Dirk, Mavs Remind Miami There’s No “I” In Team

If you are not sure what to leave with from the NBA Finals, let me make it very clear:

It takes a team, not a group of individuals, to be a champion.

Public Enemy #1 since last July, Miami was the perfect punching bag, err, team, for the Mavericks to face in route to their first-ever title.  LeBron James and Chris Bosh viewed Dwayne Wade and his Miami Heat as an advance-to-go monopoly card; the best and quickest way to a championship. 

While we watched one of the better NBA Finals in recent history, we saw a group unified stand tall against a threesome with little to no supporting cast.  Wade put on the Superman cape and did his best, but couldn’t do it alone as even sporting a Robin costume was too much for Baby Bron Bron, who scored an impressive 18 points in six fourth quarters this series (That attack mode James spoke of, glad he teased us and kept it in the cage). 

This isn’t about Miami anyways, even if Bron Bron gives us plenty to mock and ridicule (mocking Dirk with the flu, another time for that discussion).  The moment belongs to Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks.

Nowitzki had been receiving ample criticism for having yet won a championship coming into his 13^th season.  A free agent as well last summer (Bron Bron in fact, wasn’t the only one), Nowitzki resigned with Dallas, remaining confident that the right pieces were in place to win a championship.  You know what they say, if you build it, the title will come.  Nowitzki and James were both without a title coming into this series, and now who is the one still waiting?

It’s not the guy who kept his talents in Dallas.

Dallas may have been out-starred in this series, with only one all star compared to three, but we saw a team that is eight, nine deep run down a team that is a bit top-heavy.

Nowitzki led the way and without him a championship is not in the discussion.  However, he had two defensive stoppers around the hoop in Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood.  He had a veteran leader in Jason Kidd, whose skills may have declined, but the man can shoot with the best of them and can make the smart play.  Jason Terry is instant offense off the bench while Shawn Marion was admirable in being a pest in James’ side while providing offense as well, averaging 13.7 points per game.  DeShawn Stevenson and Brian Cardinal too were valuable in spurts.

And there lies the anatomy of a championship team; players with particular skills, making contributions within their respective roles.  Take a look at the team Dallas took down.

Might you say a smidge different?

Three all-star players can certainly make up for many shortcomings.  That is, if they are all playing out of their minds.  Wade was, Bosh served his purpose, and James’ contributions are debatable.  His numbers may seem solid, but it seemed clear that the guy hid behind Wade once the fourth quarter came around, which is what he wanted when he left Cleveland, but everyone will still be expecting greatness.  Heck, I’m not sure if you can say James was good in these Finals post-third quarter.

But that’s it.

Mario Chalmers provided some space on the floor with his outside shooting, averaging 10 points a game.  The other five Heat players who saw the floor averaged a combined 17.1 points per game. 

That supporting cast will not win any awards under any circumstances.

These NBA Finals gave us more than we could’ve asked for.  We saw Nowitzki, the greatest international player in NBA history, lock up his legacy with a championship, the only thing left to accomplish along with another future Hall of Famer in Kidd win his first title.  We saw a series which was epic for almost its entirety with the exception of Game 1.  Dallas’ championship prevented the Heat from validating the circus act that was last summer, a victory for all outside of South Beach.  Lastly, and most importantly, we were reminded what it takes to win a championship.

A team, not a group of individuals.

Primetime Thoughts

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Early Leans NBA Finals Game 4

NBA Postseason ATS & Totals 23-15
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Going Gets Tough, LeBron & Heat Get Going

It had seemed to be a distant memory at this point; the Miami Heat were now closing out games.

Not so fast.

In a potentially series-shifting collapse, Miami gave away a 2-0 lead heading to Dallas after losing a 15-point lead with 7:15 remaining.  Dwayne Wade’s 3-pointer capped a 13-0 run, giving the Heat an 88-73 lead.  And then it happened.

LeBron James and Wade basking in their success, prematurely celebrating with 7:15 left in the game.

Where have we seen that before?

The Heat let their guard down to a Mavericks team which has proven to be resilient in these times, just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder, who blew a 15-point lead to these same Mavs in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

“We’re a veteran team and we don’t get too high with the highs and too low with the lows,” Nowitzki said.  “The game is over when the final buzzer rings,” Shawn Marion said.

