ducks
06-16-2006, 09:12 AM
Posey comes off Heat's bench to stuff Dirk, spark Heat
June 16, 2006
By Michael Snyder
SportsTicker Contributing Writer
MIAMI (Ticker) - The Miami Heat were in need of a little spark from the bench. They got that and a whole lot more from James Posey.
Playing in place of foul-plagued Udonis Haslem, Posey scored seven of his 15 points in the final quarter - and helped hold superstar Dirk Nowitzki to only 2-of-14 shooting - as the Heat evened the NBA Finals at two games apiece with a 98-74 rout of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.
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Posey, who had only 13 points combined in the first three games of the series, was part of an effort that Heat center Shaquille O'Neal termed "the best our bench has played all series." He hit 5-of-9 shots, including two from the arc, while pulling down 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
"We came in just very aggressive on the defensive end," Posey said. "I think that opened up some things for us on the offensive end."
"Posey did an unbelievable job for us tonight," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "Scoring, rebounding, just being active, taking charge. That's what it's all about."
With Miami leading, 82-70, with 7:22 to play, Posey took a pass from Shandon Anderson, pulled up and hit a 3-pointer to effectively end any chance the Mavs had of coming back.
"We've been doing a pretty good job with their bench, but Pose got it loose for a couple of shots there and he rebounded the ball well," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "But again, we've held their bench down three of four games. Tonight, Pose hit a few shots and it's a breakout game so everything is magnified."
Nowitzki, who was averaging 27.8 points in the playoffs and 24 points in the first three games against the Heat, was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Many of his shots were way off the mark as Posey played him closely.
"Coming in, we just want to play him tough," Posey said. "He's a great player. We know he's going to get a lot of shot attempts and things like that. We don't want him to get into a comfort zone and let him get into his sweet spots, just make everything work without fouling."
"Haslem is roughing (Nowitzki) up," Johnson said. "Posey is playing physical. ... Where I'm from they call it playground basketball, and a lot of time that's what it is because you can't expect anybody to bail you out."
Posey did some bailing out of his own of Miami's maligned bench, which was outscored 24-2 in the first game of the series and hasn't been much of a factor since.
As Heat coach Pat Riley simply said, "Pose did a great job making big shots and defending."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=finalsposey&prov=st&type=lgns
June 16, 2006
By Michael Snyder
SportsTicker Contributing Writer
MIAMI (Ticker) - The Miami Heat were in need of a little spark from the bench. They got that and a whole lot more from James Posey.
Playing in place of foul-plagued Udonis Haslem, Posey scored seven of his 15 points in the final quarter - and helped hold superstar Dirk Nowitzki to only 2-of-14 shooting - as the Heat evened the NBA Finals at two games apiece with a 98-74 rout of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.
ADVERTISEMENT
Posey, who had only 13 points combined in the first three games of the series, was part of an effort that Heat center Shaquille O'Neal termed "the best our bench has played all series." He hit 5-of-9 shots, including two from the arc, while pulling down 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
"We came in just very aggressive on the defensive end," Posey said. "I think that opened up some things for us on the offensive end."
"Posey did an unbelievable job for us tonight," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "Scoring, rebounding, just being active, taking charge. That's what it's all about."
With Miami leading, 82-70, with 7:22 to play, Posey took a pass from Shandon Anderson, pulled up and hit a 3-pointer to effectively end any chance the Mavs had of coming back.
"We've been doing a pretty good job with their bench, but Pose got it loose for a couple of shots there and he rebounded the ball well," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "But again, we've held their bench down three of four games. Tonight, Pose hit a few shots and it's a breakout game so everything is magnified."
Nowitzki, who was averaging 27.8 points in the playoffs and 24 points in the first three games against the Heat, was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Many of his shots were way off the mark as Posey played him closely.
"Coming in, we just want to play him tough," Posey said. "He's a great player. We know he's going to get a lot of shot attempts and things like that. We don't want him to get into a comfort zone and let him get into his sweet spots, just make everything work without fouling."
"Haslem is roughing (Nowitzki) up," Johnson said. "Posey is playing physical. ... Where I'm from they call it playground basketball, and a lot of time that's what it is because you can't expect anybody to bail you out."
Posey did some bailing out of his own of Miami's maligned bench, which was outscored 24-2 in the first game of the series and hasn't been much of a factor since.
As Heat coach Pat Riley simply said, "Pose did a great job making big shots and defending."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=finalsposey&prov=st&type=lgns