When the season started, in October 2010, there were not many people outside of die-hard Dallas Mavericks fans who would have bet any money that Dirk & Company would be able to win the crown.
Especially against the big three of the Miami Heat (Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh), the free agents who came together last summer with plans to win multiple titles.
For Nowitzki it must have been sweet revenge for their embarrassing defeat to the Heat in 2006, after jumping to a 2-0 start in that series.
This was a hard-fought set of games where every night the announcers continuously spoke about how Miami was the dominant team, even when the series was tied at 2-2. That talk subsided a bit when Dallas went up 3-2 on Thursday. It left at the final match-up in Game 6 with the Mavs dominating the second half and ending with a 105-95 close-out victory.
Even though eventual Finals MVP Dirk shot just 1 for 12 in the first half of game six the rest of the team took up the slack until he got his groove back. Key was Jason Terry who, coming off the bench, burned Miami seemingly whenever he touched the ball and topped all scorers with 27 points. Another was speedster JJ Barea who added 15.
Dirk, who pretty much sealed the game with 2:27 left, ended with 21. One great effort was a rainbow 3 he launched 5 minutes into the 3rd quarter.
For Dallas' aging three (thirty-somes Dirk, Terry and Jason Kidd) the glory of victory to garner for the franchise their first-ever trophy certainly was sweet, as can be seen in the below video.
Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks on a hard-fought, well-played and well-deserved championship series.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Showing posts with label Championship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Championship. Show all posts
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
The NBA Finals: Heat 1 - Mavericks 1
It seemed no one thought the Mavericks could beat the Heat in Game 2 at South Beach, down 15 with seven minutes and change remaining.
Certainly the crowd at American Airlines Arena knew it was over. As did, based on comments, the announcers.
In what had been a relatively close back-and-forth contest for most of the game, the Heat went on a rampage and took what seemed like an insurmountable and commanding 15 point lead in the 4th, assisted by three consecutive Mav turnovers, capped by a D-Wade 3-pointer.
After Wade dropped the corner downtown shot to make it 88-73, LeBron James trotted over and congratulated him.
Perhaps it was a little too much. Some of the Mavericks noticed and took it as a too-soon mini-celebration. Tyson Chandler said it was "upsetting." Jason Terry said it was "a turning point."
What many people seem to have forgetten is that Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs had been in situations like this three different times to three different contenders on their road to these 2011 NBA Finals.
Late in the games, they had been down 12 to the Portland Trailblazers and stormed back, down 16 to the defending Champion LA Lakers and won, as well as down 15 to the Oklahoma City Thunder only to turn up the heat (pardon the expression) to snatch that victory.
Their 22-5 run in the final 7:14 was capped by Dirk sliding around Chris Bosh for what would be the game-winning layup. No one knows why Bosh did not foul as Miami had a foul to give.
Regardless, it was a fantastic comeback by Dallas.
It was also payback. In the 2006 Finals Dallas had a 2-0 advantage over Miami and in Game 3 held a 13 point lead in the 4th only to lose that game and the next three.
The Mavs made a non-verbal statement with their Game 2 victory: Whatever else happens, this is a contest and may the best team win.
In what seems like agreement, LeBron, postgame, said, "It's a ballgame now."
Here are the highlights from Game 2 with fantastic plays by both teams.
It seems a certainty that James, Wade and Bosh will not allow anything like this to occur again in these Finals. It might also be that Dirk and Company will do everything in their power not to find themselves in that kind of position.
The series moves to Dallas on Sunday for the first of three games to be played at American Airlines Center, the airline hosting all of the 2011 Finals contests.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Certainly the crowd at American Airlines Arena knew it was over. As did, based on comments, the announcers.
In what had been a relatively close back-and-forth contest for most of the game, the Heat went on a rampage and took what seemed like an insurmountable and commanding 15 point lead in the 4th, assisted by three consecutive Mav turnovers, capped by a D-Wade 3-pointer.
After Wade dropped the corner downtown shot to make it 88-73, LeBron James trotted over and congratulated him.
Perhaps it was a little too much. Some of the Mavericks noticed and took it as a too-soon mini-celebration. Tyson Chandler said it was "upsetting." Jason Terry said it was "a turning point."
What many people seem to have forgetten is that Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs had been in situations like this three different times to three different contenders on their road to these 2011 NBA Finals.
Late in the games, they had been down 12 to the Portland Trailblazers and stormed back, down 16 to the defending Champion LA Lakers and won, as well as down 15 to the Oklahoma City Thunder only to turn up the heat (pardon the expression) to snatch that victory.
