The Heart of a Champion

“The Portland Trailblazers are the low seed nobody wants to face.”

“The Lakers are on a mission to send Phil Jackson out with another three peat.”

“Oklahoma City may win the series if they can take one in Dallas.”

“The Miami Heat have too much talent for the Mavericks to overcome.”

“I told you so.”

Four of these five quotes are what “they” said. The last one is what Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban has had in the little thought bubble over his head throughout the 2011 NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals. Full disclosure: I am not a fan of the Dallas Mavericks. I am a Hornets fan. Being a blogger and not a journalist, I can say that. The Mavericks are a division rival who, frankly, has been a thorn in the side over the years.

I have never been particularly fond of Mark Cuban, even before the Hornets moved to New Orleans. I have often thought of him as new money run amok. More disclosure: I am a LeBron fan and I wanted them to win this series. One would think it would pain me to write this piece. Not really.

No matter how much I love or hate a certain player, team, or personality, I have no problem with telling it how I see it. Dallas overcame hurdle after hurdle, doubt after doubt, and obstacle after obstacle. Dirk Nowitzki, the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals has frequently been criticized over the years for underachieving. Yes, he is a great shooter, but he is soft on defense and in the paint. Yes, he has helped lead his team to a lot of regular season victories and yes he was the 2007 Most Valuable Player, but he and his team always checked out in the playoffs. Dirk took all of the “yeah, buts” and showed them his butt.

Here is the bottom line. The Mavericks swept the two time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. They came from behind, what appeared to be, an insurmountable deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder, preventing the Thunder from tying the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece. They repeated the feat in Games 2 and 4 against the Heat, trailing by 15 and 9 points in the fourth quarter, respectively.

Those are all hallmarks of a champion. The goal is to win. The goal is to be the last team standing. That is what the Mavericks did. That is how they, and they alone, earned to be the champions of the NBA. 

How sweet it is! 1

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Game 6 – This One Is for All the Marbles

Game 6 of the NBA Finals is Sunday night. This one is for all the marbles. The winners will be the champions of the NBA. The losers will have the longest summer among the other 29 teams, in spite of it lasting the shortest amount of time.

What’s that? This is only Game 6, you say? The Miami Heat need to win a Game 7 to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, you say? I need to learn how to count, eh?

No, I know exactly what I am saying. The Dallas Mavericks may lead this series 3 games to 2. The Mavericks will participate in a Game 7 if they lose Game 6. However, if the Heat win Game 6, they are not looking back and the Mavericks are not recovering.


HISTORY IS ON MIAMI’S SIDE

Miami has recent history and NBA history working on its side. Recently, as in the 2011 playoffs, the Heat have lost one playoff game at home. It was a miraculous, historic comeback by the Mavericks in Game 2.

Historically, the road team has not won the seventh game of the NBA Finals since 1978. During this series, the Mavericks have only outplayed the Heat for the majority of the game once, in Game 5. And historically, Game Sevens in any sport in any round have been won by the home team in heavy proportions.

This is what the NBA looked like the last time a team won a Game 7 of the Finals on the road - The Washinton Bullets beat the Seattle Supersonics. Those shorts were not flattering on Hall of Famer Wes Unseld (41). 2

THE GAME IS PLAYED ON THE COURT

History is just that: history, what happened in the past. Still, if the Mavericks are to beat the Heat in a seventh game, it would require a Miami win in Game 6. In common vernacular, the Heat haven’t figured Dallas out over the past two games. Miami had fourth quarter leads in the last two games, but could not put a lid on the Mavs.

If the Heat can crack the code in Game 6, considering the already existing advantage Miami has in talent over Dallas, how much room could the Mavericks make up in a seventh game on the road? This series, were it not for a lot of breaks going just the way the Mavericks needed them in Games Two and Four, may have ended in a four game sweep.

In addition, LeBron James is in the midst of a vicious two game slump, particularly in the fourth quarter. Great players do not stay down for long. They just don’t. For the Heat to win Game Six, they will probably need all that LeBron has to offer. If The King snaps out of his funk during Game 6, does anyone think he is going to suddenly lose his confidence and go back into his shell for Game Seven?

Dallas needs an encore from Jason Terry in Game 6. 3

ONE SHOT

Much like Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks had one opportunity to complete the Mavericks comeback from 15 points down in 7 minutes in regulation in the final seconds, the Mavericks have one opportunity to win the 2011 NBA Championship: Game 6. If this series goes to a 7th and deciding game, the Mavericks will be there, but likely be watching confetti fall in Miami at the end of it.

I don't think the Mavericks want to see this sight, again. 1

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Dirk Nowitzki Should Take His Gratitude to South Beach

LeBron James took his talents to South Beach last summer. This summer, Dirk Nowitzki should send a “thank you” card there.

Four games in to the 2011 NBA Finals, the series is tied, 2-2. In Game 2 and Game 4, the Mavericks trailed by several possessions in the fourth quarter. Both times, the Heat were held to less than 10 points for the remainder of the game after the Mavericks began to rally. Both times, Dirk Nowitzki rose above to snatch a victory for his team from the jaws of defeat. In Game 2, he rose above the Heat defense. Last night, he rose above an elevated body temperature, playing with a fever over 100 degrees.

