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5pts for Shaq in the Finals = Me smiling
Um, Shaq only attempted 5 shots the entire game. Why? First, guys like Williams and Walker were were taking way too many shots for role players. Second, Mavs were double teaming Shaq, and you could tell their main purpose was to stop Shaq and let the other Heat players beat them. It worked because Thirdly, no one was hitting their shots. Heat shot something like 35% in the first half when they were down 16. Wade was missing shots and turning the ball over, Walker and Williams were of no help, as neither was the Miami bench. Hence the reason why the Mavs could afford to double up Shaq. As soon as he was doubled, Shaq did a pretty decent job of passing the ball out to the open perimeter player. Problem is, they kept missing.
Also, it would help if Shaq could make a freakin FT every now and again. I would think that this Game 2 of the NBA finals, when you're teams down 1-0 would be considered a "critical time."
5pts for Shaq in the Finals = Me smiling
^I'll agree with that.
Shaq, and the Heat, are done.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Mavs sweep...
Wouldn't it be fitting? Shaq's first finals started with a sweep, his last finals appearence could end that way!
The Pistons were going to get swept after game 2 last year. I would hold off with the "Mavs will sweep" prognostications.
Dallas is simply playing better, but there are a few things to consider.
1. While Detroit played Shaq straight-up with single coverage most of the time, the Pistons did double occassionally. The difference is that Detroit didn't come so aggressively with the double teams. Detroit would send a soft double and it would not come immediately, thereby giving Shaq very good positioning and good passing lanes to hit open cutters.
2. Size of the defenders and the double-teamers plays a role as well. DeSagana Diop and Erick Dampier are both bigger than anyone the Pistons had defending Shaq. And, a lot of the times, Dirk was the one sent to double team Shaq. You have two 7-footers with great length defending Shaq, and all of a sudden the passing lanes are extremely tight and narrow for Shaq to pass out of the double team.
3. Dwyane Wade has not been as effective. Even in game 1 when Wade had 28 points, he was 10-25. Wade shot well over 60% in the Detroit series. Whether it's effects from his illness or it's the way Avery Johnson is sending different and fresh defenders at him, Wade's inefficiency has allowed for those more aggressive double-teams on Shaq, as all of the help defenders are not so concerned about Wade's slashing.
4. Frustration. It's in Shaq's eyes when he doesn't get the ball when he has great position. It's in Wade's eyes when he aggressively attacks the rim and doesn't get a call. In the Detroit series, in almost every game, both Shaq and Wade started off very well in the first quarter, got the bounces, hit their shots, got the calls. It opened everything up in their respective games as well as for their teammates. Now, when the bounces don't fall their way and they don't the ball or don't get the call, they are just frustrated and play frustrated.
5. Dallas can score. When Detroit played good defense and stopped Shaq or Wade on a possession, they were not always able to capitalize at the other end by getting baskets. Dallas pushes the ball much better and gets some easy scoring opportunities in transition or on a delayes fast break. The ability of Dallas to score puts a lot more pressure on Miami at the offensive end to keep up to pace. Detroit never really put that sort of pressure on Miami even when Detroit played good defense.
All of the credit goes the the Mavs players and how they have played and Avery Johnson for the way he is coaching. And, the above explanations give some insight on why Dallas has been as successful as they have been.
Very nice post...agree with everything you said.
Darko > Shaq
All of the credit goes the the Mavs players and how they have played and Avery Johnson for the way he is coaching.Now that I've simmered down, I think it's pretty obvious that this Mavs team is probably the best in the NBA this season. They are covered in every aspect of the game. They have a defensive minded coach, a deep bench including a guy who can give you 20 points off the bench on any given night, a 7 footer who you've built the franchise around who's playing the best basketball of his career and who creates matchup problems for all teams with his length and long range jumpshot, a quick and young backcourt in Harris/Howard/Terry, and finally big centers centers, who although may not be the best in the NBA, they can still play defense, rebound, and hit a few shots here and there. Spurs had all of the above also, minus the Centers, which was what gave Dallas the edge ultimately, and also why the games were so close.