Their 22-5 run in the final 7:14 was capped by Dirk sliding around Chris Bosh for what would be the game-winning layup. No one knows why Bosh did not foul as Miami had a foul to give.
Regardless, it was a fantastic comeback by Dallas.
It was also payback. In the 2006 Finals Dallas had a 2-0 advantage over Miami and in Game 3 held a 13 point lead in the 4th only to lose that game and the next three.
The Mavs made a non-verbal statement with their Game 2 victory: Whatever else happens, this is a contest and may the best team win.
In what seems like agreement, LeBron, postgame, said, "It's a ballgame now."
Here are the highlights from Game 2 with fantastic plays by both teams.
It seems a certainty that James, Wade and Bosh will not allow anything like this to occur again in these Finals. It might also be that Dirk and Company will do everything in their power not to find themselves in that kind of position.
The series moves to Dallas on Sunday for the first of three games to be played at American Airlines Center, the airline hosting all of the 2011 Finals contests.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
NBA Finals - Dallas maligned in Game 1 loss to Miami
It's bad enough to lose the first game in the NBA Finals. Especially waiting five years to get back to this stage.
it is even worse to be maligned for losing when not deserved.
The Dallas Mavericks did, indeed, lose to the Miami Heat in game one of the NBA Finals. No doubt about it. Final score: Heat 92 Mavs 84.
Reading what some reporters and bloggers have written makes it seem as if Dallas could do nothing right - yet an 8 point loss is not a blow out by any means, especially when one is in the enemy camp, i.e., playing on your opponent's court. You know, the ole home court advantage thing.
As far as stats are concerned, Dallas shot 37% from the field, Miami hit 39%. Neither of those are very impressive.
From downtown the Heat were at 46% while Dallas shot 41%, a difference of 6 points in favor of the Heat. The Mavs held the edge at the free throw line hitting 78% to the Heat's 71% for a 6 point advantage. They effectively cancelled each other out.
Offensively, Miami took 80 shots to Dallas' 67. That was a huge help for the Heat. And Miami did dominate the boards, 46 to 36, which is what gave them, to a fairly large degree, the winning edge.
Yes, Miami won, mostly due to their better defense and the offensive board advantage they took.
To read the headlines, one would think Dallas did absolutely nothing right. Yes, LeBron and Wade made some big, key plays in the 4th quarter. And those two can be dominating, but they did not "dominate" this first game. And then consider that two of Miami's starters failed to score a single point.
Sweet slam by LeBron.
One article that appeared in Yahoo! Sports mentioned that it would be tough for Dallas and their one star to beat Miami and their three stars, meaning Dirk beating LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh. Apparently that reporter does not consider Jason Kidd a threat, despite the fact he is a 10-time All Star and is in 3rd place all-time for triple-doubles. Go figure.
True, everyone has, and is entitled to, their own opinion. This blogger's opinion is that Miami won, Dallas lost. Miami played better at the right times, especially down the stretch. Neither team played close to a perfect game.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
it is even worse to be maligned for losing when not deserved.
The Dallas Mavericks did, indeed, lose to the Miami Heat in game one of the NBA Finals. No doubt about it. Final score: Heat 92 Mavs 84.
Reading what some reporters and bloggers have written makes it seem as if Dallas could do nothing right - yet an 8 point loss is not a blow out by any means, especially when one is in the enemy camp, i.e., playing on your opponent's court. You know, the ole home court advantage thing.
As far as stats are concerned, Dallas shot 37% from the field, Miami hit 39%. Neither of those are very impressive.
From downtown the Heat were at 46% while Dallas shot 41%, a difference of 6 points in favor of the Heat. The Mavs held the edge at the free throw line hitting 78% to the Heat's 71% for a 6 point advantage. They effectively cancelled each other out.
Offensively, Miami took 80 shots to Dallas' 67. That was a huge help for the Heat. And Miami did dominate the boards, 46 to 36, which is what gave them, to a fairly large degree, the winning edge.
Yes, Miami won, mostly due to their better defense and the offensive board advantage they took.
To read the headlines, one would think Dallas did absolutely nothing right. Yes, LeBron and Wade made some big, key plays in the 4th quarter. And those two can be dominating, but they did not "dominate" this first game. And then consider that two of Miami's starters failed to score a single point.
Sweet slam by LeBron.
