Oh, the miraculous year of 2011. Many people might not realize this, but the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, the only championship team in franchise history, are still the only team to defeat Lebron James' Miami Heat in a playoff series. That is actually one of the reasons I am rooting for the Heat over the Spurs in these NBA Finals. Also, I just can't stand the Spurs, as they have been our biggest rival ever since I have been a Mavs fan. Them beating us in the first round this year probably swayed my opinion and made my dislike for the Spurs grow even more. Actually, I don't want either team to win as these are literally my least favorite teams in the entire league. For a Mavs fan like myself, it is painful to watch these two teams as the top two in the league. But I definitely dislike the Spurs more than the Heat, especially after we gained redemption in 2011 for the Finals loss in 2006. However, you can't help but admire the things they've done. The Spurs' brilliant offense and the Lebron's outstanding play are extremely fun to watch. But now the streak that the Mavs hold of being the only team that has beat the Heat with their Big Three in the playoffs is in serious jeopardy as the Spurs lead the Finals 3-1 going into San Antonio for game 5, after absolutely dominating the Heat in Games 3 and 4 on the road in Miami.
Firstly, the Mavs championship was nothing short of brilliance, led by their all-time greatest player Dirk Nowitzki. While Nowitzki dominated during the series, even after he injured his finger during a Game 1 loss, it was the role players of the Mavs, such as Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, and J.J. Barea who really made the Mavs a better team than the Heat that year. Lebron, on the other hand, was a disaster in those 2011 Finals. In Game 4 he was held to 8 points, with none in the fourth quarter, and he disappeared late in many of the games. However, I get pretty frustrated when the Mavs defense doesn't get enough credit for slowing him down and putting Lebron in those bad situations where it was difficult to be successful. Not only was Shawn Marion's man defense incredible, but the different zone match-ups that Dallas had confused probably confused the entire Heat team. In fact, I don't think the Thunder or the Spurs played that type of defense on Lebron in the past two Finals' in which Lebron captured his first two championships. Quite honestly, I don't think Lebron would have two championships if he never went through the loss against the Mavs and all the hate he went through. That definitely helped Lebron be the player he is today, and he has actually acknowledged that fact. And I still love saying that the Mavs are the only team to beat them in the playoffs.
The Spurs this year, though, look like a much improved team. Dallas has actually played the best against them so far in the playoffs, being the only team to take San Antonio all the way to Game 7. And with the way the Heat's defense and San Antonio's beautiful offense has been playing, I don't think the Spurs will have to go to seven games to close these Finals out. The Spurs have clearly showed they are the better team, and unless Lebron plays like a super-human, I don't see the Heat coming back from this one. Boris Diaw has played phenomenal, almost having a triple double in Game 4, Patty Mills has stepped up big time, Danny Green has continued to light it up from three, and Kawhi Leonard has taken that next step to be a legitimate all-star candidate. Oh, and I didn't even mention the Spurs' big three of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker, who have all played sensational. And on the flip side, Lebron looks like the only one who is doing any damage for the Heat. We will find out Sunday, though, if the Heat have what it takes to push this series to a Game 6. But if you want my honest opinion, I think, the Spurs are probably going to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy on Sunday night, as much as I hate admitting that. I do want the Mavs streak to stay alive, but with the way the Spurs are playing, that seems awfully unlikely, especially since no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in an NBA Finals.
Update: The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Heat once again in game 5 at the AT&T Center, capturing their 5th NBA Championship and ending the Mavs' streak of being the only team to beat Lebron's Heat in the playoffs. Hey, at least us Mavs fans can say we took the NBA Champion Spurs the farthest in the playoffs with seven games.
The Spurs this year, though, look like a much improved team. Dallas has actually played the best against them so far in the playoffs, being the only team to take San Antonio all the way to Game 7. And with the way the Heat's defense and San Antonio's beautiful offense has been playing, I don't think the Spurs will have to go to seven games to close these Finals out. The Spurs have clearly showed they are the better team, and unless Lebron plays like a super-human, I don't see the Heat coming back from this one. Boris Diaw has played phenomenal, almost having a triple double in Game 4, Patty Mills has stepped up big time, Danny Green has continued to light it up from three, and Kawhi Leonard has taken that next step to be a legitimate all-star candidate. Oh, and I didn't even mention the Spurs' big three of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker, who have all played sensational. And on the flip side, Lebron looks like the only one who is doing any damage for the Heat. We will find out Sunday, though, if the Heat have what it takes to push this series to a Game 6. But if you want my honest opinion, I think, the Spurs are probably going to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy on Sunday night, as much as I hate admitting that. I do want the Mavs streak to stay alive, but with the way the Spurs are playing, that seems awfully unlikely, especially since no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in an NBA Finals.
Update: The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Heat once again in game 5 at the AT&T Center, capturing their 5th NBA Championship and ending the Mavs' streak of being the only team to beat Lebron's Heat in the playoffs. Hey, at least us Mavs fans can say we took the NBA Champion Spurs the farthest in the playoffs with seven games.