2006 NBA Finals

[iggymcfly 0]

You people aren't getting it. It doesn't matter what the Nets do. The Mavs have an outside shot next year, and maybe the Suns. After that, D-Wade's just going to keep winning title after title until LeBron gets enough help around him to stop him. I say the Heat win the championship the next four years in a row before LeBron, playing for the Lakers finally beats him in 7.

[naiwf 0]

Who would you rather have on your team, Kevin Garnett or Vince Carter/Jefferson?

 

No way Jersey trades both of them, and no way would Minnesota be stupid enough to ask for both of them. Like I said they wouldn't be able to trade off Both of them for KG because cap's salary don't match up.

 

I can see Minnesota looking to get Kristic in return if they want to trade Jefferson but not Carter. Losing Carter and getting KG in return would be fine. Having Jefferson as your leading scorer would be fine. He was their best scorer during the K-Mart/Jefferson/Kidd trio.

 

Still, a team with KG/Kristic/Jefferson/Kidd would be a force to reckon with in the East.

 

Honestly though I think it's time to get rid of Lawerence Frank. He's a good young coach and has a bright future, but I can't see the Nets taking the East with him as coach.

 

Minnesota's going to want both RJ and Kristic, not VC. That's the point. Carter/KG/Kidd is good enough to win the division, but I don't think Kidd will have enough to make a deep push in the East especially if Miami's well rested and ready to defend that title.

[alfdogg 0]

 

This could be Jermaine holding this trophy, if Artest hadn't flaked out.

 

*sigh*

[Damaramu 0]

 

I'd like to thank the league for giving this to me.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I will take this time to thank Iggymcfly for jinxing it for Dallas with his "guarantees". Thanks a lot.

[Guest]

I'm glad the whining about officiating went away. Are the refs supposed to stop calling fouls because one player is getting fouled a lot?

 

The Dirk foul late was crap, but he was going to get fouled on the way to the rim anyway. Maybe Dirkus should have shown up.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

One day, I would like to thank Dama if he will ever SHUT THE FUCK UP about this conspiracy shit.

[cabbageboy 0]

I am amazed that people here actually defend last year's finals. I mean that series was one of the all time shittiest in history. Roughly 4-5 games in the series were flat out unwatchable and the only remotely interesting games were the Horry game and the 7th game. It was like Rockets/Knicks level bad.

 

This series had 3 blowouts but it also had 3 exciting games. I figured the Mavs would be toast though after that game 5 loss..and they were. As far as the Heat, I don't think they will go on some psycho run from here exactly. Eventually Shaq will get too old to go anymore and retire and other teams will improve. To be honest, I thought the better team actually lost this series. Reminded me of the 1996 World Series in a lot of ways.

[naiwf 0]

To be honest, I thought the better team actually lost this series. Reminded me of the 1996 World Series in a lot of ways.

 

I think this is one of the proverbial "if you played this series/game 10 times, the other team would win 8 or 9 of 'em" scenarios. This was a definite punch to the gut series for the Mavs, but this might just be the thing they need to not take things for granted in the future.

[alfdogg 0]

It was like Rockets/Knicks level bad.

I liked this series, too, but not for the same reasons.

 

I got Game 7 on tape as part of the Finals marathon, and I still can't help but smile a bit with every brick that Starks launches.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

Free throws! They're FAN-tastic!

[alfdogg 0]

At least the championship game was decided in a decently-officiated game (by NBA standards.) Because you know ol' Dick was right around the corner in game 7.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Reminded me of the 1996 World Series in a lot of ways.

That the one where the Marlins beat the Yankees?

[Damaramu 0]

One day, I would like to thank Dama if he will ever SHUT THE FUCK UP about this conspiracy shit.