Dirk caught every breath he could in between the whistles. 1

ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES
As I have said so often, once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern, and three times is a trend. This is now the third time in the Mavericks past six games in which they have faced a fourth quarter deficit that appeared too wide to close and the Mavericks shut down their opponent defensively while Nowitzki made, seemingly, every shot from everywhere on the court to close the gap and eventually win the game. This is a trend.

Last night was the first game in the series. Among the vast majority of the NBA’s other 28 teams available as opponents, the Heat, nine times out of ten, hold on to a 15 point and 9 point fourth quarter lead to win Games 2 and 4, respectively. Had the Heat won those games, this series would be over and the Heat would be champs.

In the same breath, one could argue that if the Mavericks were in a series with another team, under the same circumstances in the fourth quarter, this series would be over and the Mavs could have spent the offseason with the stain of being swept from the playoffs. The Heat, collectively, only have the man in the mirror to blame for the Heat not being NBA champions. LeBron James’ 8 point performance last night, in spite of his 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals, was not enough to put the Mavericks, or any NBA team, away. The Heat’s defense was not aggressive enough in the fourth quarter to slam the door on a team with a player like Dirk Nowitzki, who can hit any open (and even “not so open”) shot from anywhere at any time. The Heat did not take care of the basketball well enough to deny the Mavericks the opportunity to score enough points to take the lead in the fourth quarter. The Heat can only point to “the Heat” for being responsible for the final result of every game in this series.

"Should we help them out a little more?" 2

WILL THE MAVERICKS BE TAKING THEIR CHAMPAGNE TO SOUTH BEACH?

Dirk Nowitzki is a great player. If the Mavericks can win two more games in this series, a tall order with Game 6 being played in Miami, Nowitzki will be the Most Valuable Player of the series. Make no mistake, however, that Nowitski’s impressive accomplishments would not be possible without a willing opponent. If Dallas does, in fact, earn championship rings from this series, Dirk and his teammates, in addition to thanking God, their families, and the fans, should thank the Miami Heat for making the accomplishment possible.

If the Mavericks win, they should at least allow the Heat to touch the trophy. After all, they contributed, too. 3

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A Game of Inches

The phrase “game of inches” was used frequently, describing the game of football, in the 1999 blockbuster movie “Any Given Sunday”. Basketball can also be a game of inches. The same has applied several times in basketball during the 2011 NBA Finals.

"Inches" 1

Inches have been the difference between this series being close and the series being out of reach. Inches have been the difference between the Heat holding the 2-1 advantage and reclaiming home court advantage and the Mavericks completely taking the momentum, holding a 2-1 advantage and retaining the home court edge.

In the final seven minutes of Game 2, in which Dallas came back from a 15 point deficit to win by two points, how many inches did the Mavericks have to spare on any shot? How many inches, defensively, did the Mavericks have to yield to the Heat on any given possession? The Heat only scored five points during the Mavericks comeback run and only lost by a single basket.

How many inches separated the Heat’s Mario Chalmers’ foot from being in the backcourt, invalidating his three point shot at the end of the first quarter? Replay demonstrated that the officials PROBABLY should have called a backcourt violation. The play was close enough for Chlamers to receive the benefit of the doubt from the officials. An inch or two more in the other direction…there is probably no 3 point basket. The Heat won by two last night.

Maron Chalmers: inches 2



How many inches (if even one inch) was the Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki’s potential game tying shot off by in the final seconds? Could the Heat have held the Mavericks off in overtime in Dallas, with the momentum having shifted to the Mavericks? Could Udonis Haslem of the Heat have yielded a single inch more to Nowitzki as Nowtizki shot, without the ball going into the basket?

A few more inches for the Heat in Game 2, and they would hold a historically insurmountable 3-0 series lead. A few more inches for the Mavericks in Game 3, and they would hold a 2-1 series lead with the next two games being played in Dallas. A few inches in the direction of either team, and this series could have a completely different face that it has.

However, the inches fell where they did. The Heat lead the series 2 games to 1 and do not have to win another game in Dallas if they can successfully defend their home floor, going forward. The Mavericks need to win 3 of their next 4 games to keep their championship hopes alive, and three straight if they want to avoid a Game 7 on the road, historically very difficult to win in NBA. If the first three games of this series are an indicator…well…get your tape measures ready!

Dirk Nowitzki: inches 3

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Dallas: The New “Clutch City” in Texas

The year: 1994

The situation: The Houston Rockets blew big leads and dropped their first two games at home in the second round to the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. The local newspaper, The Houston Chronicle, displayed the headline "Choke City" after the second fiasco against the Suns.

The result: The Rockets won the next two games in Phoenix and successfully defended their home court, going forward, for a 4-3 series victory.

The aftermath: The Rockets would advance to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, which they would trail 3 games to 2. The Rockets would win games 6 and 7 to with their first, ever, NBA Championship. The repeated narrow escapes by the Rockets gave birth to the moniker “Clutch City” for Houston.

