyve done it so many times this postseason that you cant really call it fluky or luck. Although spome of the threes the Mavs hit last game were very unlikely.

Agreed. I just don't see how they can conceivably keep winning like that against a team as good defensively as Miami.

Some thing going in Dallas' favor:

LeBron has got to be exhausted. He's playing a ton of minutes - and is probably exhausted mentally too.

[nickagneta]

Predictions for tonight?


I still say Miami goes on and wins the series. Maybe I'm stubborn - but in all 3 Dallas wins, the Mavs needed improbably comebacks and prayer shots (especially in Game 5) to win. You can only go back to the well so many times on that me thinks.

They have come back from large leads against every team they have played this playoff season so I don't see where you can call what they have done as improbable.

As for the prayer shots last game, a LOT of those three pointers were wide open shots without a Heat player within 5 feet of the shooter. The Mavs ball movement last game was exceptional leading to a lot of wide open outside shots.

It was not an accident that the Mavs and Heat had the highest scoring night of the Finals and best shooting night of the Finals last game. Neither team played anywhere near the quality of defense that they did in the first five games. If the Heat play that same type of defense tonight, it will the Mavs game to lose because the open shots will be there and, simply put, they are a better shooting team than the Heat are.

[soap07]

They have come back from large leads against every team they have played this playoff season so I don't see where you can call what they have done as improbable.

True, but I don't think calling a 15 point comeback with 5 minutes left or whatever against a team as good as Miami improbably is outlandish. But your point is taken.

If the Heat play that same type of defense tonight, it will the Mavs game to lose because the open shots will be there and, simply put, they are a better shooting team than the Heat are.

Yup, if this game is a shootout, the Mavs will win, no question.