7:59 Here we go folks. The moment we've been working towards for a month and a half. The NBA Finals are finally upon us. So obviously that means I should make a running diary while tracking the game. And there are story lines galore. LeBron. Dirk. Age. Youth. Good. Evil. Besides the Lakers playing the Celtics, I think this match up has the most story lines of any other. I'm excited to watch.
8:03 Mark Jackson, Mike Breen, and Jeff Van Gundy are on the broadcast. I never really understood how Van Gundy has a job because most of the things he says are strange. And Jackson usually disagrees. It's kind of entertaining but also slightly distracting during telecasts... 59-61 Dirks free throw makes and attempts in the last series. That's gross. That's filthy. That makes me want to throw up in my mouth it's so dirty.
8:07 Wow. A Tim Tebow commercial. Most of America just groaned. Kind of made me chuckle.
8:08 Tip off and Bosh draws a quick foul on Chandler. Bosh makes both. Important to note the Heat have not lost at home in the playoffs. Joel Anthony is guarding Dirk. Solid first effort the Heat draw a 3-second violation.
8:09 If Lebron is making that fade away, this could be a quick series. He looked like vintage Garnett or Duncan on it. Dirk answers on the other end. The guy has the eye of the tiger in these playoffs.
8:11 For some reason, I haven't seen Wade make a really explosive play in a few games... I wonder what happened in the Chicago series.
8:12 Dirk is going to the line for the first time. If he gets to the line enough during this series, the Mavs chances of winning will increase significantly. Him at the line is like free points. Seriously, I know they're called free throws but with Dirk, that might as well be. He's the anti-Shaq... If Bosh can hit the mid-range consistently, the Mavs are screwed.
8:14 Could the Heat have made the Finals if I replaced Mike Bibby on the roster? I'd say we would get 10:1 odds or so.
8:16 Wade should DOMINATE Kidd. Bosh makes a put back. Seriously, Wade should destroy Kidd. I feel like he's saving something but for what? This is the FINALS!!!!!!!!!!
8:18 This is Lebron's series. It needs to be. He needs to put up quadruple doubles. He needs to destroy the Mavs morale. And on a steal and and-one, he's starting off quite well. First commercial and the Heat are up, 10-5, which is promising considering the Heat have been starting slow in a lot of the games in these playoffs. The home court will probably push them to come out quick. Mavs need to withstand the original athletic charge by the Heat if they want to have a chance in this game.
8:21 Van Gundy gushes on the Heat's defense. And pretty much rightfully so, they've been good. And as I type that Kidd hits a three. Which is something he needs to do, especially when they are as open as that one just was... Meanwhile Bibby is laying bricks. Luckily Wade makes a great cut and no harm done for the Heat. Kidd hits another three. Like I said, an absolute necessity.
8:24 Joel Anthony leaves with his second foul. Dirk on the bench. Both could be important for the immediate future. Mavs only down 1.
8:27 James hits his first three attempt of the game. I know it's repetitive but if he can hit those, it could get ugly quick. Still, Mavs only down 4 and have avoiding letting the Heat go on a run. A combination of close-in misses and solid defense have kept the game pretty low scoring thus far. 2:04 left in the first quarter.
8:29 Big fan of the Budweiser commercial about the guy coming home from active duty. Say what you will about beer commercials, but this one they got right.
8:31 Jason terry knocks down a contested three to bring the Mavs within one. And the Heat turn the ball over. Ensuing possession the Heat give up an offensive rebound but Kidd throws the ball out of bounds. Some so-so basketball being played right now.
8:33 Lebron picks up a questionable second foul. Mavs go up by one for their first lead of the game. James misses on the other end and the Mavs get the last shot, which is miss by Peja. Somehow, the Mavs are up one at the end of the first, but Lebron leads all scorers with 8 which is a good sign for the Heat. I hope he just takes the game over, one, because I want to see the best player dominate on the biggest stage, and, two, I want to watch him and Dirk trade shots and just slug it out. That would be awesome.
8:39 Bosh with a surprisingly sick put back dunk. He's had a very solid game so far. Dare I say it, a great game? Meanwhile, Terry hits his second three. He wants this as bad as Dirk does because removing that tattoo would be quite painful. Miller answers on the other end. Back and forth they go.
8:43 Wade still not playing very well, Dirk hits two free throws (what else is new), and the Heat come up empty on another possession.Without Lebron the team is obviously missing something, even with Wade on the court. Heat down one going into commercials.
