What do we need to win, like the Mavericks?

[Marcus13]

Yeah, it's just a matter of the bigs IMO.

You have to be able to contest Wade and LeBron at the hoop without fouling

I disagree, to a larger extent the C's problem was that we couldn't score in the half court like Dallas was able to do.

We need a healthy Rondo and another good offensive spark off the bench. Improved big man play from the C and backup PF position won't be enough (though they'd help certainly)

I was taking Rondo's health for granted in my post - he would definitely need to be healthy in addition to the additional bigs.

And yes, it'd also be awesome to have players like JET and JJ off the bench who can fly around the court and get into the lane at-will.  We don't have anybody who is a real big threat to take the ball to the basket.

Nor do we have a legit superstar anymore that can be counted on to take over the scoring load

Basically, we're quite a few pieces away from being on Dallas' level

[get_banners]

health...plain and simple. we were as good as either of these 2 teams. we just weren't healthy. i'm convinced a health rondo might have been enough to beat the heat.

[thirstyboots18]

health...plain and simple. we were as good as either of these 2 teams. we just weren't healthy. i'm convinced a health rondo might have been enough to beat the heat.

I agree with get banners.  All we need is health...and time to fit the new guys in.  Mavs didn't beat the Heat with youth or athleticism...they beat them with experience and teamwork.  Dallas' passing and willingness to share the ball was a joy to watch.

[CelticG1]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

[wdleehi]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line. 

[get_banners]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line. 

their zone defense was a HUGE help to them. it might be a blueprint to beat miami. make the heat a perimeter team = beat the heat. fact is, lebron and wade aren't nearly as good shooters as they were vs. us and chicago - they hit contested jumpers they had no business hitting.

[CelticG1]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line.  

I disagree I think the Celtics and Bulls played better defensive and made Miami work harder. Miami and specifically Wade and James just weren't making incredible shots they made against us and the Bulls.

Dallas was probably the only great offense the Heat played this playoffs and ended up losing.

I think it was more the Mavs offense on the vaunted Heat defense than their defense

[wdleehi]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line.  

I disagree I think the Celtics and Bulls played better defensive and made Miami work harder. Miami and specifically Wade and James just weren't making incredible shots they made against us and the Bulls.

Dallas was probably the only great offense the Heat played this playoffs and ended up losing.

I think it was more the Mavs offense on the vaunted Heat defense than their defense

Dallas' defense kept Lebron out of the paint and off the line.

[makaveli]

health...plain and simple. we were as good as either of these 2 teams. we just weren't healthy. i'm convinced a health rondo might have been enough to beat the heat.

Ditto.
But that stands for last season, it's time to bring in 2 pieces. IMO starting 5, Green, Baby and Delonte should stay put, I like Wafer too.
We need a healthy big (saw dalamber talks on front page, I love it)

[CelticG1]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line.  

I disagree I think the Celtics and Bulls played better defensive and made Miami work harder. Miami and specifically Wade and James just weren't making incredible shots they made against us and the Bulls.

Dallas was probably the only great offense the Heat played this playoffs and ended up losing.

I think it was more the Mavs offense on the vaunted Heat defense than their defense

Dallas' defense kept Lebron out of the paint and off the line.

I'd have to give more credit to Lebron choking and wilting under pressure than the Mavs defense. You aren't going to convince me that the Bulls and Celtics didn't play better defense than the Mavs

[Marcus13]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line.  

I disagree I think the Celtics and Bulls played better defensive and made Miami work harder. Miami and specifically Wade and James just weren't making incredible shots they made against us and the Bulls.

Dallas was probably the only great offense the Heat played this playoffs and ended up losing.

I think it was more the Mavs offense on the vaunted Heat defense than their defense

Incredible shots?  All they did was took teh ball to the hoop and made layups and got fouled.  Dallas' rotations were insanely quicker than ours

[housecall]

A reliable rebounding center and a much much better bench.You need to be able to give your starters some rest and not worry about losing leads.If that resembles the Mavs then so be it.

[CelticG1]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line.  

I disagree I think the Celtics and Bulls played better defensive and made Miami work harder. Miami and specifically Wade and James just weren't making incredible shots they made against us and the Bulls.

Dallas was probably the only great offense the Heat played this playoffs and ended up losing.

I think it was more the Mavs offense on the vaunted Heat defense than their defense

Incredible shots?  All they did was took teh ball to the hoop and made layups and got fouled.  Dallas' rotations were insanely quicker than ours

Your right they didn't make any big 3's against us 

[greg683x]

Without making any changes to the core?  Then sadly my answer would have to be the fountain of youth. 

Our big three are still really good players but they're too far past their prime.  Rondo is an excellent player but I don't think he's a good enough scorer to take over games like we would need.  Paul pierce is my favorite player on the planet but I think he's too old to be counted on to just drop 40 on players like lebron anymore in a crucial game and say get out of my house.

I'm not usually a negative guy but this is my honest opinion. 

[wdleehi]

I think this finals proved that offense is starting to become more important than defense in this league. The league has been turning into an offensive oriented league and with rule changes continuing to benefit offensive players and limit defensive players I would be stocking my team with scorers

Dallas played good defense.  They kept the Heat out of the middle and limited the number of times players went to the line.  

I disagree I think the Celtics and Bulls played better defensive and made Miami work harder. Miami and specifically Wade and James just weren't making incredible shots they made against us and the Bulls.

Dallas was probably the only great offense the Heat played this playoffs and ended up losing.

I think it was more the Mavs offense on the vaunted Heat defense than their defense

Dallas' defense kept Lebron out of the paint and off the line.

I'd have to give more credit to Lebron choking and wilting under pressure than the Mavs defense. You aren't going to convince me that the Bulls and Celtics didn't play better defense than the Mavs

They did the same thing to Kobe and the Lakers and Durrant and the Thunder.