2011 NBA FINALS - Dallas v Miami - SPOILERS within!

[exzibit3]

Dallas hit 9 of their last 10 shots, including 2 three pointers and 2 free throws. Miami? Exactly 1 shot in their last 10 shots. That was ridiculous, it had to come exactly the way it did in order for Dallas to have comeback from that deficit.

There's a few things that Dallas needs to be concerned about:
- Interior defense was severely lacking, no rotations and no help from the centers. Kidd hasn't got the foot speed to keep up, and there's no one who can keep up with Lebron and Wade when they gather momentum. Adequate help defense and rotations are the only way.
- Transition defense was also a problem. Too many points off turnovers.
- Which leads to taking care of the basketball. Way too many unforced turnovers, you can't give the ball away, not play transition D and expect to win. It's easy points for the opposing team, especially with two of the best finishers in LBJ and Wade.

Dallas needed nothing short of a miracle to get this victory, Miami also contributed by choking in the last 7 minutes. The really bad news for Dallas supporters is that if Miami had just executed and played within their capabilities, this would have been 2-0. So while it is a great moral victory for Dallas, it really exposes some fundamental flaws in their ability to contain LBJ and Wade and the Miami offense. Readjustments are needed if Dallas is going to be able to win this series.

 

[Jerald]

I think Shaq jinxed the Heat when he posted a video message to LBJ and Dwade to win the title...hahaha

Anyways..I love a good comeback game. I think the Heat will be more focus now. Can't wait for Game 3.

 

[midnight_show]

Dallas hit 9 of their last 10 shots, including 2 three pointers and 2 free throws. Miami? Exactly 1 shot in their last 10 shots. That was ridiculous, it had to come exactly the way it did in order for Dallas to have comeback from that deficit.

There's a few things that Dallas needs to be concerned about:
- Interior defense was severely lacking, no rotations and no help from the centers. Kidd hasn't got the foot speed to keep up, and there's no one who can keep up with Lebron and Wade when they gather momentum. Adequate help defense and rotations are the only way.
- Transition defense was also a problem. Too many points off turnovers.
- Which leads to taking care of the basketball. Way too many unforced turnovers, you can't give the ball away, not play transition D and expect to win. It's easy points for the opposing team, especially with two of the best finishers in LBJ and Wade.

Dallas needed nothing short of a miracle to get this victory, Miami also contributed by choking in the last 7 minutes. The really bad news for Dallas supporters is that if Miami had just executed and played within their capabilities, this would have been 2-0. So while it is a great moral victory for Dallas, it really exposes some fundamental flaws in their ability to contain LBJ and Wade and the Miami offense. Readjustments are needed if Dallas is going to be able to win this series.

The really bad news for Miami supporters is that their side blew a 15 point lead with 7 minutes to go. The danger for Miami was always that Dallas are a team full of shooters, and if they fire up then look out. Look at the first game, shooters were off, Miami win. Shooters are on, Dallas win. Miami shouldnt have even let them get back to single figures, they should have gone on and buried them. Lebron has indeed been clutch-tastic in this post season, but this is where it really matters. Dallas definately pulled out a miracle, but regardless of how they won it, the score is now 1-1.

And if nothing else, it makes for a great series. I dont think anyone can honestly think that Dallas will now win 3 in a row with the way the Heat have been playing this post season.

 

[araiee]

wow...thats all i can say...miami just pulled a okc...let a team peg back a 15 point deficit with 7 minutes to go, full credit to dallas they went for it and won, the heat i think did get a little complacent with that lead, i was sitting there watching it with narelle and feeling warm and fuzzy about a 2-0 lead going to dallas then i threw the remote and at the wall and got up and left the room with her saying "its just a game of basketball" gggrrrrr...not happy...im predicting miami will want to spill blood and WILL WIN GAME 3...but im not putting my balls on it...(i value them too much )

 

[sktwentythree]

Am I dreaming. Did Miami really lose that game? Drive it in and stop shooting 3's, gee. That game proved to me one thing. Miami's dumb enough to implode and lose the series. Argh; so frustrated right now.

 

[jimboiitmac]

another miami meltdown..... wade took 2 shots in the final 5 minutes.. he was on fire and lebron just pounded the ball to death, killing any movement

props to dirk... sooo clutch but i don't know why dumbass spolstra was doing putting no defense Bosh on him... get haslem or bron on him!! and no doubleteam?? make someone else beat you!!

I think you summed it up right there. Combined with letting the intensity and effort down on defense, and there goes the game.

It's particularly disappointing because the Heat have been SO GOOD at closing out games the last 2 rounds against Boston and Chicago. At points during those series I thought it was too good to be true, because different players were stepping up, LeBron was hitting amazing shots etc. So I thought they had buried that bug. Hopefully it doesn't rear it's head again this Finals!!