Miami isn't going to get swept and this series could still go to 6 games. However, I think in these first two games, I think Dallas showed that they are clearly the better team.
All this series is proving is that:
1. Miami is a crappy Finalist.
2. Flip Saunders is an even crappier playofff coach.
What about Mavs>Spurs?
You're right in that Flip Saunders is looking like an idiot right now...
No props for the Mavs, eh, Shoogar?
When will Spurs fans recognize AJ is a great coach. To limit Shaq to 5 points, and basically force him out of the game is an incredible accomplishment. I know, I know, Shaq is old, but he was still avg 20+ points against the Pistons.
Fact is, the Mavs are playing better D than the Pistons, and can hit shots on top of it. Mavs are clearly better than Heat or Pistons.
What I think this series proved thus far?
1) AJ definitely deserved COY
2) Dirk should seriously have garnered more MVP votes than he did
3) Wade doesn't look so great when the refs don't bail him out
4) Pistons choked big time, they could have easily beaten the Heat
Shaq is in decent shape this year, but was he ready to run up and down the floor with the Mavs?
Oops~ It still hurts when hear Pistons choked. ><What I think this series proved thus far?
1) AJ definitely deserved COY
2) Dirk should seriously have garnered more MVP votes than he did
3) Wade doesn't look so great when the refs don't bail him out
4) Pistons choked big time, they could have easily beaten the Heat
However, we are ready to go. Hope it will be SA-DET next year again. But oops again... Flip will stay for another year.
Sorry,but there will be no coming back to the finals for the pistons.we ended their diabolical fluke run.next year we will se new fresh faces again in the finals.i say this with much respect towards the spurs,but still its just my opinion.
Shaq should have been pissed after the first game and made something happen this game.
Every mav fan here in dallas is proclaiming Dampier and Diop to be incredibly bad ass defenders that "locked down" and "shut down" shaq.
I think its a testament to their basketball IQ's that they think it's Shaq's fault for ty entry passes, lob passes, ty rotations, ty cutting, ty spot up jump shooting of his teamates.
On the other hand.....the attempts still sucked, and make you wonder what Shaq was thinking? Why not demand it low and just take it strong.
Dallas made one mistake. Terry's punch on Finley. Otherwise Dallas wins in 6.My boys were ready
But dallas had a practices with Memphis and were pretty healthy with Devin harris playing the best games of the season and it took one mistake (whoever - player, referee or one play and the spurs would be in the "Finals")
once again
Dallas is the way better team this year. I dont think we need break-downs and such. It was so obvious when they beat the Spurs. They are good. Reeeeeeal good.
Even if Detroit would have squeaked by Miami, they would have been pummeled by Dallas.
Too fast, too young, too hungry...oh yeah, and they have something Detroit doesnt.
A ing Superstar in Dirk.
lol..don't forget about a good coach
Avery is an amazing coach. And Dirk is an amazing player. And the Mavs are an amazing team. Which is why I hate them all so much.
This is what I pointed out in another forum I post in whose arguments consist entirely of ABC logic - "so and so didn't, what makes you think so can do this". Big Ben's a good defender and all but at 6'8" there's only so much you can do. Damp and Diop have bulk and length and an equally long help defense crew in Dirk and J-Ho. Add to that Shaq's utter uselessness 5 or 8-feet away from the basket - it plays right into Dallas's hands when they could just push him farther and disrupt the lob passes (which happened a bunch of times yesterday).
Granted, his supporting cast didn't nail their shots but if your le hopes depend on J-Will, Walker and Posey to hit their jumpers then you're ing screwed because that's the weakest part of their game.
^^^^^^^^^^
Sorry,but there will be no coming back to the finals for the pistons
So what your saying is neither the Heat or Mavs will be there next year.
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