 

Hey pal you don't like it then don't read it or use that ignore feature. That's why it's there. So you don't have to read posts from people you don't like. But instead of just simply using it you'd rather start shit. Just use the god damn feature and leave me alone.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

I don't want to get into the big argument but this is why Dirk Nowitzki is still not in the Kobe/Nash/Lebron/Wade level of elite-ness. Any of those guys would be entrusted with taking the last shot no matter how they have been playing leading up to it. Avery, meanwhile, didn't have the confidence in Nowitzki.

 

And I'm with barron, fuck Alonzo Mourning.

[Guest]

Reminded me of the 1996 World Series in a lot of ways.

That the one where the Marlins beat the Yankees?

Yankees had a lot of role players but beat the much better Braves with good pitching and timely hitting.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I don't want to get into the big argument but this is why Dirk Nowitzki is still not in the Kobe/Nash/Lebron/Wade level of elite-ness. Any of those guys would be entrusted with taking the last shot no matter how they have been playing leading up to it. Avery, meanwhile, didn't have the confidence in Nowitzki.

 

And I'm with barron, fuck Alonzo Mourning.

 

Nash doesn't belong in the "clutch shooter" group. He's certainly a leader and a deservedly elite MVP-type player, but I don't remember Nash hitting too many memorable game winners like the others described above.

 

Hell Wade and Lebron have only come into their own lately. You're forgetting guys like Iverson and McGrady, btw.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

I am amazed that people here actually defend last year's finals. I mean that series was one of the all time shittiest in history. Roughly 4-5 games in the series were flat out unwatchable and the only remotely interesting games were the Horry game and the 7th game. It was like Rockets/Knicks level bad.

Not to me. I didn't think any game in last year's Finals was boring or unwatchable; in fact, I thought that the whole series was quite riveting. Besides which, I cared who won and who lost last year, and that automatically makes it better than this year, AFAIC.

[alfdogg 0]

I don't want to get into the big argument but this is why Dirk Nowitzki is still not in the Kobe/Nash/Lebron/Wade level of elite-ness. Any of those guys would be entrusted with taking the last shot no matter how they have been playing leading up to it. Avery, meanwhile, didn't have the confidence in Nowitzki.

Then that's on Avery. Avery drew up the play, not Dirk.

[iggymcfly 0]

I know. Jesus! He already made series winning/tying shots against Memphis and San Antonio. How many clutch shots have those faggots Iverson and McGrady made that won playoff series? Avery made rookie mistakes at the end of Games 3 and 6, pure and simple.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

I don't want to get into the big argument but this is why Dirk Nowitzki is still not in the Kobe/Nash/Lebron/Wade level of elite-ness. Any of those guys would be entrusted with taking the last shot no matter how they have been playing leading up to it. Avery, meanwhile, didn't have the confidence in Nowitzki.

 

And I'm with barron, fuck Alonzo Mourning.

 

Nash doesn't belong in the "clutch shooter" group. He's certainly a leader and a deservedly elite MVP-type player, but I don't remember Nash hitting too many memorable game winners like the others described above.

 

Hell Wade and Lebron have only come into their own lately. You're forgetting guys like Iverson and McGrady, btw.

I didn't really mean clutch shooter group. Clutch shooter and the guy who gets the ball then does what he wants with it are two different things. Nash might not take the shot but there is no doubt he has the ball and has the green light to shoot anytime he wants. The other 3, well obviously.

 

Dirk, I don't know. He gets the ball but he seems hesitant when the game counts(atleast in the finals, no question he came up big the rest of the playoffs). Plus Avery not going to him is partly inexperience and partly the lack of confidence in Dirk(whether right or wrong).

 

McGrady hasn't been out of the first round and has never carried a team to a playoff series win while I'd rank Iverson a step below those 4(and Dirk for that matter).

[alfdogg 0]

Dirk did pass up one shot I felt he should have taken, though, and that was where he tried to pass to Dampier. No one expected him to go to Damps, unfortunately, neither did Damps himself. I thought he should have gone for the tie right there. No way in hell he passes up the one on the last play, though.

