Will Dirkules and the Mavs win it this year ?

[Cobblestoned]

Nowitzky and Dallas Mavs reached NBA finals.

Will Dirkules and the Mavs win it this year ?
He is close again and good candidate for MVP. Dirk needs that champions-ring, otherwise his career is uncomplete I would say.

What about their opponents ? I guess they are strong, too, because they reached the final.
I am somehow out of this sport for some years now, so don't know much. But will watch the last games for sure.
In Germany you just hear "Nowitzky wins" Novitzky loses". Thats all about the NBA.
Time is there I would say. He deserves it.
How do Americans see Dirk ? Is it too much said, if we say that he is one of the Top5 players ?

 

[nvpacchi]

Personally I love the matchup the Mavs have against El Heat. Chandler can cling to Bosh, Marion can keep James in check, and either Kidd or Stevenson can guard Wade.

As long as Terry and Barea are not called on to guard, the Mavs will be fine.

Oh and it also helps that no one on this planet can guard Dirk in this playoff

 

[gregod]

i hope the mavs win. i went to school with jason kidd (never met him, though) and he deserves a championship. also, even though i admire lebron james as a player, i am by nature averse to teams that think they can buy a championship (e.g. yankees). his "announcement" was also a big, unecessary poke in the eye to cleveland.

 

[jobiwan]

I voted yes, partly because I think they can, partly because I just want the Heat to lose!

 

[Hugh Januss]

While I was insanely happy to watch the Mavs beotch slap the Lakers, with Kobe the rapist and always looks like he's about to cry Gasol whinning every step of the way (but I digress) still I am afraid that Miami will just have too much firepower over seven games. Should be a good series though.

But maybe June will be a good month for more than one Nowitzky err Novitzki err Nowitzki..............

 

[rides like a girl]

Personally I love the matchup the Mavs have against El Heat. Chandler can cling to Bosh, Marion can keep James in check, and either Kidd or Stevenson can guard Wade.

As long as Terry and Barea are not called on to guard, the Mavs will be fine.

Oh and it also helps that no one on this planet can guard Dirk in this playoff

Hope you are right! I would like Dirk to get a ring. Would be fun to watch Mark Cuban clown Pat Riley's dream three team.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I'm definitely cheering for Dallas. Like everyone else in America outside of SE Florida, I hate the Heat. I'm not even an NBA fan, and I can't stand them. I don't need to list the reasons why.

Having said that, I can see Miami winning in 6. Maybe. Depends on how each team plays in the clutch. The Heat are motivated to prove something and have many weapons, but Dallas has heaps of experience, and a different kind of motivation (age).

How do Americans see Dirk ? Is it too much said, if we say that he is one of the Top5 players ?

He is very highly regarded. Top 5 in the NBA today? Let's see. Rose, LeBron, Kobe, Durant, Wade, Paul, Dirk, Howard, Rondo, Anthony. Those names come to mind. But maybe Dirk is better than Paul or Wade. Dirk can probably make a few all-time top-50 lists. Or at least top 100 all time. And that's saying something.

 

[nvpacchi]

Personally I think Dirk is in the Barkley, (Karl) Malone class right now. A ring would push him into the Olajuwon, (Moses) Malone class. Plus he still has a good 5+ years left to try and grab more accolades that can push him even higher.

One of the most unique players ever to play in the NBA, an absolute joy to watch night in and night out.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I'm definitely cheering for Dallas. Like everyone else in America outside of SE Florida, I hate the Heat. I'm not even an NBA fan, and I can't stand them. I don't need to list the reasons why.
...

Whoa neighbor. Not everyone outside of Florida.

But first, I have to say I like the Mavs and especially Nowitsky for being a class guy. And in terms of value to the team I'd put him ahead of Kobe right now. So hats off to Dirk and the Mavs.

But I'm pulling for the Heat for one reason only. I thought the way that James announced his leaving the Cavs was, well, a lot of things I won't say, but I will say as being immature and a real slap in the face to his former Cav fans. I picture Barkley saying, "Turrible, turrible, turrible". And for that I should probably say to "health" (sounds like health without the "th") with James and the Heat. But the reason I'm siding with the Heat is because of the following far more immature response of the Cavs owner (Dan Gilbert), who's a grown adult and should be more mature than LeBron:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

Besides being a much more grown adult than James, Gilbert is an NBA owner and should hold himself to a higher standard. Gilbert needs to eat those words, and that's why I can find it within myself to pull for the Heat in this finals. If it wasn't for Gilbert's rant I'd be pulling for the Mavs in this series.

Ok, so let me have it.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Well, Gilbert's reaction was after James screwed the Cavs. So while two wrongs don't make a right, I'll give Gilbert the second slap here.

No way am I cheering for the Heat and "big three". No way. Never. Just the way LeBron waited, then went not only where a little more money was, but to a team with other proven winners already, at a time when the Cavs had no time left to rebuild any team before the season. It was just downright ugly. Then there was that huge ego presentation of the "big three" dancing and partying, then talking about their inevitable dynasty of 10 championships and other crap. It was disgusting to watch.

I don't like the NY Yankees. Never have. Never will. I can't stand A-Rod. I don't like the way he plays and his lies about steroids. But most of the Yankees I can respect. Rivera, Posada, Burnett, even Jeter. But as much as I dislike them, they never pulled that kind of crap that LeBron and the Heat did before the season.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Well, Gilbert's reaction was after James screwed the Cavs. So while two wrongs don't make a right, I'll give Gilbert the second slap here.

