and it has come down to this: the Miami Heat vs the Dallas Mavericks for all the marbles. both franchises are in their first Finals, though some of the players (and definitely the coaches) have been down this road before. Miami is only the second team among the expansion teams of the last 20 years to get to a Finals (it is the notable that both had Shaquille O'Neal in their rosters when it happened). the Mavericks had long been a laughingstock (the "Mav-wrecks") until Internet billionaire/ultimate fanboy Mark Cuban bought the team and started rewriting the rules of how to run a sports team - a model already being emulated by some forward-thinking owners.
Heat has only beaten the Mavs once in the last 8 meetings over the past 4 years, even with Shaq in 3 of them.
Matchup Heaven
A Flash of Lightning
among the young & elite NBA guns of recent memory, only Dwyane Wade is left standing in the 2006 playoffs. oozing with charisma and talent, Wade is both a throwback and new-school, knowing the value of offensive efficiency, humility and deference to his elders, but can match anybody step by step, throw wicked dunks, and draw the usual Jordan comparisons (does being picked #3 overall sound eerie?) with his athleticism, defense and attitude. last season was his coming out party, but fell short against Detroit. i expect him to go wild in this series (and provide a rivalry to the anointed King LeBron for the next few years), just like i expect the next fellow to do the same.
the next ... don't even say it.
Dirrrty
"lo and behold, the cattle shalt be led by a German ..." so says the book of Naismith. Dirk Nowitzki, thought of as a project back when he was drafted 9th overall in 1998, has single-handedly erased the widely-held notion of European players being finesse-oriented and soft (Peja Stojakovic, Darko Milicic) and would amount to no more than complimentary players for great teams (e.g., Arvydas Sabonis, Detlef Schrempf). even eventual champs like Tony Parker and Toni Kukoc still largely played second banana to established players. Dirk Diggler had to endure doubts about his talents, criticism about his toughness and D, and even the departure of his longtime teammates Steve Nash and Michael Finley to finally come full circle and embrace his destiny. being a Mavs watcher for years, its sad to see that Nasty and Fin won't be celebrating with Dirk when he wins this championship.
reminds you of someone? (hint: initials L.B. and it isn't Larry Brown)
Diesel
this could be the time that Shaq finally brings a championship to Florida (if that happens, the city of Orlando will riot). he's getting old but he can still be the Shaq of yore when he wants to. taking Wade under his wing and spitting at his former championship partner Kobe, as well as "dissing" his former coach Phil Jackson, Shaq will have to win this one to finally cement his legacy (although it is already impressive). if he does, he should retire asap and do the Miami Vice thing. he should learn from Jordan. can you imagine him tackling gang members in Miami Beach? hooohaaa, that's another cop show right there.
kazaaaaaam!
Coach? First Class: AJ vs Riles
the Li'l General vs Gordon Gekko. Avery Johnson's young career has been stellar as can be, reaching the NBA Finals in only 2+ seasons, and that even includes the much-deserved Coach of the Year accolades. Pat Riley had an inauspicious start, engineering a (backstabbing) coup worthy of Trump and Gekko that (re)installed himself as coach, replacing his friend Stan Van Gundy, whom he designated his successor not-so-long ago. despite much criticism, he got the Heat where they've been trying to get to since he left the Big Apple like a worm and rose to power in South Beach. i respect the 4 rings - but that's far as I'll go. AJ can be as fiery as Riles, and he's been in this situation as a player. i'm rooting for him to be the next one to win rings both on the court and on the sidelines.
X-Factors
Josh Howard/Jerry Stackhouse (Mavericks)
Howard practically made Michael Finley expendable, and is now the perfect compliment to Dirk. athletic as hell, he has come of age and whenever he doesn't produce anything, the Mavs almost always lose. Stack has certainly overcome his own ego (being a Tar Heel already guaranteed the "next Jordan" comparisons) through his own winding journey in the league.
Antoine Walker
'Toine probably lost his trademark shimmy, but the guy can still bomb away with the best of 'em (and not too long ago, he was a Mav) . he's the long, tall forward in any of Riles' championship team blueprint (James Worthy, Charles Smith) and though he may not be in Worthy's class, he's dangerous enough. i wonder how former Celtic teammate Paul Pierce feels, now that Walker is in the Finals. i wonder how Danny Ainge feels.
Rocks and Roles
Take Me to the Zo
Alonzo Mourning is practically a Heat legend in their brief team history. once a storied rival to Shaq (drafted 2nd right after the Big Fella), his health problems of recent years have forced him from the main stage, but his ferocity and tenacity remains (including the oft-annoying muscle-flexing after a dramatic shotblock). whudathunk they'd be playing together in their twilight years? its not quite Chamberlain+Russell, but those two never played together at all.
UD Man
not bad for an undrafted rookie just 3 years ago. solidified the power forward position taking over from Brian Grant. probably the most accomplished person named Udonis. will battle the two-headed monster below to allow Shaq to last up to the 4th Q.
D&D
DeSagana Diop and Erick Dampier. the critical ink they both got before today combined probably will stretch across the continental US - both underachieving malcontents. suddenly, they're useful resources. Diop can claim to be an NBA Finals starter while Dampier is starting to earn his huge salary.
there is a D in Erick's last name.
Blanco
play that funky music, white boy
really? the White Chocolate in the Finals? Florida Gators must be proud. Jason Williams is having the last laugh after all his pit stops with contenders (Sacramento, Memphis) garnered him the evaluation that he wasn't the model point guard. perfect poster boy for Eminem songs.
Jettin' Devin
the duo of Jason "The Jet" Terry and Devin Harris should be something that Riley should factor in, since only Wade can run with these two. Miami is going to play slowdown because if the Mavs turn on the afterburners, the Heat are going to get fastbreaked out of the arena (assuming of course the Mavs get the offensive rebounds).
KVH is the only Mav player with Finals experience (New Jersey Nets '02). a kind of mirror image of Walker, but not as tough. still dangerous with his 3 point shot.
Gary Payton returns to the Finals with his 3rd team. no longer considered the Glove, he is more of a Mitten. but the man is too proud not to let it all hang out one last time. it's all for the ring, baby!
where have you gone, Shawn Kemp?
and yes, i haven't forgotten you, Michael Doleac.
during the 1998-99 lockout season, the first time i ever watched an NBA game was in Orlando, where the Magic went up against the Knicks (and won - though the Knicks would go the Finals that season). it was the post-Shaq era and Penny Hardaway was consolidating his (soon to be short-lived) grasp of power in the Magic Kingdom. i was rooting for a pair of rookies then - Doleac and vinegary swingman Matt Harpring. Harpring has found a home with the best old-school mentor, Jerry Sloan in Utah. Doleac also bounced around since, and its ironic that he's backing up the man he replaced in O-Town. best of luck, man.
also on the Maverick side, we have old man Darrell Armstrong, another alumnus of that 1999 Orlando Magic season. ah, memories.
... and the winner is ...
can you believe they own naming rights on both teams' arenas? i didn't realize till a little while ago.
ok, seriously, i'm giving it to the (new) man with the tongue.
Prediction: Mavs in 7. *
* despite the fact that a longer Finals run means more TV broadcast money for Mark Cuban. unless he gets fined for the same amount they earn hahahaha.
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