1

The year: 1995

The pretext: The Rockets faced elimination, trailing the Utah Jazz 2 games to 1 in the best-of-five opening round series. The Rockets would rally to win Game 4 and then take Game 5 in Utah.

The situation: The Houston rockets faced the Suns, again, in the second round of the playoffs, trailing 3 games to 1 and facing elimination.

The result: The Rockets were able to force overtime and survive to play, and win, a Game 6 and Game 7.

The aftermath: The Rockets never looked back, winning the Western Conference Finals in six games and sweeping the Orlando Magic in the Finals, making the 6th seeded Rockets the lowest conference seed ever to win an NBA Championship. The “Clutch City” name achieves boiler plate status in the NBA when referring to the Houston Rockets and their "Double Clutch" in 1995.

Sir Charles never got a second shot in the NBA Finals. He has "Clutch City" to thank. 2

The year: 2006

The situation: The Dallas Mavericks held a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals over the Miami Heat. Leading by 13 points with six minutes remaining in Game 3, the Mavericks had the Heat, and the series, all but put away, as no team in NBA history has ever won a best of seven series after trailing 3 games to none.

The result: Dwyane Wade elevated himself to the NBA’s group of “A list” superstars in this series, starting by leading a rally and finishing the game with 42 points and 13 rebounds en route to a dramatic comeback victory.

The aftermath: The Heat never looked back, going on to win the Finals 4-2. Dwyane Wade won the NBA Finals MVP award, being recognized as one of the league’s elite going forward.

The beginning of The Legend of  "Flash" 3

The year: 2011

The situation: The Dallas Mavericks trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder by 15 points with less than 5 minutes remaining, leading the series 2 games to 1 in the Western Conference Finals. OKC was on the verge of tying the series, heading back to Dallas, and avoid an ominous 3 games to 1 hole, which usually is sign of doom for the team trailing in any professional sport, with comebacks from such a deficit being rare.

The result: Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks began hitting difficult shots and following them up by hitting improbable shots. The Mavs rallied to send the game into overtime and then took complete control, earning the win by allowing the Thunder only 6 points in the final five minutes and overtime.

The aftermath: The Mavs completely let the air out of the Thunder’s balloon, winning the following game and advancing to the NBA Finals.

You couldn't spell "choke" without the letters "OKC" that night.

The year: 2011

The situation: The Dallas Mavericks trailed the Miami Heat by 15 points with less than 7 minutes remaining, trailing 1 game to none in the NBA Finals. Miami was on the verge of taking a 2-0 series lead, heading to Dallas. A two games to none hole is often sign of doom for the team trailing in any professional sport, with comebacks from such a deficit in the Finals round being rare.

The result: Dirk Nowitzki scored the Mavericks’ last 9 points, en route to a series tying victory earned by allowing only 5 points to the Heat for the remainder of the game. Dallas claimed home court advantage for the remainder of the series.

The aftermath: ???

AGAIN??? 4

BACK TO THE FUTURE
Apparently there IS a DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor, like from the movie Back To The Future. It is in Texas. Like the Houston Rockets in the mid-1990s, the Dallas Mavericks were able to hop in and channel the karma from a prior improbable comeback.

Following Miami’s Game 1 victory in the NBA Finals, many pundits in sports media predicted a Heat series victory in 5 games or less. Many said that the Mavericks cold not stop Dwyane Wade and LeBron James and Chris Bosh, possibly one, maybe two, but not all three. With seven minutes remaining, the analysts appeared to be spot on. Unfortunately for the Heat, Dirk happens.

The ultimate irony (or “poetic justice” or whatever term you prefer) is that the Heat were less than half of a quarter away from taking a series lead that few teams recover from. The comeback by the Mavericks shifted the momentum of the series and added to Dirk Nowitzki’s legacy at the expense of the legacy of Dwyane Wade and other members of the Heat. Five years ago, the Mavs were less than half of a quarter away from taking a lead that no team ever recovered from, only to fall in a performance that began Dwyane Wade’s legacy and cast a shadow over the legacy of Dirk Nowitzki.

Sports are often like life. This is one of the most alluring characteristics of sports. Poetry is an art form based on what man can experience in life. Last night, life imitated art.

The DeLorean: Texas style!!! 5

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Must See Sports – First Weekend of June 2011

Thursday, June 2

2011 NBA Finals – Game 2
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

Game 2 is always a high pressure game for any team in any playoff series. Someone could fall behind 0-2, making the chances of winning 4 of the next 5 games for the trailing team slim. Someone could either lose home court advantage or risk dropping their first two games at home, almost always too large of a hole to crawl out of. The series could be tied. Game 2 is always critical.

The Miami Heat earned a solid victory at home in Game 1 on Tuesday. In that game, Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavericks suffered a finger injury on his non-shooting hand. Nowitzki likes to go left, however, so this injury is likely to have some degree of influence on how he plays. The question of how much influence remains.

LeBron James and Dwayne Wade both played the role of “closer by committee” with a run of fourth quarter scores. The defense of the Heat was enough to contain Nowitzki and the Mavericks, although he was not stopped, having scored 27 points. While Nowitzki got his points, other players were held in check, for the most part.

