Post Games 3 and 4: Miami Heat 2: The Dallas Nowitzki's 2
Well, we knew it would come down to another game ending shot by Dirk at some point, we just didn't know it would happen every game! So in game 3, it's Haslem now instead of Bosh (as predicted) manning up to Dirk for the buzzer shot. He plays tough straight up D with no help, keeping his chest in front of the Dallas big man, holds steady on the pump fakes, and Dirk launches a fade away jump shot from above the free throw line - it bounces out. Huge Heat win; it's 2-1.
In the aftermath, Lebron is already being criticized for not scoring enough, despite the fact that he distributes brilliantly including the game winning assist to CB, plays tough defense and contributes in an all round selfless fashion. The criticism is completely unwarranted; you wonder if this guy will ever live long enough to catch any kind of break from humanity ...
Game 4 we're back at it. Much is made of Dirk's illness, including a fever, and he does appear to be off somewhat struggling with his shot. Again it's crunch time, and again Dirk gets the ball. Again UD gets the call. This time however, Dirk makes a quick move to his right, clearly a well designed play has vacated everyone else from under the basket, UD gets no Help D -- and again we watch The Nowitzki waltz in for a nearly unconstested layup to gain the lead in the closing seconds of the game.
The ensuing Heat possession was simply embarrassing, as Wade inexplicably missed an inbounds pass --it bounced off his hands and headed for the halfcourt line and a turnover. A desperate save by Wade, followed by Miller recovery, and lame 3 point heave that doesn't even draw iron.
If the Heat lose the series --and I don't suggest for a second I expect this-- but if they do, I think this will be the one they say was the real tragedy to lose. First, a brilliant offensive performance by D Wade. Yes, marred somewhat by the late game play in the form of a missed free throw (would have tied it) and then the bungled inbounds pass as time expired. Nevertheless, an amazing performance including a clean block on Dirk on the defensive end earlier, and a huge contest on Tyson Chandler as Chandler attacked the rim. On offense he zigged and zagged his way to the rim, finishing like I think at this point, only he can. (32/6/2/2/2)
Dirk was clearly off with only 21 points. Yeah, 10 of them were in the last quarter. But overall, a sub-par night from Dirk, a huge game from Wade and solid performance by CB, and we lose? Which brings us to Lebron and his 8 points. No, not in the 4th quarter: 8 points in the entire game. So recognizing that there has to be a balance between distributing and scoring, and between LBJ and D Wade each doing their thing ... but 8 points in the entire game?! That's a loss of balance that will not fly. And it didn't.
In the last 2 games, in the 4th quarter, James has a total of 2 points. In game 4, he took one shot in the 4th. In the same game, he was outscored by Shawn Marion 16-8. Shawn Marion -- a guy the Heat traded away!
Lebron James / NBA Finals / 8 points ... wow ... just hard to believe...
But I so desperately wish all this nonsense about it's Wade's team / it's Lebron's team / Wade's the closer / James is the closer etc would just go away. It's all such one dimensional garbage. Riley to sports world: it takes 3 guys! No, it doesn't have to be one guy or the other as the alpha dog. It doesn't ...
Which brings me to what I think the Heat still never did this year, and doesn't seem ready to conquer in the handful of remaining games this year, even if they win: the ability to dial up, and dial down with accuracy and sensitivity, the relative offensive contributions of their 2 giants Wade and James. That's the balance that still eludes this squad, and along with some tweaks and strengthening to the supporting cast -- has got to come if they're going to reach their ultimate potential.
They have to have a better sense between the two of them which should have the ball at any given time in that last 7 minutes of the game -- when every possession matters. There was one point in the 4th quarter as Dwayne was cooling off a bit when he passed the ball to Lebron. I don't think James had the ball for more than a second before he tossed it right back to Wade who almost seemed surprised, and certainly a little winded. You had to scream WTF at that point -- what could James have been thinking? It was so clearly his own time, his own turn. Balance.