[Gert T 0]

To me the biggest point of the game was with about 5:50 to go and the scored FINALLY tied at 79 (not sure if this was the exact score), but Dallas finally had a chance to take the lead for the first time in the second half, Dirk throws up a three to try to tear the roof off the place, clangs badly, and no lead for the Mavs. Also it was disappointing to see Dallas not take it inside more when Shaq & Zo were off the floor in the fourth quarter.

 

The Wade - Dirk foul with 32 seconds left was just incredulous, but its not like the Mavs played good enough to win the game, or have one gripe.

[alfdogg 0]

Not directed at Gert T or anyone in particular, just a general statement

 

I think Dirk's really become a lot like Kobe over the last couple months, and by that I mean he's got a big fanbase who support him no matter what, and is just damned if he does, damned if he doesn't by the other side. It's not as diverse as it is with Kobe, obviously, but the happy medium has gotten a little smaller with every series.

[Gert T 0]

I understand your assessment Alf, and I am a pro-Dirk guy, but it seemed like he reverted a lot and settled for too many jump shots. Granted the Heat had the best personnel for help D than anybody else that the Mavericks played in the playoffs.

[alfdogg 0]

I definitely agree, but I think the whole team was guilty of it. Terry and Howard still took it inside occasionally, but they couldn't even hit *those* shots. Howard at least made up for it by having a good night on the boards. Terry just sucked.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I don't want to get into the big argument but this is why Dirk Nowitzki is still not in the Kobe/Nash/Lebron/Wade level of elite-ness. Any of those guys would be entrusted with taking the last shot no matter how they have been playing leading up to it. Avery, meanwhile, didn't have the confidence in Nowitzki.

 

And I'm with barron, fuck Alonzo Mourning.

 

Nash doesn't belong in the "clutch shooter" group. He's certainly a leader and a deservedly elite MVP-type player, but I don't remember Nash hitting too many memorable game winners like the others described above.

 

Hell Wade and Lebron have only come into their own lately. You're forgetting guys like Iverson and McGrady, btw.

I didn't really mean clutch shooter group. Clutch shooter and the guy who gets the ball then does what he wants with it are two different things. Nash might not take the shot but there is no doubt he has the ball and has the green light to shoot anytime he wants. The other 3, well obviously.

 

Dirk, I don't know. He gets the ball but he seems hesitant when the game counts(atleast in the finals, no question he came up big the rest of the playoffs). Plus Avery not going to him is partly inexperience and partly the lack of confidence in Dirk(whether right or wrong).

 

McGrady hasn't been out of the first round and has never carried a team to a playoff series win while I'd rank Iverson a step below those 4(and Dirk for that matter).

 

I think that's more the fault of the people around them than McGrady and Iverson.

[Fökai 0]

I definitely agree, but I think the whole team was guilty of it. Terry and Howard still took it inside occasionally, but they couldn't even hit *those* shots. Howard at least made up for it by having a good night on the boards. Terry just sucked.

 

That *should* be the story of the game. Dallas had a really bad third quarter - one problem of which was those terrible lob passes by Daniels and Terry. It wasn't a matter of Miami playing really good defense (as someone here posted), but it was guys like Haslem and Posey cheating on passes and the Mavs just giving the ball to them. When they did get the play set up, they just settled for jump shots with wide open lanes. This wouldn't be a problem if they had a rebounding prescence that could frustrate Shaq and get him in foul trouble early (since Haslem was basically playing perimeter defense on Dirk all series). Which is why I blame this loss on Erick Dampier. It's just too damn convenient not to.

 

After that, D-Wade's just going to keep winning title after title until LeBron gets enough help around him to stop him. I say the Heat win the championship the next four years in a row before LeBron, playing for the Lakers finally beats him in 7.

 

Miami looks like a team that could fall apart at the drop of a hat. They have too many players to bring back until multi-year deals that any complacency screws them up. I don't know how much help comes from guys around Wade in the coming seasons, especially when you consider the motivation that Walker and Payton (for example) will have with a championship now under their belts.

