It was delightful. All day the local sportscasters were saying that the Heat just know how to close games if they're in striking distance with 5 minutes or less left in the game. They said they hadn't jumped off the Mavs bandwagon, but they sure had. Well. the Heat were way ahead of striking distance and they blew it. Quite the blow to their South Beach egos, methinks. I told you folks, Dallas has been an excellent road team all year long. 3 games in Dallas now. Should be interesting.
NBA 2010-2011
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Incredible defensive stand by the Mavs late in the 4th quarter. I sure did think the Mavs were done when the Heat went up by 15 and so apparently, did the Heat and they made the mistake of showing it to their opponents.
I have been watching sports, (especially the NBA) for many years and I can't recall a pro athlete with more of a feeling of entitlement than LeBron. And he cannot help but allow it to show. No way should he have been clowning like that with 7 minutes left and only a 15 point lead - especially against such a good offensive team. You would never have seen the Lakers do that. But LeBron, in usual fashion, makes it obvious that the goal has been accomplished before doing what it takes to actually earn the accomplishment. But Lebron thought (with 7 fracking minutes to play) "we got this".
But ironically, the Mavs came back with their defense, almost completely shutting down the Heat's offense. Dirk was impressive as all hell. He hit shots with guys all over him. He is starting to make me a believer, but he is going to have to close the deal to get my respect. Otherwise, he is still "Noringski".
Mavs have to keep winning, with no breaks -- but it will be tough. In order to prevent coming back to Miami and having to win another game there, they will have to win 4 straight games. That is not impossible but significantly unlikely and as such, the Heat are still in pretty good shape - as long as they can win one game in Dallas.
This is the curse of the 2-3-2 format. But there may be a bigger curse in effect here - the "Dan Gilbert Curse".
We shall see.
I have been watching sports, (especially the NBA) for many years and I can't recall a pro athlete with more of a feeling of entitlement than LeBron. And he cannot help but allow it to show. No way should he have been clowning like that with 7 minutes left and only a 15 point lead - especially against such a good offensive team. You would never have seen the Lakers do that. But LeBron, in usual fashion, makes it obvious that the goal has been accomplished before doing what it takes to actually earn the accomplishment. But Lebron thought (with 7 fracking minutes to play) "we got this".
But ironically, the Mavs came back with their defense, almost completely shutting down the Heat's offense. Dirk was impressive as all hell. He hit shots with guys all over him. He is starting to make me a believer, but he is going to have to close the deal to get my respect. Otherwise, he is still "Noringski".
Mavs have to keep winning, with no breaks -- but it will be tough. In order to prevent coming back to Miami and having to win another game there, they will have to win 4 straight games. That is not impossible but significantly unlikely and as such, the Heat are still in pretty good shape - as long as they can win one game in Dallas.
This is the curse of the 2-3-2 format. But there may be a bigger curse in effect here - the "Dan Gilbert Curse".
We shall see.
Thus, the reason Dirk is ringless and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. In the crunchiest of crunch time, in a must win situation, he comes up with a turnover and a missed makable 17-18 footer.
How much do you want to bet that the Heat wins another one in Dallas and goes back home and clinches in game 6.
Then we'll have a whole summer of LeBron taking his hat off to himself for remaining so "humble".
How much do you want to bet that the Heat wins another one in Dallas and goes back home and clinches in game 6.
Then we'll have a whole summer of LeBron taking his hat off to himself for remaining so "humble".
.... we'll have a whole summer of LeBron taking his hat off to himself for remaining so "humble"....
The 2-3-2 finals format is antiquated. These teams have charter planes to take them where they are going, and charter buses to take them to their hotels when on the road.
Yeah, Boston to LA, or Orlando-Portland is a bitch compared to Miami-Dallas (though I'm sure American Airlines must love this series!) but on a charter flight you take so much of the time and hassle over flying commercial and getting TSA fingers in your asshole.
2-3-2 gives the lower seed a distinct advantage of going up 3-2. 2-2-1-1-1 is the way to do it.
Go Dallas--hanging in there! Winning without a big game by Nowitski (by his standards), and no points by Kidd...!
