Heat vs. Pistons
Wow, I got this one completely right Heat in 6. The Pistons just showed too many weaknesses when playing the Cavs, a one man team, for me to think that they were going to take out the Heat. First off the Heat have the 2 best players on the court in Shaq and D-Wade both of whom the Pistons could not guard, in addition they have a hall of fame and perennial winner in GP coming off the bench. In the end the Pistons could not score, Rip didn’t shoot well at all until the final game of the series when it was too late, and truth be told it was the lone non all star on the Pistons, Prince, who was the best player on the court for the whole series for the Pistons and it just wasn’t good enough. The Heat simply stated is the better team, and Shaq still has a few miles left in the tank. It still begs the question of whether or not Larry would have gotten the Pistons through this round possibly because Flip got nothing out of Rasheed this series, but we will never know.
Mavs vs. Suns
I fell one game short of getting this one right, and the Suns looked like they were headed to a game 7 but then they just stopped scoring. It’s a shame as the Suns if they could have gotten by the Mavs would have been the single most flawed team in my memory to reach the finals. However, Dirk just dominated. They could not cover him and honestly no one can any more. He’s becoming the perfect combination of low post presence and deadly outside shooting. You throw a big man on him he goes outside nails jump shots that big men are afraid to cover. Put a little man on him and he starts taking you the basket and posts you up at the foul line for a turn around fade away J. The Mavs had to many athletes too many scorers and actual defense for the Suns to handle. This certainly was a shocker to no one.
Finals: Mavs vs. Heat
Position Breakdown
PG
Jason Terry played incredibly well during the Spurs series. Terry brings quickness and clutch shooting to the Mavs and he is a definitive option for scoring down the stretch.
Jason Williams has fit into the Heat very well. He has accepted his role, he takes care of the ball and feeds it to Shaq and Wade. Gone is the young 3 point gunner who shot his teams out of games
Edge: Mavs, J-Will is not much of a scoring threat these days, which is a good thing, but Terry has the ability to win games down the stretch.
SG
I think the Mavs will start Stackhouse this series but they might stick with Harris. One way or the other they will have a scorer at the 2 spot
D Wade is amazing. I think he should have the Superman tattoo.
Edge: Heat, this ones a no brainer it will be interesting to see at the end of the series who is the better player Dirk or Wade.
SF
Josh Howard is the Mavs second most important player. He’s their best defender, he picks up scrappy points, he gets after loose balls and he will probably end up covering Wade.
Antoine Walker is still the streaky shooter he always was, and he isn’t afraid to let it rip but he has been slightly corralled by Riley for the better.
Edge: Mavs, Howard does too many little things he was a steal with the 19th pick in the draft a few years back.
PF
Dirk is unguardable and his legend is a growin.
Udonis is a sidekick, he’s going to bang grab boards play some D. I just can’t see him staying with Dirk at all can you?
Edge: Mavs, Dirk is a superstar.
C
Diop has shown a lot of improvement over the last few series but lets be honest here how many minutes is it going to take him to pick up his 4th foul. Center is going to be a big platooning position this series.
Nothing is more fun then Shaq on the free throw line. Big Ben may airball more, which are definitely classic, but the backboard is never more frightened then when it is staring down big Shaqfu and awaiting the hurling of the brick.
Edge: Heat, the Heat simply need Shaq out of foul trouble and on the court.
Bench
The Mavs can bring off a lot of athleticism from their bench including fouls to give against Shaq with Van Horn and Dampier. Marquis Daniels while mostly a non factor in this playoffs could be a spark plug just like Devin Harris was in the Spurs series.
The Heat on the other hand bring tons of experience off the bench. Payton will play point guard down the stretch of games, Zo will give Shaq breathers and bring intensity to the squad and Posey might be the Heats best option to guard Dirk.
Edge: Heat, I like their experience and Zo’s and GP’s drive to get a ring.
Coach
Avery Johnson has been the best coach in the NBA this season. He’s had the tougher road to the finals and the Mavs made it look easy. He has made great adjustments like moving Harris into the starting lineup and emphasizing getting back on defense against the Suns that have been key reasons for the Mavs success.
One way or another dumping Stan Van Gundy might not have been the classiest move of all time, but the Heat wouldn’t be here if he was the coach. As a Celtic fan I have watched Antoine for many a year, and with C-Webb being my favorite player I watched a lot of J-Will when he was with the Kings, both of these guys were incredibly streaky gunners who at times become run killers. Pat Riley has these guys firmly established in their roles and gone are the gunners of old.
Edge: Heat, Pat Riley has mucho rings, Avery might be come a coaching legend, but you have to go with the man that has the jewels.
