BruceW Posted June 8, 2006 Report Posted June 8, 2006 Don't believe the Mavs can possibly understand what the FIRST game pressure really is. They will be just glad to get to the Finals and the Heat will steal this one rather quickly. Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 I know the NBA and ABC need to update people who are just tuning for the finals, but this pre-game show is painful to watch. Guy Quote
Big Al Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 Helluva game so far. It's all about the D tonight. GO MAVS!!! Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 Big Daddy doing a Big Ben on the free throw line. If Dallas wins this game (and it looks like they might,) I think they'll take the series. Too much scoring power for the Heat to match. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 Where the fuck is Zo? Heat needs him out there.... Quote
slide_advantage_redoux Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 Big Daddy doing a Big Ben on the free throw line.... 1 for 9, I'd say so. Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 this is going to be a great series. i think it will go to 7. go heat!!!!! Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 The Heat lost a prime opportunity to win a game with their record-breaking free-throw shooting. Dirk and Josh Howard aren't going to be jointly abysmal very often. I can't believe Jason Terry missed that layup. Guy Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 This Bill Simmons article is probably on the money with Shaq: Question No. 5: What does Shaq have up his sleeve in this series? Thanks to a throwback Game 6 against the Pistons (28 points, 15 rebounds) and a five-day layoff filled with "Shaq is back!" stories, it seems like many fans and experts convinced themselves that Shaq will destroy the Mavs just like he crushed the 2001 Sixers or the 2002 Nets. First of all, that's silly talk -- 2002 Shaq is gone. He might be able to reach back into the ESPN Classic vault for one very good game in this series, maybe even two, but not more than that; the last truly dominant game he ever played was Game 4 of the 2004 Finals, when he slapped up a 36-20 against a fantastic Pistons team and caused Phil Jackson (who knew it was over) to say sadly after the game something like, "We wasted one of the all-time great Shaquille O'Neal games." Second, I have been watching Big Daddy carefully for the past two seasons; he can dominate for little stretches, but certainly not for whole games, and he's always at his best when Miami is leading by double digits and Shaq doesn't have to worry about getting fouled (like with Game 6 against the Pistons). The proof is in the tapes. Both ESPN Classic and NBA TV are running NBA marathons this weekend -- if you have a chance, watch one of those Lakers games when Shaq was in his prime. The guy was a force of nature; nobody could stop him. He's in a different stage of his career now, capable of controlling a game under optimum conditions, always good for a 20-10, semi-neutered in close games because he doesn't want to get fouled, and that's about it. Not only is Shaq the third-best player in this series, but Dallas has bodies, fouls and barbecue food to throw at him. And sure, five years ago, Shaq would have annihilated guys like Diop and Dampier and probably decided the series by himself. But it's 2006. He's finishing up his 14th season. Unlike someone like Kareem, who led the '85 Lakers past Boston under similar "the old guy is back!" circumstances, Shaq doesn't have one of those easy, fall-out-of-bed moves like the sky hook -- everything is a chore to him, whether it's getting position, absorbing contact, swinging his elbows on his dropstep or anything else. When you get older, it becomes harder and harder. Especially when you're in lousy shape. Also this was pretty funny: Pat Riley, Part II: Stole the team from Stan Van Gundy, then apparently had him whacked -- we haven't seen the Hedgehog since. Just a crazy turn of events. Combined with what happened with the Knicks, Riley's bad karma almost can't be calculated. Still, I'm going to try. (BAD KARMA RATING: 19 out of 10) Quote
slide_advantage_redoux Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 I was just reading the box score for game one. I had no idea that Dirk outrebounded Shaq. I assumed that no one would, but then again, he isn't as quick as he used to be, and thusly can't chase down balls very good anymore. I agree that this will be a great series. But the thing that impresses me most about the Mavs is their composure. They never seem to get rattled, even when they are down by double figures. They just bear down, make an adjustment or two and whittle away, confident that if they play their style of game, they probably have a very good chance of catching back up. Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 I agree that this will be a great series. But the thing that impresses me most about the Mavs is their composure. They never seem to get rattled, even when they are down by double figures. They just bear down, make an adjustment or two and whittle away, confident that if they play their style of game, they probably have a very good chance of catching back up. Well, I'm not even sure there's a Dallas "style of game" anymore. The Mavs of old wouldn't have shut down Miami for 49 pts after the 1st quarter. Guy Quote
