The Holy One
What's really good?
Well it's finally here after one of the most exciting years in the NBA, the end has arrived.
GAME 4
Probably the most hated franchise in NBA history:
One of the best teams in the past decade yet to win a title:
"Defense wins championships", a statement that's not only true in football but in basketball too. It was the Heat defense against every Maverick not named Dirk that won them the game. Along with D-Wade's leading with 29 points, the Heat never let the Mavs get ahead for more than a minute or so. LeBron had a quiet night with 19 points with 9 assists but people have questioned if he is fading. Mario Chalmers was a big part of the Heat production with 4 from downtown to help out the Big Three. Bosh had a picture perfect Uncle Ruckus impression after being poked in the eye early in the 1st that helped him make the game winning shot to give the Heat the 2-1 lead.
Dirk was a one man army once again. With no other player seemingly couldn't contribute, Dirk almost won the game with a game high 34 points but failed at the end when he missed an OT trip bucket at the end. This led to the European leader to called out his teammates in particular the Jet, Jason Terry. Terry was quiet all night but it was particularly in the 4th with LeBron on him that will be remembered the most. With history against them as the team that has won Game 3 in a 1-1 tie has a perfect 11-0 record in winning the series, the Mavs need to find a way to find offense and answer back.
Will LeBron show up on the offensive end?
Will D-Wade continue to rip the heart out of Mavs fans?
How will Bosh's eye affect him?
Can Dirk continue to carry the team?
Will the Jet show up? (2nd time question has been posted)
Can the Mavs PGs (Kidd and Barea) hit more shots than Chalmers?
GAME 4
Probably the most hated franchise in NBA history:
The Miami Heat
This was not a time for ceremonial titles and locker-room speeches. Dwyane Wade acted like a captain under heavy pressure on Sunday night. Because of that leadership, the Miami Heat have retaken control of The NBA Finals.
Knowing the enormous implications of Game 3 of the tied series, Wade started to set an example at practice on Saturday. He carried it right on through another taut fourth quarter in a whirl of energy, aggression and spirit.
There were several different reasons the Heat struck back for a 88-86 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to take a 2-1 series lead, not the least of which was another great player missed a shot when Dirk Nowitzki was just off at the buzzer. But there was no bigger difference-maker than Wade, who played like a man both immersed in and unafraid of the moment.
I took it upon myself as a leader to lead my guys by example, Wade said. Ive been here before.
Indeed he has, and it showed. Wade is now 6-0 over his career in Game 3s when a series is tied 1-1, and none of them were grander than this one. He demonstrated his confidence with 29 points and 11 rebounds, plus some high-level motivation that started a day earlier. He grabbed the attention of his teammates by practicing like he was the 15th man on the last day before cuts, being as aggressive on an off day as theyd seen him all season.
The Heat couldnt afford to lose Game 3 and Wade knew it, not just because of what history said about falling behind 2-1 without home-court advantage. He and the Heat rolled their eyes at the number that was repeated over and over for three days. Eleven times in the past 25 years the Finals have been tied 1-1 and the winner of Game 3 is a perfect 11-0 in winning the title.
No, after personally experiencing what happened in 2006 when the Heat stole a game they probably shouldnt have won against the Mavs, he knew so well how fragile momentum is in a best-of-seven series. Dallas blew a huge lead and never recovered. Of course, he could say this and his teammates could listen. Obviously, they knew it already. Wade did say it, too. He had film review sessions and private meetings with LeBron James to discuss how they were compelled to show up in Dallas with a response that would put the Mavs on their heels in their home building.
Wade then communicated that with actions more than any words couldve. It showed throughout Game 3, from his charging drives to the basket from the first minutes of the game right through the soaring rebounds he pulled down in traffic during the fourth quarter.
My teammates saw it, Wade said. They can tell I wanted this game.
Just a week or so ago it looked like Wades legs had expired for this season. He was failing to get his usual lift on dunks. He was missing layups. He was sweating profusely early in games like it was training camp. He was taking more possessions easy than anyone was used to. The Heat, it appeared, might have to win with a diminished version of their leader.
