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Mavericks, Heat have
proved they won't go down without a mean fight
- making this championship battle a great one
May 30, 2006
By Jason Brough
BodogNation Contributing Writer
In the road to the NBA Finals,
history has proven that no matter how much talent
you bring to the playoffs, timing is everything.
And just in time for the postseason, the Miami
Heat found the proper mix.
With an ugly 0-3-1 start
against the spread (2-2 straight-up) in the first
four games against the Chicago Bulls, Antoine
Walker helped the Heat survive by emerging as
the team’s third offensive weapon, behind
Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal.
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NBA Finals Schedule
All games on ABC at 9 p.m. ET
Game 1: Thursday at Dallas
Game 2: Sunday at Dallas
Game 3: Tuesday, June 13 at Miami
Game 4: Thursday, June 15 at Miami
*Game 5: Sunday, June 18 at Miami
*Game 6: Tuesday, June 20 at Dallas
*Game 7: Thursday, June 22 at Dallas
*If necessary
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Walker maintained solid shot
selection while averaging 14.7 points in the first
round, the coming-out party kept him at a steady
12.5 ppg for the rest of the playoffs. Guard Gary
Payton and forward James Posey also helped the
Heat resist an early upset by averaging nearly
40-percent shooting from behind the arc, establishing
themselves as scoring threats for the Heat’s
usually barren bench.
Against the Detroit Pistons
in the Eastern Conference finals, O'Neal’s
body was revitalized at the right time as Miami
overcame the stingy defense of the Motor City
Bad Boys. Shaq jumped his average of 18.6 points
against the Nets in the second round to 21.7 against
the Pistons; his impressive totals led the Heat
to a 4-2 series victory and 5-1 ATS record. He
cemented the series with 28 points, 16 rebounds
and five blocks in Game 6 to end Detroit’s
conference reign.
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Key Numbers for
the Heat
29.3: Shaquille
O’Neal has averaged 29.3 points
in 36 career games against the Dallas
Mavericks. For many of the games in
years past the Mavs only had NBA flop/beanpole
Shawn Bradley to stand in the Diesel’s
way; Erick Dampier and Desagana Diop
shouldn’t pose many problems
either.
4-4: Although they have a great road
record, the Mavs are only 4-4 ATS
at home in the playoffs. This should
mean the Heat have a legitimate shot
of at least splitting in Dallas.
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Although he showed shades
of the Shaq Diesel circa 2002, O'Neal is still not
the most important player in Miami. Wade owns that
title after graduating from a slasher who feeds
off Shaq for dunks and layups to a well-rounded
superstar. Wade averaged 26.4 points against the
Bulls, Nets and Pistons by generating the kind of
mid-range and long-range game needed to open up
more opportunities against double teams and traps.
His improved outside touch has made him the go-to
guy for a team that can sometimes seem lost on the
court. Wade has upped his three-point percentage
from 17 percent in the regular season to 42 percent
in the playoffs.
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Key Numbers for
the Heat
29.3: Shaquille
O’Neal has averaged 29.3 points
in 36 career games against the Dallas
Mavericks. For many of the games in
years past the Mavs only had NBA flop/beanpole
Shawn Bradley to stand in the Diesel’s
way; Erick Dampier and Desagana Diop
shouldn’t pose many problems
either.
4-4: Although they have a great road
record, the Mavs are only 4-4 ATS
at home in the playoffs. This should
mean the Heat have a legitimate shot
of at least splitting in Dallas.
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Although he showed shades
of the Shaq Diesel circa 2002, O'Neal is still
not the most important player in Miami. Wade owns
that title after graduating from a slasher who
feeds off Shaq for dunks and layups to a well-rounded
superstar. Wade averaged 26.4 points against the
Bulls, Nets and Pistons by generating the kind
of mid-range and long-range game needed to open
up more opportunities against double teams and
traps. His improved outside touch has made him
the go-to guy for a team that can sometimes seem
lost on the court. Wade has upped his three-point
percentage from 17 percent in the regular season
to 42 percent in the playoffs.
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Key Players for
the Heat
Shaquille O’Neal: With the
Mavs only touting Erick Dampier and
Desagana Diop as diversions in the
paint, Shaq is going to get his points,
but his real worth will be proven
by how active he is on defense.
The Heat are likely going to have
difficulty staying in front of the
Mavs’ speedy perimeter players
like Jason Terry, Devin Harris, Marquis
Daniels and Josh Howard. So it’s
up to Shaq to alter any layups and
grab rebounds. He has proven he has
the ability to still take over games
on both ends when it counts, confirmed
by his Game 6 performance against
the Pistons.
