I stated over a week ago that I believed the Dallas Mavericks would win the NBA title and they did. Here are some of my observations of what took place and how the Miami Heat could have won but ultimately they didn't make some adjustments and went down in flames. It all started with the Game 2 comeback and went downhill from there:
1. Rick Carlisle's adjustments made Erik Spoelstra look bad. Carlisle switch to starting Barea and Kidd is paying huge dividends. Its forced the Heat to stay at home more on Dirk and not double team him. Also having two guards that are playmakers, put a lot on pressure on the Heat's defense.
2. Carlisle is also used the zone defense and Heat looked like the defense was something foreign. Its a simple play to force James into a jump shooter and it worked to perfection.
3. As great as a player as LeBron is, his post game is awful. He has no clue on how to use his size and quickness in that area on the floor. When Carlisle inserted Barea into the lineup, he dared James to rake him or Kidd into the post because everyone in the league knows that LeBron is awkward and unsure of himself when his back is to the basket. That's definitely area he needs to work on.
4. I've said it before and I'll say it again, James lacks a killer instinct. The kind of instinct that dare I say Michael, Kobe and Dirk has. James does not have the eye of the tiger and in the long run that will hurt his image and his brand. The legend of Michael, Kobe, Magic and Larry starts and ends with how they finished off opponents. The reason why D-Wade is apart of the Jordan brand is he is a great closer. James, not so much. He is 2-8 in the Finals and that is not being a closer.
5. DeShawn Stevenson you won a title now stop talking!! Stevenson has a strong dislike for LeBron and that is OK but for an average role player, he sure does talk a lot. Saying James checked out in Game 4 and calling the Heat players classless because of the on the court talking is really stupid. Stevenson is lucky to be a Maverick and should thank the Wizards for overpaying for him and be content he happened to be on a team that won. DeShawn should take a lesson from his teammates and celebrate silently.
6. How immature is the national media for overscruntizing James and the Heat. Sure the decision was stupid but the national media had a vendetta for this team since last July. I have never seen so many members openly root against a team before in my life. Some media members left LeBron off their MVP ballots because he went to South Beach. How about just cover the story objectively and describe the actions on the floor. Stop with the teasing columns and pure venom for a player and or team. The only people that have the right to celebrate is the city of Dallas and Cleveland. Everyone else should turn down their mics and put away their pens.
7. Dirk is clutch and I knew they would win because he was playing at a high level. Its cool to see a world class athlete make the game look so easy.
8.Spoelstra better fix the Heat offense. They never ran any set plays and looked confused after timeouts. If Spoelstra doesn't fix it and doesn't win next year he is out.
9. If the Suns deal Steve Nash to the Timberwolves, don't be surprised to see him ask for a buyout and his next destination could be South Beach. A point guard who can shoot with his caliber could be just what the Heat needs to get over the top.
10. If I'm Chris Bosh, I'm worried that I might get dealt if the new CBA has a hard salary cap. I think everyone knows he is the one who becomes expendable.
11. Surprised Cuban kept quiet this postseason. At least he has all summer to brag.
12. I wonder does LeBron have second thoughts about becoming a Mav? Cuban asked him last summer to come to the Mavs and join Dirk. That would have been an interesting combo.....
13. Congrats to Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion. All three are a couple of good guys in the league who finally got their coveted prize. This was and is a complete team and in the end a unit will always beat individuals. The Larry O'Brien Trophy will reside in Dallas for a good while because who knows when the NBA will start again.
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