---------- Post added 03-06-2011 at 09:53 PM ----------

Dallas needed nothing short of a miracle to get this victory, Miami also contributed by choking in the last 7 minutes. The really bad news for Dallas supporters is that if Miami had just executed and played within their capabilities, this would have been 2-0. So while it is a great moral victory for Dallas, it really exposes some fundamental flaws in their ability to contain LBJ and Wade and the Miami offense. Readjustments are needed if Dallas is going to be able to win this series.

This is what I meant when I said the Heat have outplayed the Mavericks through the first two games.

The Mavericks essentially didn't change much from Game 1 to Game 2, apart from Tyson Chandler personally being a lot more aggressive - and if not for that meltdown and incredible performance by the Mavericks, they'd be going home down 0-2. In other words, the Heat weren't forced to change much up this game, and if not for their arrogant and stupid play they would be in complete control of this series.

I think Game 3 will be very telling in terms of who has the upper hand at winning this. Like you say, structurally the Mavericks need to change things, and that's the issue. The Heat on the other hand, only need to change the way they closed out this game, which is by primarily their defense (and LeBron taking an ego-check). So in summary, the thing that the Heat needs to fix has to do with desire, being more aggressive; e.g. things that are a matter of want, and are within reach of changing. The Mavericks' problems on the other hand are not as easily fixed (e.g. personnel). For example apart from Dirk, nobody can create their own shot, and with Wade and LeBron on the perimeter nobody has a chance at scoring on them. That's why Marion has emerged these last two games, he's the only player quick enough to get his shot off the dribble.

And before someone blows me off and says "but the Mavs have shot terribly and if they are on it's going to be much different" - the Mavericks have shot terribly because the Heat defense for 7.5 quarters has been outstanding. It's the same defense they have played for 10 previous games. The Mavericks aren't going to get 100+ points in any game this Finals, so any notion of them "shooting poorly" just isn't accurate. If you've watched ANY of the two games, you'd see how quickly the Heat's rotations are. The shooters aren't going to get any better looks than they are now, and as it stands they have actually already been knocking down a lot of their shots.

Like Rhys says though, regardless of what went down, the series is now tied 1-1, so it's all level.

---------- Post added 03-06-2011 at 10:09 PM ----------

Good article here on the Udonis Haslem play with 55 seconds left which lead to Dirk getting the layup to tie it at 90-90. I was confused myself about what happened on that play. I replayed it a few times and thought that either it was:
a) A foul by Jason Terry
b) Knocked out of Haslem's hands by Terry, in which case he should have let it go out of bounds
c) Knocked out of Haslem's hands by Terry but last touched by Haslem, in which case he also should have let it go out of bounds

Explanation in the article.
The 55-second possession of doom - Heat Index Blog - ESPN

 

[midnight_show]

 

[SpriteAllNight33]

What's funny about that game last night ... about 10 hours earlier. I played a game on NBA Live. Dallas at Miami. I was Dallas. Miami went on a 14-0 run In the 3rd quarter. So I was down 15 points at the start of the 4th quarter. (5 minute quarters) ... I went on a HUGE run with Dallas, and won by 2 points. So then I watched last nights game and was like WOW ... That's just like the game on NBA Live I had !! lol ... I just thought that was pretty krazy. ... Did NBA Live show a glimpse of the future ? ... Obviously that's a yes ! Felt like I took a trip In The Twilight Zone .... But what a game last night. One of the best Finals games that I have ever seen. Lebron & Wade had amazing dunks that were making my jaw drop. It was just insane. But then the Mavs just TOOK that 4th quarter away from them. Hell of a game to see. I was yelling like krazy. This makes game 3 on Sunday something special. I really think this will motivate Lebron & Wade. They are not going to let something like that happen again. And the Mavs will have great confidence In themselves heading Into game 3. ... Gonna be a good one. ... Go Mavs !!! Beat The Heat !!!

 

[ljandkg]

I have a feeling this'll go 7, and I hope it does.....

 

[Richo]

Come on the Mavs!

I would love to see Dirk get a Championship ring!

 

[A_Iverson_I]

We now have a series!!!!!!

Nice going by the Heat & getting that cocky attitude back & blowing the game... hopefully they learn from it & don't get like that again. Not that I want the Heat to win, just saying.... not really sure who I'm going for really

Saw this on a basketball forum..

Yeah... that was funny. Waa waa..... I got hit in the eye, yep ref, I really did....

 

[GarnettFan4Life]

Surely Dallas will also have to cut down their TOs, it was so ugly how many led to points on the fast break.