Big Al Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 this is going to be a great series. i think it will go to 7. Hell yeah it's gonna be a great series! It wouldn't surprise me at all if it goes seven! So, you got your CD picked out if you win? Me, I'm leaning towards one of the new Conns! Quote
Big Al Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 I agree that this will be a great series. But the thing that impresses me most about the Mavs is their composure. They never seem to get rattled, even when they are down by double figures. They just bear down, make an adjustment or two and whittle away, confident that if they play their style of game, they probably have a very good chance of catching back up. Well, I'm not even sure there's a Dallas "style of game" anymore. The Mavs of old wouldn't have shut down Miami for 49 pts after the 1st quarter. Guy I don't know about that; I think that the "bearing down" is their style of game; just wear down the opponent with that deep bench of theirs. I was also surprised by the rebounds, cuz it sure seemed like the Mavs weren't doing much rebounding last night. And I don't care what anyone says about Shaq not being as good as he used to be: Shaq on a bad day is still better than a ton of players at their best. I believe he was the reason the Mavs didn't charge the bucket much when the Big Diesel was waiting right there for them. This series is FAR from over. Quote
JSngry Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 this is going to be a great series. i think it will go to 7. 7 AM? Seriously, if it goes 6, that'll be as far as it goes. Dallas might lose focus a game or two as they did against Phoenix & San Antonio. But honestly, other than Jet they looked pretty unfocused offensively last night and still won by 10. Thank you, Jet. 5 is my best hunch, and a sweep is not impossible. It is unlikely, though. Mavs are going to have to fight like hell every game, but really, the team is too deep, too fast, too focused, and too hypnotized by Avery to lose a best-of-7 to Miami unless there's a critical injury involved. Shaq, gotta love him. D-Wade, gonna be one of the all-time greats, and seems like a great human as well. But beyond that, there ain't a lot there, not in comparison to Dallas. Nothing personal, and no gloating or trash-talking intended. But this edition of the Mavericks is one helluva team, and it's a team whose time has come. Quote
Noj Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 This guy might be a better coach than he was a player, which is saying something. I always liked him, even when he was torching the Lakers that one year, shooting a ridiculous percentage from the field. If he ever stops coaching, he'd have a career in voiceover. What charisma and leadership qualities. Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 9, 2006 Report Posted June 9, 2006 this is going to be a great series. i think it will go to 7. So, you got your CD picked out if you win? Me, I'm leaning towards one of the new Conns! Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 11, 2006 Author Report Posted June 11, 2006 miami + 4.5 vs dallas shaq 28 pts and 8 boards miami needs a rebounder = Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted June 11, 2006 Report Posted June 11, 2006 miami + 4.5 vs dallas shaq 28 pts and 8 boards miami needs a rebounder = Get Zo in there and you'll have some rebounds and blocks. Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 11, 2006 Report Posted June 11, 2006 From tradesports: Game 2 winner: Dallas 65.5-66.5% Series Winner: Dallas 71.5-72.5% Miami 28.0-28.6% Miami in 5 5.0-7.9% Miami in 6 9.0-11.4% Miami in 7 10.5-12.4% Dallas in 7 19.6-22.4% Dallas in 6 27.5-29.9% Dallas in 5 12.1-14.4% Dallas in 4 8.5-11.0% Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 12, 2006 Report Posted June 12, 2006 I don't see why Mark Jackson and Michael Wilbon are pretending that Shaq's free throw shooting isn't hurting the Heat. Guy Quote
Soulstation1 Posted June 12, 2006 Author Report Posted June 12, 2006 crappy first quarter by both teams Quote
Guy Berger Posted June 12, 2006 Report Posted June 12, 2006 Miami's defense is excellent right now. Guy Quote
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