The 2011 NBA Finals - Part 3
Dirk Nowitzki’s playoff run was as spectacular as any in recent memory. He delivered efficient performance after efficient performance and the few nights when he wasn’t scoring consistently, he scored with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. Having reached that elusive championship ring, Nowitzki cemented his legacy as an all-time great but it’s difficult to gage how history will remember the 2010-2011 Dallas Mavericks. Despite losing two time All Star Caron Butler in early January and declining to make a trade for a wing scorer at the trade deadline, the Mavericks could overcome the loss of Butler’s 15 points per game because of their incredible depth. The Mavericks entered the postseason as the third seed in the Western Conference and were a popular pick to be upset in their first round matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. Dallas moved past the Blazers in six games and they were set for a series against the two time defending champion Lakers. It was the first time that Dirk Nowitzki would face Kobe Bryant in a playoff series. To the surprise of all, the Mavericks tore apart Los Angeles, including a 36 point blowout in game four, the series finale. The Mavericks crunch time five included reliable players at every position. Jason Kidd impacted the game without needing shots. The 38 year old future Hall of Famer played good defense and averaged near eight assists per game. Jason Terry provided an offensive spark to complement Nowitzki.Shawn Marion replaced Caron Butler in the starting lineup and stepped up his game; he played great defense against Kevin Durant and LeBron James in the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals respectively and also contributed 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists during the playoff run. The Mavericks acquired center Tyson Chandler during the offseason in a trade with Charlotte, even though they had already signed Brendan Haywood to a long term contract to be their starting center. Chandler completely changed the dynamic of this Mavericks team. Finally they now possessed a legitimate rim protecting, double digit rebounding center to pair with Dirk Nowitzki in the front court. Not to be forgotten, Rick Carlisle deserves immense credit for the coaching job he put in. The Mavericks championship win was an appropriate result for what was a wildly unpredictable and entertaining season.
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| The Heat created an unprecedented buzz around the NBA |
The impending lockout couldn’t be any more untimely. Interest in the league continues to rise and next season could be even more compelling than the last. Each team presents a fascinating individual storyline and in terms of talent and quality basketball the league is in a good place. The playoffs provided basketball fans with an unbelievable stretch of quality games. For Miami the storyline is simple: how will LeBron, Wade, Bosh, and the Heat bounce back following their Finals disappointment? Unfortunately, because of the struggling small market teams and the large contracts given to role players, it appears likely that the lockout could be an issue for an extended period of time and that a number of regular season games could be lost.
Well Written
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