Now, it seems as though he was just lying in wait to spring forth when the stakes were highest. No one jumped higher than Wade on Sunday. He now has seven dunks in the past two games and in Game 3 made more baskets inside five feet -- eight of them -- than the Mavs (seven) did as a team. He also led the Heat in rebounds on a night when they were struggling so badly to get loose balls that they were constantly getting whistled for fouls as they chased.
First and foremost, he pushed himself, said Chris Bosh, who made the game-winning shot, otherwise Wade probably wouldve done that, too. We rode the wave for a while. He set the tone for us. When a guy like that is really getting on you and demanding more, thats what team is all about.
At times, Wade barked at Bosh and even at James, his co-star who, up until recently, had performed so much of the heavy lifting. At halftime, Wade was in James' ear. James hasnt been doing that in this series thus far. On Sunday he had a respectable 17 points and nine assists, four of them coming in the fourth quarter. But James, and the rest of the Heat, have badly needed Wade to return to form and he has.
As a competitor, you love when guys challenge you, James said. I respect that.
As strongly as Nowitzki has played over the three games -- he had 34 points in Game 3, the most the Heat have allowed to an opponent in the postseason -- Wade has been able to best him. And that has meant the Heat have been able to edge the Mavs thus far as well.
Its understanding the moment, Wade said. You remember how tough it was to win here and what it takes to win games like these.
He got the feeling when the team bus arrived Saturday. Hes been to the American Airlines Center numerous times since 2006 but this brought back the memories and the emotions. The NBA Finals logos were everywhere. The black curtains were up, creating makeshift rooms. Over there was where he and Shaquille ONeal posed with the Larry OBrien Trophy. Down this hall was where he accepted his Finals MVP trophy. Then there was the tiny locker room, where the champagne flowed that June night five years ago.
His teammates may have helped the Heat get this far and most likely if theres another one of those trophies headed to Miami, more will be needed from them. But right now Wade is pulling them along and getting them over the hump. In a series that has been defined by narrow margins and extreme competitiveness, Wade's all-around Game 3 performance might turn out to be a defining moment.
Im just trying to lead, Wade said. My guys did a great job of following that lead.
Knowing the enormous implications of Game 3 of the tied series, Wade started to set an example at practice on Saturday. He carried it right on through another taut fourth quarter in a whirl of energy, aggression and spirit.
There were several different reasons the Heat struck back for a 88-86 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to take a 2-1 series lead, not the least of which was another great player missed a shot when Dirk Nowitzki was just off at the buzzer. But there was no bigger difference-maker than Wade, who played like a man both immersed in and unafraid of the moment.
I took it upon myself as a leader to lead my guys by example, Wade said. Ive been here before.
Indeed he has, and it showed. Wade is now 6-0 over his career in Game 3s when a series is tied 1-1, and none of them were grander than this one. He demonstrated his confidence with 29 points and 11 rebounds, plus some high-level motivation that started a day earlier. He grabbed the attention of his teammates by practicing like he was the 15th man on the last day before cuts, being as aggressive on an off day as theyd seen him all season.
The Heat couldnt afford to lose Game 3 and Wade knew it, not just because of what history said about falling behind 2-1 without home-court advantage. He and the Heat rolled their eyes at the number that was repeated over and over for three days. Eleven times in the past 25 years the Finals have been tied 1-1 and the winner of Game 3 is a perfect 11-0 in winning the title.
No, after personally experiencing what happened in 2006 when the Heat stole a game they probably shouldnt have won against the Mavs, he knew so well how fragile momentum is in a best-of-seven series. Dallas blew a huge lead and never recovered. Of course, he could say this and his teammates could listen. Obviously, they knew it already. Wade did say it, too. He had film review sessions and private meetings with LeBron James to discuss how they were compelled to show up in Dallas with a response that would put the Mavs on their heels in their home building.
Wade then communicated that with actions more than any words couldve. It showed throughout Game 3, from his charging drives to the basket from the first minutes of the game right through the soaring rebounds he pulled down in traffic during the fourth quarter.
My teammates saw it, Wade said. They can tell I wanted this game.
Just a week or so ago it looked like Wades legs had expired for this season. He was failing to get his usual lift on dunks. He was missing layups. He was sweating profusely early in games like it was training camp. He was taking more possessions easy than anyone was used to. The Heat, it appeared, might have to win with a diminished version of their leader.
