Why The Heat Lost And The Mavs Won

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.

So Long Shaq

Shaq-Diesel Retires

Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement today after 19 years in the NBA. I for one will miss the big guy. Shaq retires with 4 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVP's, and was a 15 time All-Star. In the time after Michael Jordan retired, Shaq was the face of the NBA. He is a gentle giant who's place in NBA history is secure. Now O'Neal has his detractors. People talked about how he didn't have a shot, a go to move, and all he could do was dunk. A lot of that was true early on but none of that bothered me. What I marvelled at was Shaq pure athleticism at his size, 7'1 and 320 (in his early years. I had never seen a guy with that size and pure brute strength, be so agile on the court. Shaq could block a shot or grab a rebound and start the fastbreak like a guard. He loved to run the floor as if he was a small forward or shooting guard. And yes the finish at the rim was a dunk and it always would leave the whole backboard shaking. I remember taping his first national game on NBC and he caught a lob from Penny Hardaway and dunked so hard that the entire backboard and rim came down. The game was delayed because Shaq broke it on the first play of the game. Shaq was the closest thing to Samson in sports to me and my friends.


When Shaq put his mind to it and worked hard he improved his game and became one of the most dominant to play the game. But that was thing with Shaq that bothered most people, he didn't always show that desire and hustle. There was the issues with him being a horrible free throw shooter and his coaches not having him on the floor. The constant weight gains in the offseason, the distractions off the floor with movies and rap albums, and the bickering with Kobe. I think one of his defining moments in his career will be his time in Miami, where he set out to help elevate Dwyane Wade status as a champion and started his descent as a role player. Shaq knew his time was ending when he left Miami and tried in Phoenix and in Cleveland to duplicate the Laker and Miami magic, but in the end father time is undefeated. Samson finally met his Delilah.

Shaq, thank you for the memorable dunks, nicknames and classic press conferences. Most of all thank you for being a gentle giant who cared about from coast to coast You have touched the lives of many young people and provided joy to those watching you on the court. History will remember you as an all-time great, who kept the NBA relevant post Jordan. You are definitely on the Mt. Rushmore of centers because I don;t believe we will ever see a guy with the size, speed and strength of the NBA's Superman.

NBA Finals Observations

1. The match-up of coaching will put the experience of Rick Carlisle versus the new gut Eric Spolestra. What you will see with the Mavs is that 95% of the time they will score when coming out of a timeout. This gives them a decided advantage because Carlisle is a fantastic X and O guy. Spoelstra has kept the heat together but has had trouble drawing up plays. The Heat's favorite play is an isolation with either Wade or James. It won't work all the time.
2. Pippen saying LeBron will be greater than Jordan is crazy. Pippen's logic comes from seeing how well LeBron is playing on the defensive end. I guess he forgot that Jordan won Defensive player of the year and was runner-up twice. Scottie forgot who got him six rings and got him in the top 50 players of all-time. Never bite the hand that feeds you.


3. Can we stop with Dirk and Larry Bird comparisons!!! Dirk is not a top ten player in NBA history. He is not the rebounder nor the passer that Larry legend was. Dirk is a great shooter and having a terrific playoff run but he does not compare to Larry.
4. Watch in the Finals the amount of former teammates that are playing each other. Starting with Mike Bibby and Peja. They had a terrific run together in Sacramento.
5. D-Wade and Shawn Marion played on the Heat together. They actually traded Marion to help clear cap space to get James and Bosh.
6. Here is another dynamic to watch as LeBron James will be guarded sometimes by DeShawn Stevenson and these two do not like each other. When Stevenson payed with the Wizards he would routinely call LeBron a fraud and actually started a feud with Jay-Z and LeBron. Bron will want to torch him and Stevenson can easily get persuaded into shooting his team out of a game.
7. Where have you gone Mike Bibby? Bibby used to hit big shots and was a play maker on the Kings and Hawks. He looks really lost with the Heat and his shot is way off. For the Heat to win, Mike needs to find his stroke. Its like he is lacking confidence. I know not having the ball in his hands takes a little bit away from his game but his is missing wide open three's which he used to never miss.
8. My cousin Sterling pointed out something to me about good players conserve their energy until the 4th quarter and then make a run. Just notice how the Heat like to keep the game close, for instance to within 5-7 points and wait for the 4th when the other team is tired and then close the game with fresh players. They did it to the Bulls twice in the Eastern Conf. Finals. The Mavs also took advantage of the Thunder in the same fashion. Cagey vets understand how to conserve their energy.
9. Bench play will decide this series ultimately. I believe the Mavs will win if they get big games from Barea and Stojokavic and Terry. The heat have to minimize the damage these three players in the series. The one problem facing the Mavs is they like to play up tempo and if the Big 3 get in the open court they are tough to stop, especially with the way the have been defending. The Heat will need big points from Miller and Haslem to offset the points the Dallas bench gets.
10. I believe everyone had this thought when watching the heat roll through the East" "Dwight Howard is not staying In Orlando and Chris Paul is leaving New Orleans." The Heat are and will only get better. Yes the Bulls are young but they are missing some parts. Howard and Paul will team up together and try to win a championship. New Jersey or Los Angeles will be possible destinations. Also, the Bulls will try to trade some parts to get Rose some help. Eric Gordon, one of Rose's best friends, who is on the Clippers is a possibility. There are going to be more super teams which will bring in viewers but hurt the rest of the league.