On the flip side, Wade’s extended follow through in front of the Dallas bench along with extensive basking on James’ part may be inferred as getting ahead of themselves.

“There was no celebration at all,” James said. “I was excited about the fact that he hit a big shot and we went up 15.”

Maybe not, but as we’ve learned, James’ perception and the rest of society don’t tend to match up.

Celebration or not, Miami threw away a golden opportunity to take control of this series, and look no further than Bron Bron.  Wade was by far the most dominant player on Miami and he gets only three shots, one being a half-court desperation heave, in the final seven minutes?

The plan was to have a teammate to rely on to have less of the burden on himself, but yet he doesn’t even use him?

Explain that one to me.

Wade was having his way, shooting 13-of-20 from the field as Dallas had no answer, yet possession after possession, all Miami could manage was one jump shot after another.  The closers had faded back to regular-season form, looking as dazed and confused as Bron Bron when cameras are nowhere to be found.

Miami’s gaffe gives Dallas all the momentum in the world, stealing a game on the road.  Miami’s lack of a killer instinct, a characteristic James has been oft-criticized for, cost them as they were unable to put away Dallas.

It must’ve been interesting to watch Nowitzki on the other side, a man who walks a similar path as James, up until the part where Dirk continued pursuing a title with the Mavericks and not fleeing with a white flag in hand.  Wierd thing is, James could’ve avoided any backlash by giving the ball to Batman, excuse me, Wade, down the stretch.

Then again, what is James exactly playing for, the guy has already celebrated like a King (pun intended) back in July.

No, not a title, but himself.

Primetime Thoughts

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NBA Finals Game 2: Mavs vs Heat

Hello everyone!

Damn we are on a roll! We had another killer night going 3-0 on Heat-4.5, Heat ML, Heat +3.5 live.

This puts us at 14-3(82%) over the past 7 days of betting.. and 7-1(87%) over the pas 3 days of betting.

If we can keep this up than I will for sure hit my goal of finishing out the playoffs at 65% or higher!

On to the play!

Why The Miami Heat Better Lose

We are almost a year removed from “The Decision” and the fact that the Miami Heat are in the NBA Finals seemingly makes everyone sick, myself included.  Baby Bron Bron and Chris Bosh bolted to Miami to form the most ridiculous concoction ever seen in the NBA. 

We’ve entered a phase where Kobe Bryant is nearing the end, signaling possibly the last of the strong-willed player, the one who embraces the role of being “the guy” (What’s that Bron might ask?).  Players grow tired of the losing and pressure placed on their shoulders, so they bail to team up with other All-Stars.  It seems that everyone else is doing it, and if you can’t beat them, join them. 

James and Bosh set the tone, Carmelo Anthony soon after.  James and Bosh along with Wade are attempting to win a title playing three v five, Anthony didn’t want to lose out on $20 million, so he forced the issue and made the Knicks give up four core players.  Not too far are stars like Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Deron Williams.

Are we really seeing the NBA take a seismic shift ala the MLB?

I am an enthusiast of all four major professional sports, but let’s be honest.  Major League Baseball lacks the competitive parity that the NFL does and to extreme heights.  Out of 30 teams, realistically a handful are in the running to win the World Series.

Now you may feel the NBA is already there, with the Lakers and Spurs winning 9 of the last 12 championships.  However their competition varied over the years because there was a balance throughout the league.

If we see Bron Bron hoisting a trophy in a few weeks, not only will I be sick to my stomach (who knows how much more that man can gloat when he actually has something to flaunt), but a Miami Heat title will validate that whole charade which went down last July. 

Big picture, the NBA is screwed.

As mentioned, there are several stars who will potentially call a different team home.  They are all looking to follow in the footsteps of Bron Bron and Anthony; seeing Miami win will be the last push some of these guys need to bolt their current teams.

Does the NBA really need half the league to be lottery-bound before Christmas after all the star players have stacked up and comprised a handful of teams?

That doesn’t make for a very competitive league or a very enticing product.

It is this very fear which drives my plea for the Dallas Mavericks to whip the Heat.

Asides from the fact that Dirk Nowitzki is long overdue for a ring, Dallas needs to remind everyone what it takes to win a championship, that being a team, as opposed to three stars surrounded by talent that is underwhelming to say the least.

Primetime Thoughts

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