For Dallas to win tonight, they will need to reduce the already low number of mistakes made in Game 1. Nowitzki absolutely must get some help on the perimeter. Mavericks reserve players JJ Berea, Brendan Haywood, and Peja Stojakovic have to combine for more than 5 points. Finally, the Mavericks need to force the Heat into making some mistakes, as they will not shut down all of Miami’s “big three” of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.

Miami has not lost at home in the 2011 playoffs. While I expect Dallas to be competitive and to push back at the Heat, I do not expect the end result to be any different for the Mavericks. While I think Miami will win, I also think, with the series returning to Dallas for three games, that this series is far from over and that the NBA champion will be crowned in South Beach in a Game 6 or Game 7.

Advantages – Game: Heat, Series: Heat

The King is in hot pursuit of more jewels. 1

Friday, June 3

MLB
Texas Rangers at Cleveland Indians
Alexi Ogando (5-0, 2.33 ERA) – Rangers vs Justin Masterson (5-3, 3.07 ERA) – Indians

The resurgent Cleveland Indians, with the best record in the Majors host the first place, defending American League champion Texas Rangers. Alexi Ogando will continue what has been an extremely impressive first full season as a starter in Major League Baseball. He is still undefeated this year, in spite of a rough outing (no decision) in his last start against the Kansas City Royals, following a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on May 23.

Ogando is going to provide a challenge to the Indians, especially if Rangers DH Michael Young (.335, 3 HR, 36 RBI) and 3B Adrian Beltre (.252, 11 HR, 43 RBI) continue to swing their bats as well as they have this year. If Josh Hamilton (.291, 1 HR, 13 RBI) can return to form, after recently coming back from his leg injury, the top of the Rangers’ order can be an extremely difficult out to get.

The Indians will start Justin Masterson. The 26 year old got off to an extremely hot start to the 2011 season, but has cooled off since. Masterson has lost his last three straight decisions and did not record a win in the month of May. He was rocked on Sunday as the Indians lost, 7-0, to the Tampa Bay Rays. Masterson must reverse the recent trend if he expects to earn a victory tomorrow night.

Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera (.306, 10 HR, 39 RBI) has been a one man wrecking crew for the Tribe. He has been the team’s best hitter this year. From the shortstop position, that contribution is invaluable and is a major factor in the Indians early season dominance of the American League.

Right now the Rangers are hot. The Indians are not really hot (5-7 in their last 12 games). Ogando has yet to hit any big speed bumps while Masterson is digging out of a funk. In spite of being on the road, the Rangers have the edge in the second game of this four game series.

Advantages – Game: Rangers, Series: Rangers

Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera's name is on my short list for American League MVP candidates. 2

Saturday, June 4

NHL

Stanley Cup Finals – Game 2
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver won Game 1 in dramatic fashion, with Raffi Torres scoring the game’s only goal in the final 20 seconds of the game. Game 1 was hard fought, physical, and intense, including a Mike Tyson-esque biting incident during a fight. Hockey fans can only hope that Game 2 offers similar excitement. Vancouver was the best team in the regular season and, after surviving a near historic choke against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, Vancouver has been the best team in the playoffs. While the Bruins have overcome a number of challenges to reach the finals, I think the better team wins this game, in Vancouver, and this series.

Advantages – Game: Canucks, Series: Canucks

Alex Burrows of the Canucks (right) gave a different meaning to "jaw-dropping action" while reinforcing the "keep your hands to yourself" principle to Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins. 3

Sunday, June 5

2011 NBA Finals – Game 3
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Tonight’s Game 2 will be able to more accurately calibrate expectations for the series as it returns to Dallas for games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary). Still, I expect the Mavericks to elevate their game back at home and I do not expect Dallas to fall into a 3-0 hole (which could happen if the Mavs drop Game 2, which I expect).

Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Heat


Monday, June 6

MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies
Ted Lilly (4-4, 4.22 ERA) – Dodgers vs Cliff Lee (4-5, 3.94 ERA)

The Dodgers, in spite of a host of off-the-field issues, are not hopelessly behind in the NL West, trailing the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks by 6 games. Its on the field issues, like having a bottom of the batting order that completely bottoms out, are giving Dodgers fans little cause for optimism, though.

Other than Andre Ethier (.325, 5 HR, 26 RBI) and Matt Kemp (.306, 13 HR, 40 RBI, broke up with Rihanna) there is very little pop in the Dodgers’ bats. There are far too many players in the Dodgers’ lineup hitting below .250 to give the Dodgers’ pitching the support it needs to win consistently. Dodgers starting pitchers, generally, have given a solid number of innings, but have been otherwise average. Lilly fits the team profile.

The Phillies just keep on rolling, with the best record in the National League. Lee was rocked in his last start against the Washington Nationals yesterday, giving up 6 earned runs in a 10-2 loss. While he has not been as dominant in 2011 as he has been in the past, he has otherwise been consistent, giving the Phillies enough innings of work and keeping the opponents’ score low enough for the Phillies to be able to win. He has also mowed down enough batters, already at 90 strikeouts, to escape any jam he gets into.