No way am I cheering for the Heat and "big three". No way. Never. Just the way LeBron waited, then went not only where a little more money was, but to a team with other proven winners already, at a time when the Cavs had no time left to rebuild any team before the season. It was just downright ugly. Then there was that huge ego presentation of the "big three" dancing and partying, then talking about their inevitable dynasty of 10 championships and other crap. It was disgusting to watch.

I don't like the NY Yankees. Never have. Never will. I can't stand A-Rod. I don't like the way he plays and his lies about steroids. But most of the Yankees I can respect. Rivera, Posada, Burnett, even Jeter. But as much as I dislike them, they never pulled that kind of crap that LeBron and the Heat did before the season.

I seriously can't disagree with a word you wrote there, and don't blame you for that position. I'll admit my position (Gilbert's rant far worse than James' exit) is debatable and therefore my wishing for a Heat championship (so Gilbert can eat his words) is even a bit unorthordox, but that's just me in this case.
May the best team win!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Okay, I'll make you a deal. You cheer for Dallas like the rest of us, and I'll cheer against Cleveland as long as Gilbert owns the team!?!

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Okay, I'll make you a deal. You cheer for Dallas like the rest of us, and I'll cheer against Cleveland as long as Gilbert owns the team!?!

Good Trade

 

[Hugh Januss]

Good Trade

Not really, Cleveland is going nowhere in the conceivable future, how will you know if he is cheering for or against?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Heat win game 1 by 8: 92-84
Series: Heat 1, Mavs 0.

I only watched the second half. But what a friggin Boring second half it was. Slow paced half court offense, no fast break. It was a snoozer until a tomahawk jam by James in the last few minutes, FINALLY one fast break with 1:10 to go, and a final alley-oop jam by James set up by Wade in the last half minute. This game was so slow it favored the Mavs aging legs. If the Heat want to put this series away quickly they should be able to do so by using more fast break offense to wear out the Mavs.

But Nowitzki looked good for the Mavs. His quick first step gave Heat defenders fits and he had plenty of trips to the foul line. And they tried the inside-out game with Nowitzki inside kicking it out when he picked up the double team. But his mates weren't hitting the outside shots... Mavs only made 37% of their field goals, and 40% of their 3-point attempts. Dirk himself did not shoot well, but got almost half of his game high 27 points off free throws. The Heat were not much better at 38% (FGs) and 45% (3's).

So Alpe, I'd say the Heat are beatable if the style of play does not change much and the Mavs start connecting on their FGs.

Anyway, this game's a good example (Zzzz...) why I think NHL >> NBA.

Bring on the Stanley Cup finals for some real action... starts tomorrow!

 

[nvpacchi]

Barea is the wildcard of the series. He was able to get into the lane at will in game 1, he just wasn't making his shots.

If Barea can make a few runners, and can kick out to Stojakovic (who needs to get hot) and Terry, then Dallas Bench >>> Miami Bench

 

[ericthesportsman6]

I despise the heat but I have a hard time seeing the Mavs top them. As the poster above me said, JJ Barea is a key. If he can get those shots to fall, the Mavs chances increase. But the talent of the big 3 is just undeniable.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That was one gritty comeback tonight in game 2. Wow.

 

[rides like a girl]

My dad always say never beat against a team with good shooters! Heat got too full of themselves and the Mavs kept playing! Unexpected Shawn Marion sighting! Let's see how the Mavs home record holds up. 9-1 at home during the playoffs. Aren't the finals 2-3-2 format?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

That was one gritty comeback tonight in game 2. Wow.

You're right. With 5-10 min left one would not think it would turn out like that. But hats off to Big Deutsch and the Mavs for playing tough defense down the stretch. They made the Heat look stupid when two possessions in a row Mia let the shot clock run down to 3 ticks before launching a poor quality low percentage shot. And Dirk for the game winning shot was vintage Dirk. Winning that way was just about like last night's Canuck win in the last 20 secs. Awsome.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

My dad always say never beat against a team with good shooters! Heat got too full of themselves and the Mavs kept playing! Unexpected Shawn Marion sighting! Let's see how the Mavs home record holds up. 9-1 at home during the playoffs. Aren't the finals 2-3-2 format?

That's a good way of putting it.
Series schedule: Yup, 2-3-2.
Here's the schedule: http://www.nba.com/2011/playoffs/2011/04/13/schedule/index.html

 

[nvpacchi]

Wooo! Great balance from the Mavs, and Dirk coming through when it matters most!

No balance from the Heat. Bosh is playing like he is on the JV high school team and trying to impress the coaches to move up to Varsity, but is failing miserably in the process.

 

[nvpacchi]

102 degree fever, who cares! Dirk and the Kardiac Kids pull off another thriller!

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

102 degree fever, who cares! Dirk and the Kardiac Kids pull off another thriller!

Yea. Hat off to the Mavs.

I don't understand Fox Sports. Just the other day they posted a report saying Mavs were done. WHAT? Have they been watching the games? All of them close and down to the wire. Last night shows the Mavs are far from done.

On top of that, if the Heat don't start playing more of a team game instead of a one-man game on each possession, especially in the last 5-10 minutes of the game, they will lose the series.

 

[jobiwan]

102 degree fever, who cares! Dirk and the Kardiac Kids pull off another thriller!

That was a fantastic game last night!!
Dirk's teammates really helped him out.

D-Wade and Bosh played great, but was LeBron even there? What did he have, like 8 points?

This is turning into a great series. Hope the Stanley Cup does the same!