Now, it seems as though he was just lying in wait to spring forth when the stakes were highest. No one jumped higher than Wade on Sunday. He now has seven dunks in the past two games and in Game 3 made more baskets inside five feet -- eight of them -- than the Mavs (seven) did as a team. He also led the Heat in rebounds on a night when they were struggling so badly to get loose balls that they were constantly getting whistled for fouls as they chased.
First and foremost, he pushed himself, said Chris Bosh, who made the game-winning shot, otherwise Wade probably wouldve done that, too. We rode the wave for a while. He set the tone for us. When a guy like that is really getting on you and demanding more, thats what team is all about.
At times, Wade barked at Bosh and even at James, his co-star who, up until recently, had performed so much of the heavy lifting. At halftime, Wade was in James' ear. James hasnt been doing that in this series thus far. On Sunday he had a respectable 17 points and nine assists, four of them coming in the fourth quarter. But James, and the rest of the Heat, have badly needed Wade to return to form and he has.
As a competitor, you love when guys challenge you, James said. I respect that.
As strongly as Nowitzki has played over the three games -- he had 34 points in Game 3, the most the Heat have allowed to an opponent in the postseason -- Wade has been able to best him. And that has meant the Heat have been able to edge the Mavs thus far as well.
Its understanding the moment, Wade said. You remember how tough it was to win here and what it takes to win games like these.
He got the feeling when the team bus arrived Saturday. Hes been to the American Airlines Center numerous times since 2006 but this brought back the memories and the emotions. The NBA Finals logos were everywhere. The black curtains were up, creating makeshift rooms. Over there was where he and Shaquille ONeal posed with the Larry OBrien Trophy. Down this hall was where he accepted his Finals MVP trophy. Then there was the tiny locker room, where the champagne flowed that June night five years ago.
His teammates may have helped the Heat get this far and most likely if theres another one of those trophies headed to Miami, more will be needed from them. But right now Wade is pulling them along and getting them over the hump. In a series that has been defined by narrow margins and extreme competitiveness, Wade's all-around Game 3 performance might turn out to be a defining moment.
Im just trying to lead, Wade said. My guys did a great job of following that lead.
VS
One of the best teams in the past decade yet to win a title:
The Dallas Mavericks
Dirk Nowitzki stated the enormity of Sunday's Game 3 immediately after the Dallas Mavericks pulled off the Game 2 Miracle on South Beach:
"You cannot get a split and get a huge emotional win in Game 2 and then go home and lose Game 3."
The Mavs did just that, stung again by turnovers and a runway of Dwyane Wade layups and LeBron James dunks in digging double-digit hole after double-digit hole. This time they ran out of shovels and game-winners from Nowitzki, who had to produce 34 points -- 40 percent of his team's points -- just for the chance to win another one in the final seconds.
His 16-foot fallaway, with Heat forward Udonis Haslem in Nowitzki's face and not Chris Bosh giving him space, bounced high off the back rim and the Mavs slinked away with a disappointing 88-86 defeat to a Miami Heat team that did little celebrating to the very end.
As the Mavs' committee approach gets snuffed out by the Heat's suffocating defense to trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven series, a two-game run is now needed to take it back to Miami with any real hope of winning the championship.
The most repeated stat of the past two days suggests Dallas was read its last rites. In the 11 previous series tied at 1-1 in the 2-3-2 format, the Game 3 winner has won the title all 11 times.
The Mavs have been bucking trends all postseason, but Nowitzki, stiff-lipped and sullen on the podium, rarely looked up as he earnestly answered postgame questions. He didn't attempt to gloss over his adamant Game 2 statement.
"My view hasn't changed. This definitely was a big game and a very tough loss," Nowitzki said. "Emotional game, fought back, and to fall short at the end is tough, but they need two more.
"This is a tough loss, and it's basically a must-win situation on Tuesday. We can't go down 3-1."
The Mavs have plenty to fix before then. Backup center Brendan Haywood missed Game 3 with a hip injury and is questionable for Game 4. Peja Stojakovic is a no-show. Jason Terry and J.J. Barea are off line and that difference-making Dallas depth is being strung out.