Advantages – Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies

I wonder what is worse for Matt Kemp: toiling with monster numbers to no avail for the struggling Dodgers this year or knowing that he won't be able to put his hands all over Rihanna anymore. Actually, if I am on the Dodgers' payroll, I am probably more concerned about my paycheck bouncing than anything else. 4

Tuesday, June 7

2011 NBA Finals – Game 4
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

Without the aid of a crystal ball, this game is hard to call. Realistically, I expect the Heat to take one of the three games in Dallas. Absent any other information, it is difficult to project where that victory will come. I think that Miami will win the series and Game 5 (if necessary) is often the most pivotal in any best of seven series, regardless of the location or participants. My best guess is that Game 5 will offer the Heat its best opportunity for a road win en route to a series victory. If only I had that crystal ball….

Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Heat


Wednesday, June 8

MLB

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41) – Red Sox vs A.J. Burnett (6-3, 3.86) – Yankees

The fiercest rivalry in baseball is set for another series. Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays continue their threesome of musical chairs with first place in the American League East, with 2½ games separating the (for) now first place Yankees from the third place Rays. A series winner could yield a new division leader.

The Yankees were swept in 3 games during their last series meeting with the Red Sox. Since then, the Yankees have let their bats do the talking. Alex Rodriguez (.292, 9 HR, 31 RBI) has since been on a tear, reaching base in the last 15 consecutive games and Curtis Granderson (.278, 17 HR, 41 RBI) continues to prime the Yankees powerful offensive pump. They should supply ample run support for Burnett, who will be making his first start against the Red Sox this year.

Buchholz has a string of four consecutive quality starts, but with only one decision, a win, in those starts. Perhaps he has just been a victim of bad timing as the Red Sox have swung their bats well for most of the season. Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.329, 10 HR, 46 RBI) continues to be as good as advertised and designated hitter David “Big Papi” Ortiz (.313, 13 HR, 38 RBI) is off to one of his better starts to a season, batting .342 in the month of May and only 23 strikeouts on the season, putting him on pace for less than half of his strikeout total from last season.

The Yankees are riding a modest hot streak and are back home. I think they are due to repay the favor of the Red Sox sweep of them from the last series.

Advatages – Game: Yankees, Series: push

A-Rod is another example of how talent, performance, and success can help a person overcome anything, even THIS! 5

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The Heat Is On!

1

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is in the books. The Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks, 92-84. The game was close until the Heat, at home, were able to put some space between themselves and the Mavericks. Dwyane Wade (22 pts, 10 rebs, 6 asst) was very solid, especially in the 4th quarter. LeBron James (24 pts, 9 rebs, 5 asst) was his usual, dominant self, with some coffin-nailing dunks late in the game. Chris Bosh chipped in with 19 points.

In de face! 2

WHAT WE DO KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

Game 1 told us absolutely nothing that we do not know already. Three of the four best players in the series are on one team: the Heat. Miami won a game at home with those three players delivering when called upon. Dallas, an excellent team in its own right, played well but could not contain all three of Miami’s big weapons down the stretch. Dirk Nowitzki (27 pts, 8 rebs) is going to get his shots, but The King is a man on a mission.

What DO we know? Game 2 is Thursday night in Miami. Falling into an 0-2 hole in a best of seven series is often an omen of doom, though slightly less of an omen if those losses are on the road and the games are close. Miami has not lost at home during the playoffs during the entire 2011 postseason. At the same time, until last night, Dallas never trailed in a series during the postseason.


THE SMOKE FROM THE OPENING SALVO TELLS US?

I am not ready to write the Mavericks off, after one competitive game, in this series. However, after watching the matchups, I do think the Mavericks’ margin for error is extremely slim. The Mavericks are probably going to need 30+ points from Dirk, in addition to the normal contribution from the other Mavericks players, in order to beat the Heat.

One game does not dictate an entire series, but it does set the tone for the following game, and POSSIBLY the entire series. It also gives the viewer a landscape of the different battles to be fought during a series. Unless the Mavericks can bring their already small number of mistakes down even lower and Nowitzki can rise above the pack, as he did multiple times in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Heat may be a few days away from hoisting the championship trophy in the presence of the Dallas Mavericks, for the second time in five years.

Dirk is going to need a little more help and a little more Dirk. 3

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You Can’t Spell “Choke” Without “OKC”

Part of the excitement of sports is unpredictability. You never know, while watching a sporting event, when something extraordinary is going to happen. You never know when something rare or unprecedented is going to unfold before your eyes.

When the Phil Jackson coached Lakers won their first NBA Championship in 2000, they reached the finals by winning a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trailblazers. At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers trailed by 13 points, eventually falling behind by 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Those of you old enough to vote and not new to following the NBA know the rest. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant put on a clinic in the final 10 minutes of the game, took the lead, won by five points, and went on to win the NBA Finals. The comeback was the greatest ever in seventh game of a playoff series in the history of the NBA.