So for all the doomsayers out there: get back up off the ground -- it's 2-2, and, btw, we've split in Dallas at this point. Is the next game huge? You bet. Is it everything? No, it's not. And frankly, I for one hope that Lebron does not come out heaving up everything at the basket. Could he score 50? Sure. Would I mind? Heck no ;-) But a nice 22 points with 9 assists and 7 rebounds might serve the Heat better ... and in a way, the notion that arguably the best player in the world just scored 8 points and you beat his team by a whopping 3 points ... maybe, just maybe, oughta have you lying awake tonight if your name is Rick Carlisle ...
We'll be in it this time tomorrow night sports fans ...
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Ouch!
OK, there's no sugar coating this one -- that hurts. "Stinging" is the adjective that jumps out of the keyboard do describe this 95-93 loss in game 2 at home.
A blow out by 20? Whatever. A 2 point job like this? Well, ouch... And it wasn't even the loss itself, it was the way it happened: completely out of character. Never mind that the Heat had assumed total control over this game in the 4th quarter. When Wade --who put on a one man show all night long-- hit a catch-turn-shoot 3 ball from deep in the right corner with just over 7 minutes to go -- the crowd erupted as the Heat lead grew to 15, and it seemed like the emotional dagger for the Mavs.
Ironically, it was the opposite. From that instant, the Heat stopped playing on both ends of the court. And that is the puzzling, pull your hair out inexplicable nature of this loss. They are the lock down team with 7 to go; they hold the opponent to squat at this point, force turnovers they convert to jams on the other end ... what happened to that team Thursday night we may never know. Instead, it was a rash of Mavs baskets and that gawd-awful halfcourt Heat quicksand where Lebron dribbles out the 24 second clock at the top of the key while 4 guys in Heat uniforms watch, until someone is forced to jack up a 3.
With Dirk on a tear (he scored the last 9 Mavs points) his 3 pointer with 26 seconds left put them up by 3. The out of bounds play Spo called next was brilliant, and it was wonderful to see Chalmers rise to the task, draining a 3 -- without a Mavs player within 10 feet of him to push it back to a tie.
That set up the infamous "last shot."The Heat had that 1 foul to give, and everyone there knew Dallas was going to Dirk. The rest is history and occupied the sports world news cycle for the next 24 hours so I won't recant every detail here, just my own musings.
I understand Spo's decision to put Bosh on Dirk, who had already been getting looks over both Joel and UD based solely on height. Spo didn't want a clean look at this point, and also with a possible bit of surprise element to it, Bosh made objective sense. The only problem with that, is, UD is so darn tough and particularly in crunch time, and has a proven track record against Dirk going back to 06. Pretty sure at this point, if it comes down to that again, and it almost certainly will, we'll see Haslem lining up against Dirk.
In any case, even the above logic breaks down when you analyze that play: Bosh fought through a tough screen and manned up against Dirk from the left free throw line extended, who now had the ball, put one move on Bosh and left him looking flat footed, beating him bad to the basket. Ouch.
I can see all that, what was amazing to me, all 10 times I TiVo'd that play over, was that Haslem, who was in perfect Help Defense position, failed to get over and take the charge, the way he has his whole career, including the time he's played healthy this year. He had plenty of time, was perfectly placed, but somehow ... didn't get there ... Ouch again.
And even still, with a few seconds left on the clock, the Heat pushed the ball up court and Wade put up a running 3 from somewhere between the 3 point line and halfcourt -- and was so hot, hit back iron and bounced out. How much distance is the difference between back iron and swish? After all that, Wade almost pulled off a miracle - Heat fans have seen it before ... hey, that's why we call it "The House of Highlights" ...
So Bosh? Haslem? Joel on Dirk? Whatever. In some respects, you gotta give props to the Mavs. This was the 4th time in the playoffs they've come back from double digits to win at the end of the game. And there you have it. With 7 minutes left, we controlled the game, and by extension, the series headed for a 2-0 lead. And then "it" happened. Now it's a 1-1 series going to Dallas for 3 games and a total dogfight. Statistically, with a 1-1 split in the NBA 2-3-2 format, the team who wins game 3 is heavily favored to win the series.
See you Sunday ...
