With both favorites up 3-1 in their respective conference finals and this not being the NHL, I think it is safe to preview the Finals. A Mavs/Heat series might not have the name appeal of LA/Boston to the average fan, but it is a better story when you factor in the '06 history, Dirk's title chase, and the possible vindication of the "superfriends" and Lebron specifically.
The Mavs road to the Finals has been as difficult as it could be, Portland was a trendy underdog selection (myself included) with talent and depth, the Lakers were the odds on favorites, and OKC was the talented new generation team that was staking their claim to the era after the Spurs and Lakers. The Mavs appeared vulnerable after two games in Dallas where only a Dirk game for the ages allowed them to split, but as the Mavs have shown all postseason, on the road is where they play their best. Grinding out game 3 defensively when Dirk had an off night set the tone and then applying pressure down 15 in the fourth and taking advantage of the Thunder meltdown took all the suspense out of the series. The Mavs played like a veteran team with a proven superstar who has done this before, while the Thunder looked like a figure skater or tennis player blowing a big lead and being unable to stop the onslaught. Watching you almost wanted to stop the game and put your arm around them as they were losing it. If you have to lose a few before you win big, Game 4 for the Thunder should count as double. Durant is a postseason or two from being great and the Thunder's minor issues concerning Westbrook's development, adding a shooter, a post identity, and Scott Brooks' limitations can all be addressed with minor tweaks going forward. No team is a better example of shrugging off playoff disappointments and moving forward than the Mavs and though only Dirk and Terry were on the '06 team, you have to believe the memories of that series for the two of them, the front office, and the fan-base will be a major intangible advantage for the Mavs.
I can't remember the complexion of a series changing so dramatically in a week (without an injury) than the Eastern conference finals did from after Game 1 to after Game 3. The Bulls went from all energy and excitement to none as the Heat defense broke the will of the regular season darlings. The Bulls did manage to show a little more fight in Game 4, but the bottom line of the series is, sometimes effort isn't enough. After 3 straight terrible 4th quarters and an OT period it is clear that if they played 10 times the Bulls winning more than 2 would be a shock. Derrick Rose joins Steve Nash as a recent highly entertaining regular season MVP who was outplayed prior to the Finals. It probably isn't good when the MVP is outplayed in a playoff series like Rose was in this series by Lebron and no one is the least bit surprised. There is no doubt the Bulls supporting cast offensively is worse than the Hawks and the decision not to make a move for a proven 2 guard at the deadline will be a decision that haunts this team all summer, but Rose's game 4 numbers (23 pts. 8-27, 1-9 from three, 6 assists, and 7 TO's) focused the spotlight more acutely on issues that have been present all season. Rose's potential game winner coming up woefully short and his subsequent play in OT, while Lebron took over, shows that NBA MVP votes are as much about heart over head as favorite movie lists. Like the Thunder, the Bulls are young and the notable holes in their roster should be filled without much turnover, but unlike OKC who plays in what looks like a wide open conference the Bulls will have to deal with the Heat again, and I will go out on a limb and say the Heat will not be worse next season.
As for the Finals, the first thing that jumps out at me is the possibility of major individual point totals for James, Wade, and Dirk. Neither team has great matchups for the other teams best, the Mavs will need the fountain of youth for Marion, Stevenson, and Kidd as they match up with James and Wade. While Dirk will be a challenge that Miami hasn't faced in the playoffs to this point. James was able to defend Rose and Rando in crunch time during the last two series' and now could be forced to defend Dirk if the Bosh/Haslem, Anthony trio proved as hapless as they look on paper. Jason Kidd has played gutty and inspired at the point this postseason, but is a good matchup for Miami since this late in his career he is primarily a spot up shooter. Chandler will need to show why is considered the ultimate energy big guy around the hoop and JJ Barea will be vital as a guy who can draw the Heat defense on drives and score or kick to a shooter.
Even more intriguing than the matchups in this series will be the legacies that will be shaped by the outcome. There is little doubt that the Heat received the benefit of every whistle during the 4th quarter of Game 3 of the '06 finals, while the Mavs let that game and the officials get to them and they were never able to recover losing 4 straight after going up 2-0. Now, not only do Dirk and the Mavs get another chance, but it is against the same Heat team, and if you had to pick two NBA stars that are most desperate for a title Lebron and Dirk are 1 and 1(A). I can't help but laugh when I think that 97% of NBA fans are now are relying on a Mark Cuban owned team, coached by the man who coached the Pacers who brawled with fans in Detroit, and whose best player is from Germany to derail the Heat. Meanwhile, doesn't "The Decision" and the before the season parade become a footnote if the Heat and their "superfriends" win the title their first year together? All the talk about multiple championships that seemed so ridiculous 2 months ago now seems prophetic. Lebron and Wade have been so good that the Heat now look rationale for sticking with the "We have enough" mantra while their role players become lionized for routine accomplishments like setting good screens, hustling, and scoring in double digits or grabbing 10 boards. Yes, Lebron choose to join up with Wade and Bosh and admitted he couldn't do it alone, but will the conversation change if he is MVP of the Finals and says everything was done in the name of winning.
I for one can't wait and I have to believe the Heat/Mavs players can't wait either so maybe they concede a game before closing out youngsters, but it will just build the anticipation. It is hard to not want to see Dirk's decade of consistent greatness rewarded, but as long as the Heat defend at the level they have been defending since the Boston series even Mike Bibby and Jamal Magloire will have rings.
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