[bob_barron 0]

I'm just curious but iggy-

 

how much did you lose betting on the Mavs?

[The Man in Blak 0]

One day, I would like to thank Dama if he will ever SHUT THE FUCK UP about this conspiracy shit.

 

Hey pal you don't like it then don't read it or use that ignore feature. That's why it's there. So you don't have to read posts from people you don't like. But instead of just simply using it you'd rather start shit. Just use the god damn feature and leave me alone.

 

Here's how I feel about it. (And you should probably note that this is somebody who only watched bits and pieces of the series.)

 

Trying to pin this one completely on the Mavericks or the referees falls under a "chicken or the egg" dilemma. There are way too many uncomfortable parallels between this series and the Kings/Lakers series from a couple of years ago, with this year's Game 5 almost surpassing the absurdity of the Kings/Lakers Game 6 where the Lakers received twenty-seven foul shots in the fourth quarter.

 

(And, just to put things into perspective, while Game 5 may have been a very frustrating game to watch, it still pales to that Game 6, which was, hands-down, the most poorly officiated game that I've ever witnessed in sport. Never again will you see the officials take control of a game like you did in the fourth quarter of that game.)

 

The Mavericks basically gave away the last two games (maybe even the last three), but it was more due to them getting psyched out of their game by the referees than any strong dip in ability. Dirk basically giving up his low-post game is not a new development - it's something that had already started in Miami. Same with Howard, Terry, and the rest of the team mentally checking out of the series.

 

Part of the problem here is actually Mark Cuban. When he steps on the court, jawing at referees, and making himself (and, by proxy, the officiating) the story leading into Game 6, he plants the seed in the Maverick locker room that, not only will/should things change for the next game, but that Game 5 provides them with a "reason" for losing the series. What's even worse is that I think Avery Johnson, a first year coach who was a player only a couple of years ago, may have been affected by that mindset even more than the team itself and that distraction probably played into his questionable decisions.

 

That being said, if somebody wants to say that the Mavericks had Game 5 taken away from them by incompetent officiating, I'm willing to buy into that. I watched more of Game 5 than I did of any other game in the series and I got those Kings/Lakers jitters all over again, watching Wade get call after call after call. You can't fault Wade for taking what the referees were going to give him, but you can't just completely turn a blind eye to what they gave him and pin that Game 5 loss entirely on the Mavericks.

 

Someone earlier in the thread had mentioned about the lack of referee attention during the first two games.

 

1. Despite any potential home-cooking that the referees may have provided, the Mavericks looked dominant in those first two games, as though the officiating wasn't even a factor.

2. The Mavericks' offense isn't really conditioned to draw foul after foul, because they don't have to; they play a diverse offensive game with many contributors.

 

The second point may indirectly lead to the first one, just because of our perception of dominance in an NBA game - the Mavericks just kept piling on points, unabated by the Heat or the referees for the most part.

 

Of course, that second point is also something that Avery Johnson could have re-established going into Game 6 after things had turned sour in Miami, but he didn't. He could have played the "star game" and encouraged Dirk to throttle up his low-post scoring rather than taking twenty-some jumpshots. Like Edwin said earlier, even if they feared that they wouldn't get the calls with Dirk driving into the lane, they should have at least tried instead of conceding their game plan.

 

But they didn't, and I don't know whether to blame the Mavericks for having that mental block, or the unbelievably incompetent officials for doing everything short of giving them a legitimate reason for creating it in the first place.

 

Simmons couldn't have been more dead-on in his analysis that the Miami win probably sets the league back a year, if only because it demonstrates that the playoff officiating implicitly punishes a team who doesn't buy into the "star system." Casual fans (like me) that may have tuned in for this series after abandoning the league following the Kings/Lakers debacle just got another helping of the dissatisfaction that made them tune out in the first place. If I'm David Stern, I take a long look at revising the much-criticized selection process for playoff officials in the offseason.