8:50 Lebron is coming back into a tied game at 6:54. I suspect the Heat might go on a bit of a run here. Just a hunch... And James and Bosh operate a good pick-and-roll. Bosh gets to the line and makes one of two. Marion backs Miller down awkwardly and still makes an ugly shot while James makes a good back cut and scores on the other end. Offense on both sides is picking up ever so slightly. Miami up one as we go to another commercial... Speaking of commercials, is it wrong that I kind of want to see Cowboys & Aliens? Do I get my ability to critique films revoked for that?
8:59 Not a good sign when Wade is being stopped by Kidd on the baseline. Very troubling to me.... Then he hits a three. I'll put my foot in my mouth (er, my hand) now... Dirk drives and scores, Bosh hits another deep jumper off a pick and roll and the Heat are looking to take control of this game with solid defense and ok shooting... Wade and James now both have two fouls, though since it is almost half time, concern levels aren't all that high just yet.
9:04 Dirk hits a three with a hand in his face to bring the Mavs back to within one. That was a big shot for them to avoid falling behind by too many points near half time. Wade drives and loses the ball again. Seriously, not playing too well... Meanwhile, Dirk comes back and hits that one-legged fade away for five consecutive points. He is too good. And they follow it with a great pass sequence leading to a dunk. Quick 7-0 run ended by a Chalmers three-pointer. The action is getting quick now. Which is evident by a oop-and-one to Tyson Chandler, giving the Mavs a three point lead.
9:08 Terry hits another three after another offensive rebound for the Mavs. An answer by Mario Chalmers on the other end as he hits from the left corner.... Dallas loses the ball with 5.9 left in the half. Let's see what the Heat will do...
9:10 Lebron dished to Miller for an open three... which he missed. Bosh with a good first half. Dirk being Dirk, and Jason Terry with a few important threes to keep the Mavs ahead by one going into the half in a defensive-minded game, 44-43.
9:14 In other sports news, the Cardinals have made a spirited comeback against the Giants in the bottom of the eighth inning sparked by a Pujols double (very good to see) and some great hustle by Skip Schumaker. Awesome to see the Cardinals are capable of making noise in the late innings offensively.
9:24 And Salas holds on for the save in the ninth. Good stuff.
9:29 Second half about to get under way. My quick analysis. I think the defense was good on both sides but there were a lot of open looks that ended as bricks. While Wade did get some buckets, I still feel like he's holding something back. If Kidd is guarding him, he should be going to the basket with authority every time. Meanwhile, Bosh had the most points of the "Big Three" which is a very promising sign for the Heat. I think that even if Wade disappears, if James and Bosh are palyign well, the Heat can still prevail. Dirk was Dirk for the most part in the first half which is obviously a necessary ingredient for the Mavs.
9:32 Here we go... And Chandler and Marion work very well together for the first bucket of the half. Mavs up three.
9:33 Dirk swishes a shot from the top of the key, Lebron misses a layup on a drive, and Stevenson makes a three to force the Heat into a time out. The Mavs are hot out of half time and take a quick 8-point lead. The Heat have to be careful not to get too far down because digging out of a big deficit against this experienced and smart Mavs team could prove difficult, especially if Dirk can continue to get to the free throw line.
9:37 The Heat come out of the time out with Wade making two acrobatic plays making me question whether I should ever type a negative thing about him ever again. The transition by Miami on the steal was very impressive... And Dwyane misses the free throw (he's currently 0 for 3)... Van Gundy just referenced Liar Liar. What the heck?
9:39 Shawn Marion currently has 11 points and 7 rebounds... I feel like he did this completely silently. Very, very sneaky man.
9:41 Lebron hits a wiiiiiiiiiiide open three. He literally took a dribble set and popped just the way he likes it. If he didn't make that shot his NBA legitimacy would have been immediately revoked... Haywood gets about 4 inches off the floor and is stuffed by the rim on an attempted dunk. He's an NBA player? I'm confused right now.
9:44 JJ Barea just attempted to make a layup over Chris Bosh... Let's just say it was ill-advised. Shawn Marion makes a fade away jumper in the lane to keep the Mavs ahead four. I'm starting to get confused as to why Lebron doesn't touched the ball on every possession and why Haslem and Chalmers are taking shots for the Heat because that is not a formula for success...
9:47 Haywood's free throws are really hard to watch. Some where between old videos of Wilt and recent videos of Shaq.
9:49 Just as Mark Jackson states that the Heat need to work their offense through Wade, he bricks a contested three. I'm not going to say anything bad about Wade anymore, but it was kind of funny.
9:55 Tyson Chandler makes a very athletic play on a half alley-oop. I'm impressed by how well the Mavericks individual parts do their job. I'm also impressed by Lebron's current three point percentage of 100 (3-3). Puts Heat up 1 with 1:12 left in the third quarter.