From that point forward, the 15 point margin has been my personal benchmark, in the fourth quarter of an NBA game, of when I think a game is, in all likelihood, over. An offense, playing well, seldom scores much more than 25 points in a quarter and even if the offense plays well, the defense, to overcome a large lead, needs to all but completely shut the opposing offense down. In addition, there is usually a reason one team falls behind by a large margin: they are being outplayed to begin with.

I think this is the most visibly excited I ever saw Shaq in his career. 1

NEVER SAY "NEVER"

Certainly a team, on the road, in front of a raucous crowd, knowing it gets to go back home with the series tied, and trailing by 15 points in the final five minutes should put all of its starters on the bench to prevent injury and have the equipment guys start packing up for the trip to the airport. Right? That’s why they PLAY the GAMES!

Unless you are a personal friend of mine, reading this just to see what I come up with next and have no interest in the NBA playoffs whatsoever, I need not tell you the result, except as a refresher on some of the details. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, the team trailing by 15 points, began making the most improbable and difficult of shots. James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team leading in the final five minutes, fouled out and the offense, moving forward, ground to a screeching halt. The Thunder led 99-84; they would only score 6 points in the final five minutes and overtime. The Mavericks were able to close the gap, tie the score, and run away with the game in overtime, winning 112-105.

These types of games separate champions from contenders. These games distinguish veterans, like 32 year old Nowitzki and 38 year old Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd, from aspiring young stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder. These are the kinds of games that indicate that one team understands, through past experience, what is necessary to advance in the playoffs and contend for a championship. These are also the kinds of games that deliver a sobering blow to a team, realizing that it is not ready to reach the next level of competition.

Again? REALLY? 2

TALE OF TWO CITIES

Last night, Dallas was “Clutch City”. Oklahoma City was “Choke City”. And you cannot spell “choke” without the letters “OKC”.

Still, this series has offered many of the elements that compel us to watch sports. The silver lining for the Thunder is that the growing pains this team is experiencing draw a vivid comparison to those of the Detroit Pistons, who would eventually win 2 NBA Championships, working to surpass the Larry Bird led Boston Celtics, in the late 1980s. The Chicago Bulls, with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, climbed a similar mountain to surpass the Pistons and win six championships in eight seasons. The Mavericks look like a team, with two future Hall of Famers in Kidd and Nowitzki, whose chance for glory may have come and whose stars may have finally aligned to win a championship.

Your day will come, young man. 3

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The Other “F Word”

1

Last night, in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, Bulls center Joakim Noah picked up his second foul midway through the first quarter. As he took he seat on the bench, clearly frustrated, Noah’s mouth appeared to form the two “F words” that should not be said on live television.

Later in the broadcast, it was confirmed that others appeared to see the same words being formed. By this morning, it was reported on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike in the Morning that a fan in Miami’s arena had been heckling Noah, and Noah returned fire. To be clear, the words in question would rhyme with “ducking maggot”.

Oh NO, Mr. Noah! UH OH! 2

NOWHERE TO HIDE

Just last month, Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for being seen saying the same two words in the direction of a referee with whom Kobe had a difference of opinion. Once is a coincidence; twice is a pattern; three times is a trend. Bryant apologized and recanted quickly after his fine was handed down. Noah, only in his fourth year in the NBA, earns nowhere near the salary that Bryant earns, yet I would not be surprised to see the NBA hand down a fine of a similar dollar amount to deter this pattern from becoming a trend in the NBA.

To be clear, I am not attempting to paint Noah as some gay bashing, homophobic Neanderthal. Sports are intended to be competitive and, by their nature, the competition can become heated. Add to the equation a fan, possibly a fan on the Liquid Courage Diet, and the most gentlemanly person could let out utterances that would never be heard on Sesame Street.

In addition, basketball is different than the other three major North American team sports. Football players’ mouths are obstructed by helmets and face masks. When on the bench, they are dozens of feet away from the front row of spectator seats. Baseball players are seated underneath the fans and below the field surface in a darkened dugout. Hockey players are separated from fans by a tall layer of fiberglass.

NBA basketball is unique in that it is far more up close and personal with the players than any other sport. There are no helmets or pads. The most expensive, prestigious, and profitable seats in the entire area are at courtside. Fans can literally sit behind and (almost) next to the players.

Sorry, Kobe. You can't say "filth flarn flarn filth" in front of people. 3 

WHO TO BLAME?

What the NBA has is an immensely popular sport that sells its players’ personalities to fans paying top dollar to sit as close to the action as possible. These players are participating in a sport, like all sports, that is highly competitive, can get very heated, and can produce very colorful language from the participants in the heat of battle. It is also a sport, unlike other sports, in which more fans, many of whom feel entitled to say what they want because they purchased a ticket, can speak (or scream) within earshot of players than in any other sport. Finally, we live in a time in which broadcast technology allows us to see players more closely than ever and more clearly than ever. We also live in a time in which the slightest incident that garners attention can be shared and discussed with millions of people in seconds because of the Internet, especially Twitter.

Athletes, especially NBA players, no matter how heated, have to be mindful of their actions and the image it projects to fans about them and their sport at all times. NBA players have a heightened degree of liability and accountability. They also have significantly higher average salaries than other professional athletes*.