Nowitzki finished 11-of-21. The rest of the team was 17-of-49. Terry missed a wide-open look with the game tied at 86-86 and 58.6 seconds to play. Chris Bosh then hit a near-identical shot for the 88-86 lead with 39.6 left.
"If we have the open looks, we just got to make them," said Nowitzki, who blamed miscommunication on a pass he intended for Shawn Marion that sailed into the stands with 30.2 seconds to go. "We haven't made enough of them. If we're going to keep shooting in the low 40s [40.0 percent in Game 3], it's going to be tough to win."
Shooting aside, turnovers and the Heat's offensive rebounding continue to sabotage Dallas. The Heat led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, 13 in the third and seven in the fourth. The Mavs continually cut into the deficit, but could never overcome their own miscues. Six turnovers for a whopping 14 points were especially damaging in the first half.
After the first quarter -- which the Mavs led 19-18 before an 11-3 close by the Heat -- Dallas tied it up four times but led for just 27 seconds the rest of the game, at 59-58, with 3:17 to go in the third quarter.
"It's like we'd fight so hard, you make a comeback, you tie the ballgame and we just roll the ball to them for highlights and they go up again 10 points, nine points, 14 points," Mavs center Tyson Chandler said. "And then you're fighting again uphill. We've got to quit that."
The problem is this isn't new or unique to this series. It can be argued that the Mavs have not played a complete game since routing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
Dallas rallied from a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes of Game 4 to force overtime. They played from behind the entirety of Game 5 before a 17-6 flurry in the final five minutes bailed them out.
Dallas again had to climb back throughout this series, and without Nowitzki's nine consecutive points in the final 2:44 of Game 2 to cap a rally from 15 down with seven minutes to go, the Heat could be seeking the sweep.
The final minutes and possessions always go under the microscope first when examining the thin line between victory and defeat. But the Mavs got burned early.
In their first NBA Finals game on home turf since the Game 6 defeat to the Heat five years ago, Dallas gave up 29 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven -- a margin that shrunk after each of the next three quarters but could never be overcome.
Wade led the Heat with 29 points as he continues to torment the Mavs, even as James had been taking over the alpha dog role in previous playoff series. Coming into this one, Wade said, smiling, that he felt the same as Nowitzki.
"You can't lose a game like that [Game 2] and come and lose Game 3," Wade said. "We felt this was a must-win. We had to put it upon ourselves to try to take home court back in a sense, and by any means necessary."
If the Mavs don't quickly reverse trend, Dallas won't be able to stop Wade from celebrating again.
"You cannot get a split and get a huge emotional win in Game 2 and then go home and lose Game 3."
The Mavs did just that, stung again by turnovers and a runway of Dwyane Wade layups and LeBron James dunks in digging double-digit hole after double-digit hole. This time they ran out of shovels and game-winners from Nowitzki, who had to produce 34 points -- 40 percent of his team's points -- just for the chance to win another one in the final seconds.
His 16-foot fallaway, with Heat forward Udonis Haslem in Nowitzki's face and not Chris Bosh giving him space, bounced high off the back rim and the Mavs slinked away with a disappointing 88-86 defeat to a Miami Heat team that did little celebrating to the very end.
As the Mavs' committee approach gets snuffed out by the Heat's suffocating defense to trail 2-1 in this best-of-seven series, a two-game run is now needed to take it back to Miami with any real hope of winning the championship.
The most repeated stat of the past two days suggests Dallas was read its last rites. In the 11 previous series tied at 1-1 in the 2-3-2 format, the Game 3 winner has won the title all 11 times.
The Mavs have been bucking trends all postseason, but Nowitzki, stiff-lipped and sullen on the podium, rarely looked up as he earnestly answered postgame questions. He didn't attempt to gloss over his adamant Game 2 statement.
"My view hasn't changed. This definitely was a big game and a very tough loss," Nowitzki said. "Emotional game, fought back, and to fall short at the end is tough, but they need two more.
"This is a tough loss, and it's basically a must-win situation on Tuesday. We can't go down 3-1."