One article that appeared in Yahoo! Sports mentioned that it would be tough for Dallas and their one star to beat Miami and their three stars, meaning Dirk beating LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh. Apparently that reporter does not consider Jason Kidd a threat, despite the fact he is a 10-time All Star and is in 3rd place all-time for triple-doubles. Go figure.
True, everyone has, and is entitled to, their own opinion. This blogger's opinion is that Miami won, Dallas lost. Miami played better at the right times, especially down the stretch. Neither team played close to a perfect game.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Monday, May 30, 2011
Top 10 Plays - 2011 NBA Conference Finals
The 2011 NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals were superb, producing many many moments of both smiles and frowns, cheering and jeering, joy and sorrow, depending upon the choice of team being backed.
Though each of the sets were decided in just five games, they were each hard fought, and there were some outstanding plays by all four teams involved: Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Below are the top 10 plays of the conference finals, as determined by the NBA.
While not everyone will agree on the selections, each one of the them does represent either offensive or defensive greatness on the floor, from a perfectly executed coast-to-coast layup, to incredible downtown shots, to outstanding dunks, to fabulous blocks.
Great ready for what promises to be an excellent NBA Championship Series between the Mavs and the Heat!
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Though each of the sets were decided in just five games, they were each hard fought, and there were some outstanding plays by all four teams involved: Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Below are the top 10 plays of the conference finals, as determined by the NBA.
While not everyone will agree on the selections, each one of the them does represent either offensive or defensive greatness on the floor, from a perfectly executed coast-to-coast layup, to incredible downtown shots, to outstanding dunks, to fabulous blocks.
Great ready for what promises to be an excellent NBA Championship Series between the Mavs and the Heat!
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
NBA Conference Championship Playoffs 2011
It is definitely NBA Playoff time and as this blog is being written the playoffs are, essentially, midway to having a 2011 Champion.
Some surprises have definitely happened along the way.
The #1 seed in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, lost in the first round to the #8 seed Memphis Grizzlies in six games.
Perhaps it was meant to be this year, the #2 seed (and defending NBA Champion) Los Angeles Lakers took six games to beat the #7 New Orleans Hornets and then got swept by #3 Dallas Mavericks in four games, completely thwarting their effort for a second three-peat.
In the Eastern Conference, the #1 seed Chicago Bulls, with the league's MVP and best record of all teams, took out the #7 Indiana Pacers in five games in round one and find themselves tied at two games each with #5 seed Atlanta Hawks who took the #4 Orlando Magic out of the picture in six.
Probably one of the most anticipated matchups features #2 Miami Heat and #3 Boston Celtics. The Heat excelled in game 4 to lead the series 3-1.
As it looks right now, the Dallas Mavericks, with time to rest after their sweep, will probably meet #4 Oklahoma City Thunder (providing they get by the Grizzlies, with the series tied at 2 apiece) for the Western Conference Championship while in the Eastern Conference odds are that the Heat will be playing the Bulls to determine who goes for the NBA trophy.
It will be interesting to see.
As the theme of the playoffs is "Win or Go Home," one can see the truth in that short statement.
In the meantime, one of the highlights of every playoff game has been the NBA's own commercials, featuring the "Official Basketball."
This one is absolutely great:
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Some surprises have definitely happened along the way.
The #1 seed in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, lost in the first round to the #8 seed Memphis Grizzlies in six games.
Perhaps it was meant to be this year, the #2 seed (and defending NBA Champion) Los Angeles Lakers took six games to beat the #7 New Orleans Hornets and then got swept by #3 Dallas Mavericks in four games, completely thwarting their effort for a second three-peat.
In the Eastern Conference, the #1 seed Chicago Bulls, with the league's MVP and best record of all teams, took out the #7 Indiana Pacers in five games in round one and find themselves tied at two games each with #5 seed Atlanta Hawks who took the #4 Orlando Magic out of the picture in six.
Probably one of the most anticipated matchups features #2 Miami Heat and #3 Boston Celtics. The Heat excelled in game 4 to lead the series 3-1.
As it looks right now, the Dallas Mavericks, with time to rest after their sweep, will probably meet #4 Oklahoma City Thunder (providing they get by the Grizzlies, with the series tied at 2 apiece) for the Western Conference Championship while in the Eastern Conference odds are that the Heat will be playing the Bulls to determine who goes for the NBA trophy.
It will be interesting to see.
As the theme of the playoffs is "Win or Go Home," one can see the truth in that short statement.
In the meantime, one of the highlights of every playoff game has been the NBA's own commercials, featuring the "Official Basketball."
This one is absolutely great:
Over For Now.
Main Street One
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