Fans pay a premium for tickets for seats closer to the court. Ticket sales enable franchises to pay for a substantial portion of players’ salaries. This does not, however, necessarily make the fan “the boss”. The customer is not always right when he harasses employees, often well beyond a harmless verbal barb.

Regardless, the NBA is trying to sell a family friendly image. Words like the traditional “F bomb” are not family friendly, but tolerable in moderate doses when not audible on television. These are alpha males, basketball is a sport, and fans expect intense competition. Four letter Anglophone profanities can be expected. The gay slur, on the other hand, has absolutely no place in the NBA. It is a word that encapsulates hatred of and bigotry towards other human beings. Regardless of one’s personal feelings on the topic of alternative lifestyles, no mainstream business wants it product associated with hatred of other people.

Twitter has even turned The Bieb's world upside down. 4

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

NBA players are the immediate extension and face of the league itself. While it may not be fair, relative to the privacy of other pro athletes, that basketball players, due to the logistics of the game, are under constant observation and therefore must be continuously aware of all of their actions, they are nonetheless responsible for their observable actions.

The only constant in life is change. NBA salaries have changed for the better of the players. Interest in the sports has changed for the better of the players. Media coverage and exposure of the sport has changed for the better of the players. Basketball players have empowerment parallel with that of small to medium sized businessmen, as evidenced with the joining of forces in Miami by Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade. With great power comes great responsibility. NBA players, like Bryant, Noah and hundreds of others, have no choice but to be more aware of their surroundings and change their standard of behavior, specifically their language, in the heat of battle.


*Source: Sports Illustrated via freemoneyfinance.com (2006)
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Must See Sports – Third Weekend of March 2011

The NBA season is ramping up to an exciting conclusion, with two of its conference finals well underway. The Major League Baseball season has reached its ¼ point. And the National Football League...well…still has no players. Welcome to the third “Must See” of May.

Thursday, May 19

NBA Playoffs

Western Conference Finals – Game 2
Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks lead this series, 1-0, after Dirk Nowitzki’s monumental, 48 point performance in Game 1. A fitting encore to that show stopping effort is pretty unlikely. What fans should expect is Dirk to be very tough to stop and therefore it will be extremely hard to beat the Mavericks at home.

Kevin Durant of the Thunder did not exactly vanish in Game 1, with 40 points. In spite of the Mavericks having…well…everything appearing to go their way, the Thunder still had a puncher’s chance in the final minutes. This just in: Durant is not a carriage that turned into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight after Game 1. The Durantula is going to get his.

I think this game will come down to guard play and bench play. The Mavs’ Jason Kidd is steady, even money. He will deliver the ball, but do not expect a scoring explosion from him. J.J. Berea of the Mavericks is a reserve guard who, during the playoffs, has delivered blows to opponents and demonstrated toughness when he comes off of the bench.

The Thunder? Russell Westbrook needs to play with the intelligent aggression he has played with in the playoffs. Someone…anyone…needs to come off of the Thunder bench and keep up the pace. I expect another close game, but I also expect Dallas to win at home again.

Advantages – Game: Mavericks, Series: Mavericks

Dirk's Game 1 performance was one for the ages. 1

Friday, May 20

MLB

Texas Rangers at Philadelphia Phillies

Interleague play is here! This matchup of two division winners from 2010 should be a battle. C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.38) will take the hill against reigning Cy Young winner Roy Halladay (5-3, 2.21) of the Phillies.

The first place Phillies’ bats have cooled of considerably since the beginning of the season. Their third baseman, Placido Polanco (.331, 2 HR, 25 RBI) and first baseman Ryan Howard (.247, 9 HR, 35 RBI) continue to maintain impressive season totals. However, Howard has been slumping of late, with a .100 average in the past week and Polanco is only hitting .221 in the month of May. The team as a whole is batting .228 in May, meaning that it will take a lights-out pitching performance from Halladay and the other starters to keep the team in first place.

C.J. Wilson is looking to regain the form of his early season hot start. He has given up 7 earned runs in his last 12 innings pitched, including a pair of home runs, and issued 9 walks to only 4 strikeouts in his last two starts. These numbers are not catastrophic, but not World Series caliber performances either. Against Halladay, Wilson can ill afford any runs yielded from mental mistakes or lack of focus.

Texas is good. The Phillies, in spite of their collective hitting slump, are better because of starting pitching. The Phillies are also at home. This is going to be a very difficult series for the Rangers.

Advantages – Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies

The big man needs to get his groove back. 2

Saturday, May 21

MLB

Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland Indians

I cannot remember the last time, if ever, that this intrastate, interleague matchup had as much significance beyond the Ohio borders as this weekend’s series will. Last year, the Reds were National League Central Division champions, but the Indians were irrelevant. In 2008 and 2009, neither team offered much to write home about. And in 2007 and a few years prior, the Indians were the toast of Ohio while the Reds were just toast.