James disappeared, and my guess is he didn't like the "it is Wade's team" commentary, and so displayed his petulant self....
James disappeared, and my guess is he didn't like the "it is Wade's team" commentary, and so displayed his petulant self....
This series is so clearly going to be "What Miami did/didn't do". It's theirs to win and theirs to lose. And last night, with no disrespect intended to the Mavs, the Heat lost the game. I don't think LeBron disappeared out of petulance, but more because the match-ups favored Wade. Still.... to score single digits for the first time in 90 playoff games? 
I'm still hoping beyond hope that Miami's petulance kicks in. When they get petulant, they make mistakes. Oh, life is fun when you start the day with a root canal in the morning. 
I told you the Mavs were resilient. No surprise to anyone here in the fly over states that the coastal media ignores. 
Screw Lebron and company. He got a triple double and the Heat still lost. Does Dallas get the credit now?
Who doubted the Mavs' resilience? 
But then that resilience was helped by D-Wade's 1st quarter injury, too. It's been understandable that stories have been written in terms of Miami controlling things. The Game 2 & 4 results were each more due to Miami screw-ups and questionable actions (player and coaches) than the Dallas actions. BUT, I doubt anyone seriously is saying this is ALL because of Miami screwing up. Dallas may not get as much credit as they deserve, but they certainly are not bereft of it either.
But then that resilience was helped by D-Wade's 1st quarter injury, too. It's been understandable that stories have been written in terms of Miami controlling things. The Game 2 & 4 results were each more due to Miami screw-ups and questionable actions (player and coaches) than the Dallas actions. BUT, I doubt anyone seriously is saying this is ALL because of Miami screwing up. Dallas may not get as much credit as they deserve, but they certainly are not bereft of it either.Yeah, D-Wade got hurt, but Nowitzki's also been sick. All things equalize. If Miami's claiming that as an excuse, they've already lost game 6. They have no mental edge. How many points did LeBron have in the fourth quarter again? The kid's doubting himself in spite of his big ego. That's all it takes to turn victory to defeat.
EDIT--Man, I thought I was mean. The posters at yahoo and espn are.....not kind....to LeBron.....or should I say "LeClank," "LeBrick," "LeBitch" or "LeChoker."
They're not shy.
What's the difference between LeBron James and a dollar? You can get four quarters out of a dollar.
EDIT--Man, I thought I was mean. The posters at yahoo and espn are.....not kind....to LeBron.....or should I say "LeClank," "LeBrick," "LeBitch" or "LeChoker."
They're not shy.What's the difference between LeBron James and a dollar? You can get four quarters out of a dollar.
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Yeah, but add up LeBron's big 11 total points in 5 fourth quarters of this series and it's particularly fitting. Wish I could take credit for the joke, but alas I read it elsewhere. They're really messing with his mind. It's too big to him now. The pressure and all. The Mavs are mentally tough--and word is Wade is hurting more than he's letting on. Lots of nagging injuries are plaguing him and the hip is bad.
Wish I could take credit for the joke, but alas I read it elsewhere. They're really messing with his mind. It's too big to him now. The pressure and all. The Mavs are mentally tough--and word is Wade is hurting more than he's letting on. Lots of nagging injuries are plaguing him and the hip is bad.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...owitzkis-illness-20110610,0,5393495.htmlstory
Karma, this is LeWrong's butt. You may now proceed to bite him on it.
Karma, this is LeWrong's butt. You may now proceed to bite him on it.
They did this after game 4 when Nowitzki with the sinus infection beat them? 
Sheesh, not the brightest bulbs in the bunch, are they? Amazing this changing of the guard. The Heat are dethroning the Lakers as the new villain in town.
I've had sinus infections. I can't imagine having to go out and play a ball game with one.
Sheesh, not the brightest bulbs in the bunch, are they? Amazing this changing of the guard. The Heat are dethroning the Lakers as the new villain in town.I've had sinus infections. I can't imagine having to go out and play a ball game with one.
And with that, we don't even have to wait till the end of the finals to say that the comparisons between Jordan and James are garbage. James will never ever ever be in the same league as Jorden, no matter what he does.
Why?
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