ducks
06-16-2006, 03:49 PM
Mavs look like scared team in chokefest funk
By RANDY GALLOWAY
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
MIAMI - Seeing it is believing it.
And believing that the Mavericks may need an immediate visit from Mr. Heimlich was officially confirmed here Thursday night.
Believing that this is now officially a serious series? Check.
Believing that the Miami Heat, so dismal in Dallas, has officially recovered? Check.
Believing that the Mavs, who tanked badly in the fourth-quarter collapse of Game 3, were officially in chokefest denial 48 hours later? Check.
And one other thing:
Those "Jordan" references attached to Dwyane Wade?
A tad easier to believe after Thursday evening.
Game 4 was another "defining moment" in these NBA Finals.
After a pathetic evening of offensive and defensive malfunctions, the Mavericks can be defined as a team running scared.
Meanwhile, a 98-74 final score says it all about the Heat.
Come again on that Mavs' output?
Seventy-four points? Twenty-five field goals in 48 minutes? Seven fourth-quarter points?
The Mavericks became the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Minus, of course, the Detroit defense.
Dirk Nowitzki (2-for-14) shriveled up and disappeared. Josh Howard (1-for-8) never showed up.
Was it great defense by the Heat that held the Mavericks to a ridiculous 31.6 percent from the floor?
Who knows? Depends on which team you ask. All Pat Riley had to say, and Pat is suddenly a genius again after he heard over-the-hill cat-calls in Dallas, was a calm, "it was our best game [of the series] tonight."
Thanks, coach.
For the Mavericks, it was the lowest point total in franchise playoff history, and also the lowest shooting percentage, and also the worst quarter (the seven points). Actually, that was also the fewest points in a quarter in NBA Finals history.
Nice work, fellows.
About the only shot the Mavs landed was the flagrant foul Jerry Stackhouse hung on Shaq in the third quarter. Tempers flared, temporarily, but the Heat had no reason to get mad. Miami was too busy getting even in the series.
Home-court has held in four games, the Finals are now even, and a Game 6 back in Texas is assured for Tuesday night.
But the immediate worry for the Mavs is that Game 5 here Sunday night.
Less than a week ago, "sweep mania" was prevalent across North Texas. The championship parade route through downtown Dallas streets had already been mapped out.
To all that, Avery Johnson said, "asinine." Which also described the play of his team in Game 4.
But the only parade that matters at the moment is how the Heat has marched through the Mavericks for the last 4 1/2 quarters.
Wade was wonderful with 36 points, 24 of them as the Heat was laying down the law in the first half, resulting in a 10-point intermission lead. What knee injury, by the way?
Shaq, hooted at for his poor play in Dallas, responded with 17 points and 13 boards, not exactly Wilt-like, but it was Mr. O'Neal's best overall effort of the series.
Still, this Mavs' disgrace was about much more than those two.
One other misconception that was erased in Game 4 centered on the backup singers to the Wade-Shaq Duo.
It was expected they would be off-key.
But the Heat-ettes not named Wade or Shaq scored 45 combined points, and don't think they came in garbage time. James Posey's 15 were particularly important.
Despite the final score, this game was still up for grabs when the Mavs trimmed what had been a 24-point deficit to 10 early in the fourth.
The Heat had gone cold and was also suffering from a turnover binge.
The Mavs had three consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to a single digit, but a cold hand never changed.
Devin Harris missed a wide-open 2, Jerry Stackhouse was off on a 3, and, finally, Dirk yanked a 3-wood into Biscayne Bay.
Pitiful.
From there, the Mavs got what they deserved.
"We are still confident," Stackhouse said.
If there's any way that's true, then the proof will have to come in Game 5.
"Hopefully, what happened tonight will light a little fire under our team," Avery said.
A "little" fire?
What this team now needs is a U.S. Army flamethrower for Sunday.
Seeing is believing.
By RANDY GALLOWAY
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
MIAMI - Seeing it is believing it.
And believing that the Mavericks may need an immediate visit from Mr. Heimlich was officially confirmed here Thursday night.
Believing that this is now officially a serious series? Check.
Believing that the Miami Heat, so dismal in Dallas, has officially recovered? Check.
Believing that the Mavs, who tanked badly in the fourth-quarter collapse of Game 3, were officially in chokefest denial 48 hours later? Check.
And one other thing:
Those "Jordan" references attached to Dwyane Wade?
A tad easier to believe after Thursday evening.
Game 4 was another "defining moment" in these NBA Finals.
After a pathetic evening of offensive and defensive malfunctions, the Mavericks can be defined as a team running scared.
Meanwhile, a 98-74 final score says it all about the Heat.
Come again on that Mavs' output?
Seventy-four points? Twenty-five field goals in 48 minutes? Seven fourth-quarter points?
The Mavericks became the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Minus, of course, the Detroit defense.
Dirk Nowitzki (2-for-14) shriveled up and disappeared. Josh Howard (1-for-8) never showed up.
Was it great defense by the Heat that held the Mavericks to a ridiculous 31.6 percent from the floor?
Who knows? Depends on which team you ask. All Pat Riley had to say, and Pat is suddenly a genius again after he heard over-the-hill cat-calls in Dallas, was a calm, "it was our best game [of the series] tonight."
Thanks, coach.
For the Mavericks, it was the lowest point total in franchise playoff history, and also the lowest shooting percentage, and also the worst quarter (the seven points). Actually, that was also the fewest points in a quarter in NBA Finals history.
Nice work, fellows.
About the only shot the Mavs landed was the flagrant foul Jerry Stackhouse hung on Shaq in the third quarter. Tempers flared, temporarily, but the Heat had no reason to get mad. Miami was too busy getting even in the series.
Home-court has held in four games, the Finals are now even, and a Game 6 back in Texas is assured for Tuesday night.
But the immediate worry for the Mavs is that Game 5 here Sunday night.
Less than a week ago, "sweep mania" was prevalent across North Texas. The championship parade route through downtown Dallas streets had already been mapped out.
To all that, Avery Johnson said, "asinine." Which also described the play of his team in Game 4.
But the only parade that matters at the moment is how the Heat has marched through the Mavericks for the last 4 1/2 quarters.
Wade was wonderful with 36 points, 24 of them as the Heat was laying down the law in the first half, resulting in a 10-point intermission lead. What knee injury, by the way?
Shaq, hooted at for his poor play in Dallas, responded with 17 points and 13 boards, not exactly Wilt-like, but it was Mr. O'Neal's best overall effort of the series.
Still, this Mavs' disgrace was about much more than those two.
One other misconception that was erased in Game 4 centered on the backup singers to the Wade-Shaq Duo.
It was expected they would be off-key.
But the Heat-ettes not named Wade or Shaq scored 45 combined points, and don't think they came in garbage time. James Posey's 15 were particularly important.
Despite the final score, this game was still up for grabs when the Mavs trimmed what had been a 24-point deficit to 10 early in the fourth.
The Heat had gone cold and was also suffering from a turnover binge.
The Mavs had three consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to a single digit, but a cold hand never changed.
Devin Harris missed a wide-open 2, Jerry Stackhouse was off on a 3, and, finally, Dirk yanked a 3-wood into Biscayne Bay.
Pitiful.
From there, the Mavs got what they deserved.
"We are still confident," Stackhouse said.
If there's any way that's true, then the proof will have to come in Game 5.
"Hopefully, what happened tonight will light a little fire under our team," Avery said.
A "little" fire?
What this team now needs is a U.S. Army flamethrower for Sunday.
Seeing is believing.