The 2011 campaign is a different story. The Indians have the best record in the Major Leagues while the Reds are in first place, slugging it out with their rivals to the west, the St. Louis Cardinals. Homer Bailey (3-0, 1.89) has looked very good in his 2011 starts. He will get the ball and match wits against the Indians’ Josh Tomlin (5-1, 2.56). Tomlin has not issued multiple walks in a game in over a month, a significant part of the Indians’ early success.

Indians shortstop Astrubal Cabrera (.287, 7 HR, 27 RBI) has been delivering a punch from his position while DH Travis Hafner (.345, 5 HR, 22 RBI) is making an early run for the American League batting title. The Reds are absolutely loaded with hot bats. Joey Votto (.340, 5 HR, 24 RBI) is a viable contender for a second straight National League MVP award. While Jay Bruce (.249, 9 HR, 25 RBI), and Brandon Phillips (.327, 5 HR, 26 RBI) make the Reds batters extremely tough outs at the plate.

Advantages – Game: push, Series: Indians

Gapper, the Reds' mascot. Can anyone tell me what that thing is? 3

NBA Playoffs

Western Conference Finals – Game 3
Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder

The Mavericks have the advantages of experience and a stronger bench. Still, Oklahoma City has a very enthusiastic crowd and, regardless of what happens in Game 2 of this series, I expect the Thunder to feed heavily off of the crowd energy.

Advantage: Thunder


Sunday, May 22

NBA Playoffs

Eastern Conference Finals – Game 3
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

The Heat rallied to tie this series at 1-1 last night. Now the Heatles are looking to gain control of this conference finals series. Both teams have demonstrated their strengths and weaknesses in the first two games.

LeBron James scored 29 points for the Heat last night, making several critical baskets that put enough separation between the Heat and Bulls to give Miami late game control and, ultimately, the win. Derrick Rose is going to have to get more offensive support from his Bulls teammates than he did in Game 2 if Chicago is going to have a chance to win this series.

Having lost home court advantage, the Bulls are now forced to win at least one game in Miami. Unless the Bulls are to face a 3-1 series deficit (usually a kiss of death in pro sports), they must win one of the next two games at the Heat. A performance off the bench similar to the boost Udonis Haslem gave the Heat last night, with timely baskets and hustle rebounds, can tip the scale for either team.

The momentum, heading to Miami, has shifted to the Heat. The Bulls, in their youth and relative playoff inexperience, face a very tough task in Game 3. Chicago plays very disciplined, fundamental basketball with sound defense, but James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh are not the typical offensive threat. The Bulls need a duplicate of their Game 1 effort, at least one time, in Miami.

Advantages – Game: Heat, Series: Bulls

Derrick Rose could use a little more of this from his teammates. 4

Monday, May 23

Western Conference Finals – Game 4
Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder

In the absence of additional information, like how both teams performed in Game 3, it is very difficult to add much insight to what a Game 4 may look like. In the absence of that information, I would expect a show very similar to the one I would expect in Game 3, which I believe slightly favors the Thunder.

Advantage: Thunder


Tuesday, May 24

NBA Playoffs

Eastern Conference Finals – Game 4
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

I expect a split in Miami’s two game home stand in this series. More specifically, I do not expect the Bulls to fall down 3-1. The order in which it happens is tough to predict with much certainly, but I expect this series to be 2-2 after Game 4.

Advantage: Bulls


MLB

Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees

The Blue Jays, again, are off to a respectable start and within striking distance of the division leaders, the Tampa Bay Rays. Typically, the Jays are not part of the discussion come September. Could this season be different?

Ricky Romero (3-4, 3.35) is expected to start for Toronto. He has been more of the solution than the problem north of the border. Romero was brilliant in his last start, just one out short of a complete game shutout, against the Minnesota Twins. His 3-4 record is misleading. Romero has had two hard luck losses and a no decision in April after 7.1 innings pitched with just one earned run surrendered. The Jays lineup, anchored by right fielder Juan Bautista (.372, 16 HR, 27 RBI), a contender for the American League’s Triple Crown, has generally provided adequate run support for most pitchers, just not necessarily on the days Romero has started.

C.C. Sabathia (3-3, 3.47) will get the ball for the Yankees. The big guy has been touched up in his last three starts, going 1-2 with an ERA just under 6.00. This included a drubbing at the hands of the Boston Red Sox last Saturday in a 6-0 loss.

The Yankees are a team, this season, which has hit well for power, but been just average for batting average. They face an opposing starter, in Romero, who similarly, gives up very little, but when he does, it can come in bulk. In light of the clubhouse controversy involving manger Joe Girardi, shortstop Derek Jeter, and DH Jorge Posada, this game could be either an opportunity to snap out of a funk, which the Yankees are in, by any standard. It could also make a delicate situation worse in the Bronx.

Advantages – Game: Blue Jays, Series: Yankees

Perhaps C.C. shouldn't have given up the Cap'n Crunch. 5

Wednesday, May 25

NBA Playoffs

Western Conference Finals – Game 5 (if necessary)
Oklahoma City at Dallas Mavericks

Here is a bold prediction: Game 5 will be necessary. Here is another: I think the team that wins this pivotal game will win the series. Here is a third: Dallas wins at home.

Advantage: Mavericks


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