A blow out by 20? Whatever. A 2 point job like this? Well, ouch... And it wasn't even the loss itself, it was the way it happened: completely out of character. Never mind that the Heat had assumed total control over this game in the 4th quarter. When Wade --who put on a one man show all night long-- hit a catch-turn-shoot 3 ball from deep in the right corner with just over 7 minutes to go -- the crowd erupted as the Heat lead grew to 15, and it seemed like the emotional dagger for the Mavs.
Ironically, it was the opposite. From that instant, the Heat stopped playing on both ends of the court. And that is the puzzling, pull your hair out inexplicable nature of this loss. They are the lock down team with 7 to go; they hold the opponent to squat at this point, force turnovers they convert to jams on the other end ... what happened to that team Thursday night we may never know. Instead, it was a rash of Mavs baskets and that gawd-awful halfcourt Heat quicksand where Lebron dribbles out the 24 second clock at the top of the key while 4 guys in Heat uniforms watch, until someone is forced to jack up a 3.
With Dirk on a tear (he scored the last 9 Mavs points) his 3 pointer with 26 seconds left put them up by 3. The out of bounds play Spo called next was brilliant, and it was wonderful to see Chalmers rise to the task, draining a 3 -- without a Mavs player within 10 feet of him to push it back to a tie.
That set up the infamous "last shot."The Heat had that 1 foul to give, and everyone there knew Dallas was going to Dirk. The rest is history and occupied the sports world news cycle for the next 24 hours so I won't recant every detail here, just my own musings.
I understand Spo's decision to put Bosh on Dirk, who had already been getting looks over both Joel and UD based solely on height. Spo didn't want a clean look at this point, and also with a possible bit of surprise element to it, Bosh made objective sense. The only problem with that, is, UD is so darn tough and particularly in crunch time, and has a proven track record against Dirk going back to 06. Pretty sure at this point, if it comes down to that again, and it almost certainly will, we'll see Haslem lining up against Dirk.
In any case, even the above logic breaks down when you analyze that play: Bosh fought through a tough screen and manned up against Dirk from the left free throw line extended, who now had the ball, put one move on Bosh and left him looking flat footed, beating him bad to the basket. Ouch.
I can see all that, what was amazing to me, all 10 times I TiVo'd that play over, was that Haslem, who was in perfect Help Defense position, failed to get over and take the charge, the way he has his whole career, including the time he's played healthy this year. He had plenty of time, was perfectly placed, but somehow ... didn't get there ... Ouch again.
And even still, with a few seconds left on the clock, the Heat pushed the ball up court and Wade put up a running 3 from somewhere between the 3 point line and halfcourt -- and was so hot, hit back iron and bounced out. How much distance is the difference between back iron and swish? After all that, Wade almost pulled off a miracle - Heat fans have seen it before ... hey, that's why we call it "The House of Highlights" ...
So Bosh? Haslem? Joel on Dirk? Whatever. In some respects, you gotta give props to the Mavs. This was the 4th time in the playoffs they've come back from double digits to win at the end of the game. And there you have it. With 7 minutes left, we controlled the game, and by extension, the series headed for a 2-0 lead. And then "it" happened. Now it's a 1-1 series going to Dallas for 3 games and a total dogfight. Statistically, with a 1-1 split in the NBA 2-3-2 format, the team who wins game 3 is heavily favored to win the series.
See you Sunday ...
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Mama Come Pick Me Up!
In a decisive win for the Heat over the Dallas Mavs in game 1 of the NBA Finals, 2 plays, while perhaps not influencing the final outcome directly stand out tonight. The first, was with 6 seconds left in the 3rd quarter with the Heat up by 1 … Lebron took the ball across halfcourt, ambling slowly to his right, and just when you might have thought he was out of time, turned, lifted and, ever so effortlessly, launched and sank a fadeaway 3 ball to put the Heat up 4 as the quarter ended. They would never trail from that point on, and you couldn’t have blamed the Mavs for calling home right there and saying, “mama, come pick me up!”