Antoine Walker: With Dwayne Wade
possibly suffering from a stomach
flu early in this series, Walker will
have to step up his scoring. Walker
is no longer a 6-8 forward who simply
chucks up bricks. He needs to maintain
his poise, versatility and sound shot
selection to help the Heat.
Walker leads the team in three-pointers,
is second in rebounds and is one of
the main ingredients to the Heat’s
chemistry among its role players.
If Walker doesn’t stick to his
playoff plan and reverts to thinking
he’s in a three-point contest,
the Heat will have offensive problems.
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Despite Wade's prowess and
the Heat's cohesion into a unit, they still open
as +130 underdogs in the NBA Finals. That underdog
status has plenty to do with their opponents.
Over the years the Dallas
Mavericks seemed to have the stars, leadership
and depth to reach the NBA Finals. This year they
finally achieved that goal.
The Mavs opened the playoffs
with a stampede, sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies
and starting the playoffs 5-0 ATS. Mavs coach
Avery Johnson proved his worth as the league's
coach of the year by giving the usually soft squad
the grit needed to contend deep into the playoffs.
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Key Numbers for
the Mavericks
49: The Mavs beat the Heat in two
regular-season games by a margin of
49 points combined and went 2-0 SU
and ATS. The bigger loss was a 36-point
blowout on Feb. 9 that was so bad
it may have contributed to Miami turning
its season around. If the Mavs start
the Finals like they did those regular-season
routs, a sweep could follow. And there's
value in that: a Mavs' sweep is +1200
in the Bodog Sportsbook.
8-1: The Mavs are a remarkable 8-1
ATS on the road during the playoffs.
Surprisingly, their defense has been
better on the road, giving up 100.5
at home and only 93.2 in away games.
With the 2-3-2 format of the NBA Finals,
the Mavs great road record should
be helpful.
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Avery’s extraordinary
coaching ability also helped him make quick and
effective adjustments against the Mavs' second-round
opponent, the defending NBA champion San Antonio
Spurs. Avery’s addition of Devin Harris,
a lightning quick second-year guard, to the starting
lineup after an 87-85 Game 1 loss put the Spurs
off-balance for the rest of the series. The Mavs
went on to win in seven games, using Harris’s
speed to shatter the Spurs' defense and go over
the total in five of the last six games.
The Mavs have shown how deep
they are by having five players average double
digits in the playoffs, but in the end the true
key to their success has come from the emergence
of Dirk Nowitzki as a clutch scorer and gutsy
leader. Nowitzki came up huge in every big playoff
game, dropping 37 points and 15 rebounds in the
decisive Game 7 against the Spurs. He also poured
in 50 points and 12 rebounds to regain a 3-2 series
lead against the Suns, and scored 16 of 24 points
in the second half to finish off the Suns in Game
6 of the Western Conference finals.
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Key Players for
the Mavericks
Josh Howard: While Howard has shown
the skills to score from anywhere,
his versatility on defense will be
a key factor as the Mavs aim to slow
down Heat superstar Dwyane Wade. Howard
showed remarkable defensive ability
in Games 6 and 7 against the Suns,
when Avery Johnson decided to put
him on two-time MVP Steve Nash in
place of Jason Terry in the second
half. Howard used his size and speed
to confound Nash. The Suns, a team
that had averaged 49 points in the
second half of the first four games
of the series, were limited to only
39 points per game in Games 5 and
6.
Howard’s ability to match Wade's
height and quickness is what could
keep the Miami star’s turnovers
high and 30-point performances low.
Dirk Nowitzki: This year’s
NBA playoffs have affirmed what has
been apparent ever since this 7-foot
forward from Germany became a starter.
Nowitzki is the most difficult matchup
in the NBA.
He is leading all active players
in the postseason in scoring, rebounding
and three-point shooting, averaging
28.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. He
can bring guards who defend him on
the perimeter to the post, and he
can bring forwards/centers who defend
him in the post to the perimeter.
And for a championship ring to reach
his finger, more “playoff”
Dirk needs to show up. The Mavs are
6-1 SU and ATS when Nowitzki drops
30 points in a game.
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With a record of 12-5 ATS
in the playoffs and impressive victories over
powerhouses like the Spurs and Suns, the Mavs
have opened as -150 favorites to take home the
NBA crown.
PHOTO:
Dirk Nowitzki has raised his game in the
playoffs and the Mavs have reached the NBA Finals
for the first time (AI Wire photo).
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