9:58 Dirk makes two of two free throws (shocking, I know). The Heat then use the last shot of the quarter to let Lebron showcase his transcendence. A fade away three from the right side swish to go up four at the end of the quarter. The man is on a mission. 4 for 4 from three
10:05 Mike Miller hits a three from the corner to put the Heat up 5. If the role players can hit those open shots, the Heat shouldn't lose this game.
10:08 Right now the Mavs and Heat are shooting, 37 and 36% respectively. I thought this was the NBA Finals not the 2011 NCAA National Title game!
10:09 JJ Barea is 1 for 8. The mighty mite not having as much success against this Heat defense as he did against the Lakers and Thunder.
10:13 Wade hits an elbow jumper to push the Heat's lead to eight... But Stevenson comes back and hits a three for the Mavs. This ending could be really good. Maybe as good as the ending of The Shawshank Redemption... Who am I kidding? Nothing tops that.
10:16 Bosh to Haslem for the AND one. Good pass work by the Heat to get a good shot though it happened because Dallas gave up a few too many offensive rebounds. Those will kill you down the stretch. Just ask the Thunder or the Bulls.
10:22 Dirk isn't quite hitting the shots that he hit against the Thunder and that could be the difference tonight. But there is still four and a half minutes left for the Mavs to attempt to erase the 5-point deficit. It's going to require more Dirk heroics though to overcome the determined Lebron and the rest of the Heat.
10:28 Wade hits a ridiculous shot at the top of the key to put the Heat up seven. And Shawn Marion answers with an AND one backing down Miller. Bringing the Mavs to within 4... Bosh makes two free throws after a nifty Lebron pass and it's a six point game.
10:31 I guess Dwayne wanted to permanently shut me up and never doubt him again because he just made a sick block and sunk a contested three in Jason Kidd's face to push the Heat lead to 9 with 3:06 left. I'm sorry I ever doubted you Wade. I'll go cry in the corner now.
10:35 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH MY GOODNESS. LBJ just blew past two defenders, yacked so hard the ground shook, and drew the foul. I had the same reaction to that play that the color commentary guy has when the Flint Tropics introduce the alley-oop in Semi-Pro. He also made the free throw... Dirk answers with a jumper. Mavs down 8 with 1:43 to go. The crowd is starting to feel a victory. Not over yet though.
10:38 Dirk continues to make his free throws, 12-12 for the game. His free throw shooting is as reliable as Charlie Sheen's drug habit.
10:40 Chalmers makes two free throws and time is running out on the Mavs... Kidd misses a three and Wade runs ahead through three defenders, passes to Bosh, who dunks and basically ends this game and sends Dirk and the Mavs to a 1-0 deficit.
10:43 Wade drives, tosses it up to the middle of no where (seemingly) because he was just staring at his defender, and Lebron skies in and jams it home. Sick play. Kind of like Eric Jones on Webster Groves circa 2005. Exclamation point for the Heat.
10:46 The game ends 92-84. The Heat just outlasted the Mavs in a bit of a slug fest. One key stat: Dirk was 7-18 from the field. He shoots like that against the Thunder, the Mavs don't win that series. Wade shut me up with a 22-10-6 stat line. Lebron did his thing with a 24-9-5. Bosh was respectable with a 19-9-3. And the Heat's bench outscored the Mav's bench, 27-17. That's probably the difference in the game. But really, it was the basic contain of Dirk (his free throws basically made up half his points, 12), the tenacious team defense of the Heat, and the fact that they made shots when they needed them (Lebron's key threes and Wade stepping up in the fourth quarter). People might have to start getting used to the thought of the Heat being NBA Champions because if they keep up what they did tonight, they'll be hoisting that Larry O'Brien Trophy a lot sooner than most would prefer.
I'm out for tonight. I hope the next few games go more down to the wire but this game was a pretty good back and forth with some entertaining plays. Remember to check out the Stanley Cup Finals starting tomorrow, for the sake of the NHL's ratings and John's sanity.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
NHL Playoffs: Yes, This League Still Has Problems Edition
Hey again. I'd like to welcome myself back from a near month long, Simmons-like hiatus from writing. Sorry to all, got mixed up with the whole finals/summer is finally here thing. Mark wrote enough for 4 people anyway so glad to see the ship isn't sinking. Anyways..
If you’re not an NHL fan, well that’s not surprising. The NHL has been in the backseat of the car that the NFL has been driving for a while now. The NBA and MLB seem to take turns in the front depending on who calls shotgun fastest, while the MLS is stuffed in the trunk. As for tennis and golf, well they seem to be drug along something like this.
As an NHL fan myself, I cheer not only for the Blues but the league to do well. I wanna see game highlights on espn and amazing goals in the top 10. I want the league to generate revenue, expand, gain interest and become basically what the NFL is now.
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