NBA Final Four Observations

1. I doubt Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant will be teammates in OKC long term. Westbrook sees himself as a superstar and seems to have a problem sharing the ball. It reminds me of Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett. Starburry couldn't handle seeing all the success of Garnett and thus that team was broken up.

2. The Dallas Mavericks are my pick to win the title. Dirk is playing at a different level.

3. If Udonis Haslem gives the Heat at least 10 points and 8 boards off the bench, then they will advance as well. With Haslem contributing it makes the Heat more dangerous. He is the heart and soul of the Miami Heat.

4. Luol Deng is very underrated and under appreciated. He is truly D-

Rose's "Scottie Pippen".

5. Magic Johnson is a Hall of Fame basketball player player but he is nearly unbearable to listen to at halftime of basketball games. Magic does not have a smooth delivery when speaking. Its awful to listen.

6. We used to call Jason Kidd, Ason Kidd because he had no "J". Now he's found a jumper and is schooling the younger Westbrook.

7. Besides Ray Allen, Peja has a beautiful jump shot.

8. Speaking of Peja, its good to see he is back contributing at a high level. When he is on, he is a deadly shooter. The guy once made 48 straight 3 point shots.

9. Rick Carlisle has changed the Dallas Mavericks to a tougher, more defensive -minded team. He deserves a lot of credit. Carlisle got the short end in Detroit and Indiana, especially after the brawl. He is an excellent coach and a fantastic hire by Mark Cuban.

10. Tyson Chandler is the anchor in the middle that the Mavs needs and the Heat wish they had. All he does is play solid defense and rebound and add toughness which the Mavs desperately needed. The Heat will have to address that in the future. They need a young athletic big man.

11. Carlos Boozer faded away in Game 2. I know part of him is still fuming that Wade and James did not want him in South Beach.

12. Will the real Chris Bosh please stand up? I think playing with the Heat has exposed Bosh's play. He was a star in Toronto but couldn't lead them to the playoffs consistently. I'm starting to see how he fades away as the games get bigger and the competition gets stiffer. Bosh needs to relax and demand the ball a little more. No one is asking him to be a 20-10 guy anymore. How about just being a 15-10 guy, and play big like you are.

Thanks for reading and comments are appreciated...

Bernard Hopkins Has A Lot To Learn

Bernard Hopkins shots at Donovan McNabb were unwarranted and uncalled for and in the end he shows how much he needs to learn, even though he is in his mid 40's.

Hopkins said that McNabb isn't "black enough" or tough enough. For years black people have said that about other blacks when they are educated and have money. If Hopkins had any sense at all instead of denigrating McNabb, he would actually praise him for his professionalism and the way he carries himself.

In the "cool" black culture, its okay for you to use slang, wear your pants down to your ankles and smoke weed and drink all night. Its not okay to go to college, use correct grammar and try to break a cycle that has plagued a race for many years. That perception that having a rap sheet is better than having a college degree is mind-boggling to me.

Hopkins really doesn't understand what it means to say that about another professional. Hopkins goes on to say that McNabb lacks toughness because of his so-called privileged childhood. I guess Grant Hill and Kobe Bryant aren't tough either because their families were well off too. Yes life on the streets can make you tough, but also what your parents instill in your can make you tough. Life in general is hard and if you learn at an early age (whether you have money or not) that you have to work to be the best and nothing is handed to you, then you will become a better person.

Bernard needs to look into Donovan's past and see that when his family moved into their first house in Chicago, someone from the neighborhood broke into the house and spray painted the "N-word" in the living room. But that's not tough enough to Mr. Hopkins. I guess you can only be tough and black enough by going to jail for felonies. Going to school three to four years and playing two-sports, is not tough to Bernard. (BTW-McNabb played both basketball and football in college.)