The second came as the game was winding down, and Dirk took the ball on the left wing. He got Bosh to bite on a pump fake and went around him, next sliding by Haslem who came over to help. Closing in on the rim, it looked like it might be a sure dunk. Until D Wade, playing killer Help-Defense showed up, meeting Dirk on his side of the key, elevating straight up and contesting the shot mightily, which almost looked like it might be blocked. Dirk got the shot off, but no question it was changed, and it was another Dallas miss on a night they were held to 37.3% from the field and their 2nd lowest point total of the playoffs.
No doubt about it, Dallas is a great team, and Dirk could explode for 40 on Thursday, but sorry – he’s not used to being challenged and contested by the likes of Bosh, Haslem and Wade – all on the same play. Not by OKC. Or any given night in the West. No sir.
And so it was an awesome team win tonight, to go up 1-0 at home, 92-84. An ugly first half as both teams struggled from the floor. Chalmers 3 point shooting (3/4 from beyond the arc for 12 points total) was a notable bright spot and nearly kept them in the first half.
The 2nd half saw things pick up, as Wade stepped it up and the D continued relentlessly. With 3:08 left, Wade knocked down a clutch 3. But Dyrk continued to answer. Then, with 2:48 remaining, James crossed half court on the dribble, hesitated for a second still well above the 3 point line, before suddenly exploding to the basket for a vicious jam with the foul – making the free throw sending the lead back up to 9. And that was the psychological finish.
For the record, with 1:22 remaining, Chalmers hit a pair of clutch free throws. Finally, with 1:08 on the clock, off a J Kidd miss, Wade (22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocked shots), grabbed his 10th rebound, eluded a double team on the dribble as he advanced the ball up court, before drilling a no-look pass to Bosh filling the center lane in front of everyone, who took the ball in mid stride and jammed it through, definitively ending the game …
Lotta ball left no doubt. But this was a solid team win, and the Heat are better than they’ve been all season long and seemingly getting better with each series. Hard to see how Spo and Riles could be more satisfied with game 1 than with what they saw tonight …
Mama come pick me up!
The second came as the game was winding down, and Dirk took the ball on the left wing. He got Bosh to bite on a pump fake and went around him, next sliding by Haslem who came over to help. Closing in on the rim, it looked like it might be a sure dunk. Until D Wade, playing killer Help-Defense showed up, meeting Dirk on his side of the key, elevating straight up and contesting the shot mightily, which almost looked like it might be blocked. Dirk got the shot off, but no question it was changed, and it was another Dallas miss on a night they were held to 37.3% from the field and their 2nd lowest point total of the playoffs.
No doubt about it, Dallas is a great team, and Dirk could explode for 40 on Thursday, but sorry – he’s not used to being challenged and contested by the likes of Bosh, Haslem and Wade – all on the same play. Not by OKC. Or any given night in the West. No sir.
And so it was an awesome team win tonight, to go up 1-0 at home, 92-84. An ugly first half as both teams struggled from the floor. Chalmers 3 point shooting (3/4 from beyond the arc for 12 points total) was a notable bright spot and nearly kept them in the first half.
The 2nd half saw things pick up, as Wade stepped it up and the D continued relentlessly. With 3:08 left, Wade knocked down a clutch 3. But Dyrk continued to answer. Then, with 2:48 remaining, James crossed half court on the dribble, hesitated for a second still well above the 3 point line, before suddenly exploding to the basket for a vicious jam with the foul – making the free throw sending the lead back up to 9. And that was the psychological finish.
For the record, with 1:22 remaining, Chalmers hit a pair of clutch free throws. Finally, with 1:08 on the clock, off a J Kidd miss, Wade (22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocked shots), grabbed his 10th rebound, eluded a double team on the dribble as he advanced the ball up court, before drilling a no-look pass to Bosh filling the center lane in front of everyone, who took the ball in mid stride and jammed it through, definitively ending the game …
Lotta ball left no doubt. But this was a solid team win, and the Heat are better than they’ve been all season long and seemingly getting better with each series. Hard to see how Spo and Riles could be more satisfied with game 1 than with what they saw tonight …
Mama come pick me up!
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