The Mavs have plenty to fix before then. Backup center Brendan Haywood missed Game 3 with a hip injury and is questionable for Game 4. Peja Stojakovic is a no-show. Jason Terry and J.J. Barea are off line and that difference-making Dallas depth is being strung out.
Nowitzki finished 11-of-21. The rest of the team was 17-of-49. Terry missed a wide-open look with the game tied at 86-86 and 58.6 seconds to play. Chris Bosh then hit a near-identical shot for the 88-86 lead with 39.6 left.
"If we have the open looks, we just got to make them," said Nowitzki, who blamed miscommunication on a pass he intended for Shawn Marion that sailed into the stands with 30.2 seconds to go. "We haven't made enough of them. If we're going to keep shooting in the low 40s [40.0 percent in Game 3], it's going to be tough to win."
Shooting aside, turnovers and the Heat's offensive rebounding continue to sabotage Dallas. The Heat led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, 13 in the third and seven in the fourth. The Mavs continually cut into the deficit, but could never overcome their own miscues. Six turnovers for a whopping 14 points were especially damaging in the first half.
After the first quarter -- which the Mavs led 19-18 before an 11-3 close by the Heat -- Dallas tied it up four times but led for just 27 seconds the rest of the game, at 59-58, with 3:17 to go in the third quarter.
"It's like we'd fight so hard, you make a comeback, you tie the ballgame and we just roll the ball to them for highlights and they go up again 10 points, nine points, 14 points," Mavs center Tyson Chandler said. "And then you're fighting again uphill. We've got to quit that."
The problem is this isn't new or unique to this series. It can be argued that the Mavs have not played a complete game since routing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
Dallas rallied from a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes of Game 4 to force overtime. They played from behind the entirety of Game 5 before a 17-6 flurry in the final five minutes bailed them out.
Dallas again had to climb back throughout this series, and without Nowitzki's nine consecutive points in the final 2:44 of Game 2 to cap a rally from 15 down with seven minutes to go, the Heat could be seeking the sweep.
The final minutes and possessions always go under the microscope first when examining the thin line between victory and defeat. But the Mavs got burned early.
In their first NBA Finals game on home turf since the Game 6 defeat to the Heat five years ago, Dallas gave up 29 points in the first quarter and trailed by seven -- a margin that shrunk after each of the next three quarters but could never be overcome.
Wade led the Heat with 29 points as he continues to torment the Mavs, even as James had been taking over the alpha dog role in previous playoff series. Coming into this one, Wade said, smiling, that he felt the same as Nowitzki.
"You can't lose a game like that [Game 2] and come and lose Game 3," Wade said. "We felt this was a must-win. We had to put it upon ourselves to try to take home court back in a sense, and by any means necessary."
If the Mavs don't quickly reverse trend, Dallas won't be able to stop Wade from celebrating again.
"Defense wins championships", a statement that's not only true in football but in basketball too. It was the Heat defense against every Maverick not named Dirk that won them the game. Along with D-Wade's leading with 29 points, the Heat never let the Mavs get ahead for more than a minute or so. LeBron had a quiet night with 19 points with 9 assists but people have questioned if he is fading. Mario Chalmers was a big part of the Heat production with 4 from downtown to help out the Big Three. Bosh had a picture perfect Uncle Ruckus impression after being poked in the eye early in the 1st that helped him make the game winning shot to give the Heat the 2-1 lead.
Dirk was a one man army once again. With no other player seemingly couldn't contribute, Dirk almost won the game with a game high 34 points but failed at the end when he missed an OT trip bucket at the end. This led to the European leader to called out his teammates in particular the Jet, Jason Terry. Terry was quiet all night but it was particularly in the 4th with LeBron on him that will be remembered the most. With history against them as the team that has won Game 3 in a 1-1 tie has a perfect 11-0 record in winning the series, the Mavs need to find a way to find offense and answer back.
Will LeBron show up on the offensive end?
Will D-Wade continue to rip the heart out of Mavs fans?
How will Bosh's eye affect him?
Can Dirk continue to carry the team?
Will the Jet show up? (2nd time question has been posted)
Can the Mavs PGs (Kidd and Barea) hit more shots than Chalmers?