This conversation is usually had by other black people and is normally kept hidden from other races. I have dealt with this my entire life. I still have family members that associate me and my sister as the "ones who talk white." I don't really get why "keeping it real" requires one not being able to assimilate with all cultures. In Hopkins world, if you side with management and wear a suit, then you are a sellout. Great message to all the young people you supposedly help.

As a father, there are not many athletes that you want your children to be like these days. Guys being in the news for shootings, DUI, drugs and other outrageous things, you crave guys that stand out for good morals and principles; someone that your child can hang up their poster and you can say to him or her, this guy or girl did things the right way. Donovan is one those guys that I would allow a poster of his to be in my home.

McNabb is the ultimate professional and carries himself with a lot of dignity and class. He doesn't have to run the streets to be considered down; he's become what the majority of black people want to be and want their children to be--that is both successful in his career and personally. Not like Hopkins, who feels it is better to tear down than and destroy than to uplift. Once he learns that, then maybe Bernard can open his mouth again.

NBA Observations

Some Observations From The NBA:

1. The Lakers implosion has been well chronicled...but would about celebrating the Mavericks instead?
2. A year and a half ago I had a blurb in this post NBA Is Fantastic talking about how Dirk was the most ungauardable guy in the league. I was ridiculed, mocked and laughed at by friends and other readers. Who's laughing now!!!??:) I'm not crazy but its impossible to guard a 7-footer who shoots like a guard and can post like a forward or center. I only get credit now because Charles Barkley has now said the same thing.

3. Mainstream media has no clue on how to cover the Memphis Grizzlies because they didn't take the time to pay attention to them. I heard a national guy say that Grizzlies barely made the playoffs. Memphis record 46-36 and they were 3 games clear of 9th place team.
4. Does Russell Westbrook realize the Grizzlies and the rest of the league want him to shoot jumpers and not give the ball to Kevin Durant?
5.Have you ever seen a team sellout so hard on the defensive as the Grizzlies? They play so hard and make the offense team work so hard that when the 4th quarter the Thunder are so exhausted that they can't make shots. Talk about buying into what their coach is saying.
6. Glad to see Kobe's classlessness has rubbed off on his teammates. Two ejections, one by Bynum by knocking down the smallest player on the court.
7. I told my cousin Sterling and his friend Mookie two months ago, the most dangerous team in the league was the Memphis Grizzlies. I know they thought I was crazy but if you saw the Grizz in person then you would understand why I made that statement.
8. The Bulls won't win because they need Derrick Rose to score and facilitate all the points for his teams to win. Reminds me of the Bulls with Jordan, before Pippen came.
9. Speaking of the Bulls, is there a more overrated and overpaid player in the league than Carlos Boozer? Step up and earn your money Carlos! Quit being afraid in the post and start helping out.
10. When will Kevin Durant step up and take over the Thunder? Russell Westbrook has read his press clippings and is dominating the ball. Westbrook has a case of dribble flu. Where he dribbles and dribbles and dribbles and then shoots. Not smart basketball, especially in the playoffs. 11. Miami is playing the way that I thought they would at the right time of year. Most of the credit for their postseason success has to go to Joel Anthony. He is making all the hustle plays.
12. How frustrating it must be to a Hawks fan. To know your team will always be a middle level never to be a real contender.

Thanks for reading....

Double Standards In Sports

So I'm listening to sports talk radio (which I try not to because there is too much yelling)and a host of ESPN was just trashing the people of Memphis for cheering for Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies. Full disclosure: I was born and raised in St. Louis but now I reside in Memphis and have been a Grizzlies season ticket holder for the last 4 years. One of the interesting things about these playoffs is that now from the national media has any clue about this team, how they play and who their players are but they are quick to judge the character of people when its convenient because a happy story is just too much to handle. I'm not here to defend Zach Randolph, or any players that do knuckle headed things. However, if you have not followed this team or Zach closely since he has been in Memphis has no clue about how much he has matured and tried to make himself a better person beside player. I was talking to a friend who was shocked to hear how much Randolph has done in the Memphis community. He has given of his time and money to make a downtrodden city a better place. Sure the road hasn't been smooth for Randolph but he knew Memphis was his last chance to stick in the league and he has turned his life around so far. I just find it interesting that a media would praise and laugh at Charlie Seen self-destruction but try to find ways to tear down a guy who paid for 12 families electricity and heat during the winter. I was always taught if you don;t have anything nice to say don;t say anything at all. Some of the talking heads out there need to take that advice. The Grizzlies story is one that is great for sports. No one expects this team to win the championship. I barely had them making the second round. One thing I will say is this story is something that should be celebrated because Memphis is a fantastic basketball town and deserves to see good basketball being played. So to the Grizzlies and Zach Randolph keep making believers out of everyone that doubts you and know that there is one more fan out there that "Believes!!"