And while watching the game live I didn't really take that Wade 3 as like rubbing it in your face but damn that's a long time to hold the arm up there!

 

[ljandkg]

Wade carries on a bit doesn't he. I dunno how many dunks they got yesterday but they seemed to strike a pose after every one. Bosh's manshout after an unopposed put back was the biggest laugher - he'd been stink the whole game!! That cute little punchy chest thing after Wade's 3 was a grin too....

I guess that's part of what makes it such a fascinating series - a young, brash freak-like team talentwise vs an old grizzled team of vets who move the ball well and have a lot of players who need a ring to top off great careers.

---------- Post added 04-06-2011 at 11:13 AM ----------

Surely Dallas will also have to cut down their TOs, it was so ugly how many led to points on the fast break.

And while watching the game live I didn't really take that Wade 3 as like rubbing it in your face but damn that's a long time to hold the arm up there!

..right in front of the Mavs bench too....

 

[exzibit3]

Wade carries on a bit doesn't he. I dunno how many dunks they got yesterday but they seemed to strike a pose after every one. Bosh's manshout after an unopposed put back was the biggest laugher - he'd been stink the whole game!! That cute little punchy chest thing after Wade's 3 was a grin too....

I guess that's part of what makes it such a fascinating series - a young, brash freak-like team talentwise vs an old grizzled team of vets who move the ball well and have a lot of players who need a ring to top off great careers.

---------- Post added 04-06-2011 at 11:13 AM ----------


..right in front of the Mavs bench too....

I honestly think ppl are making way too big a deal bout the celebrating thing. They pranced about like idiots last summer, people need to let it it go. I don't see anything wrong with Wade's actions, he wasn't getting in any of the Mavs players faces and yelling in their grills. It's the finals! Come on now!

 

[jimboiitmac]

I honestly think ppl are making way too big a deal bout the celebrating thing. They pranced about like idiots last summer, people need to let it it go. I don't see anything wrong with Wade's actions, he wasn't getting in any of the Mavs players faces and yelling in their grills. It's the finals! Come on now!

Agreed. Like Wade said in the post-game conference, players are always swagger-ing around and walking around like they are kings of the world whenever they make a big trey, dunk or block. It happens at least once in every regular season game.

But of course everyone will blow it out of proportion because it's the Heat.

I do think though that it perhaps gave them a sense of false confidence, from which they weren't able to recover.

Dallas has 18 turnovers, but the Heat had 12. Which was pretty bad, considering a few of those came in the last few minutes.

That Haslem turnover was very costly, and seemed to fly under the radar. Terry knocked it out of his hands, why he dived for it and threw an out of control pass is beyond me. Miami would have had the ball back with 60 seconds left in the game, up 90-88 and with a full shot-clock and another chance to try and get into their offense.

Instead it lead to a turnover as he tossed it into the hands of Jason Terry, and a four point swing as the Mavericks tied it up at 90-90. Pivotal play, that most people probably don't even remember..

 

[ljandkg]

I honestly think ppl are making way too big a deal bout the celebrating thing. They pranced about like idiots last summer, people need to let it it go. I don't see anything wrong with Wade's actions, he wasn't getting in any of the Mavs players faces and yelling in their grills. It's the finals! Come on now!

You're right, there was nothing crass or anything....just the way he posed....u wouldn't catch Paul Pierce doing anything like that........

 

[jimboiitmac]

Okay screw all this being civil stuff, and not thinking back about the game. As a fan of the Heat I've never been so pissed at them in my life. I thought by today I'd be over it. But not, I feel so let down

Damn you LeBron, damn you! Monday better be good otherwise I'm gonna lose my head!! Hehe.

 

[ljandkg]

Okay screw all this being civil stuff, and not thinking back about the game. As a fan of the Heat I've never been so pissed at them in my life. I thought by today I'd be over it. But not, I feel so let down

Damn you LeBron, damn you! Monday better be good otherwise I'm gonna lose my head!! Hehe.

There there Jmibo...let it come......

 

[sktwentythree]

Watching the highlights again then and all the shots LBJ was taking at the end made me think that Wade should have been like "Yo, LeBron, this ain't Cleveland, make the quality play and pass me the ball. This is my team, my town and I ain't having you lose me a ring from you acting like a king with no bling".

 

[ooneil]

Watching the highlights again then and all the shots LBJ was taking at the end made me think that Wade should have been like "Yo, LeBron, this ain't Cleveland, make the quality play and pass me the ball. This is my team, my town and I ain't having you lose me a ring from you acting like a king with no bling".

Watching the highlights again i was thinking "Heat, just foul these guys - what the hell are you doing, you know they are going to hit 3's from everywhere"

Bring on game 3 - should be epic.