My Pick
In the end I’m going with the team that has 2 unguardable forces over the more well rounded squad. I like the passion that the Heat will get off the bench from their old Vets. Expect to see the Shaq of old for one last hoorah, he takes home his 4th finals MVP and the Heat win in 6.
Wow, I got this one completely right Heat in 6. The Pistons just showed too many weaknesses when playing the Cavs, a one man team, for me to think that they were going to take out the Heat. First off the Heat have the 2 best players on the court in Shaq and D-Wade both of whom the Pistons could not guard, in addition they have a hall of fame and perennial winner in GP coming off the bench. In the end the Pistons could not score, Rip didn’t shoot well at all until the final game of the series when it was too late, and truth be told it was the lone non all star on the Pistons, Prince, who was the best player on the court for the whole series for the Pistons and it just wasn’t good enough. The Heat simply stated is the better team, and Shaq still has a few miles left in the tank. It still begs the question of whether or not Larry would have gotten the Pistons through this round possibly because Flip got nothing out of Rasheed this series, but we will never know.Mavs vs. Suns
I fell one game short of getting this one right, and the Suns looked like they were headed to a game 7 but then they just stopped scoring. It’s a shame as the Suns if they could have gotten by the Mavs would have been the single most flawed team in my memory to reach the finals. However, Dirk just dominated. They could not cover him and honestly no one can any more. He’s becoming the perfect combination of low post presence and deadly outside shooting. You throw a big man on him he goes outside nails jump shots that big men are afraid to cover. Put a little man on him and he starts taking you the basket and posts you up at the foul line for a turn around fade away J. The Mavs had to many athletes too many scorers and actual defense for the Suns to handle. This certainly was a shocker to no one.Finals: Mavs vs. Heat
Position Breakdown
PG
Jason Terry played incredibly well during the Spurs series. Terry brings quickness and clutch shooting to the Mavs and he is a definitive option for scoring down the stretch.
Jason Williams has fit into the Heat very well. He has accepted his role, he takes care of the ball and feeds it to Shaq and Wade. Gone is the young 3 point gunner who shot his teams out of games
Edge: Mavs, J-Will is not much of a scoring threat these days, which is a good thing, but Terry has the ability to win games down the stretch.
SG
I think the Mavs will start Stackhouse this series but they might stick with Harris. One way or the other they will have a scorer at the 2 spot
D Wade is amazing. I think he should have the Superman tattoo.
Edge: Heat, this ones a no brainer it will be interesting to see at the end of the series who is the better player Dirk or Wade.
SF
Josh Howard is the Mavs second most important player. He’s their best defender, he picks up scrappy points, he gets after loose balls and he will probably end up covering Wade.
Antoine Walker is still the streaky shooter he always was, and he isn’t afraid to let it rip but he has been slightly corralled by Riley for the better.
Edge: Mavs, Howard does too many little things he was a steal with the 19th pick in the draft a few years back.
PF
Dirk is unguardable and his legend is a growin.
Udonis is a sidekick, he’s going to bang grab boards play some D. I just can’t see him staying with Dirk at all can you?
Edge: Mavs, Dirk is a superstar.
C
Diop has shown a lot of improvement over the last few series but lets be honest here how many minutes is it going to take him to pick up his 4th foul. Center is going to be a big platooning position this series.
Nothing is more fun then Shaq on the free throw line. Big Ben may airball more, which are definitely classic, but the backboard is never more frightened then when it is staring down big Shaqfu and awaiting the hurling of the brick.
Edge: Heat, the Heat simply need Shaq out of foul trouble and on the court.
Bench
The Mavs can bring off a lot of athleticism from their bench including fouls to give against Shaq with Van Horn and Dampier. Marquis Daniels while mostly a non factor in this playoffs could be a spark plug just like Devin Harris was in the Spurs series.
The Heat on the other hand bring tons of experience off the bench. Payton will play point guard down the stretch of games, Zo will give Shaq breathers and bring intensity to the squad and Posey might be the Heats best option to guard Dirk.
Edge: Heat, I like their experience and Zo’s and GP’s drive to get a ring.
Coach
Avery Johnson has been the best coach in the NBA this season. He’s had the tougher road to the finals and the Mavs made it look easy. He has made great adjustments like moving Harris into the starting lineup and emphasizing getting back on defense against the Suns that have been key reasons for the Mavs success.
One way or another dumping Stan Van Gundy might not have been the classiest move of all time, but the Heat wouldn’t be here if he was the coach. As a Celtic fan I have watched Antoine for many a year, and with C-Webb being my favorite player I watched a lot of J-Will when he was with the Kings, both of these guys were incredibly streaky gunners who at times become run killers. Pat Riley has these guys firmly established in their roles and gone are the gunners of old.
Edge: Heat, Pat Riley has mucho rings, Avery might be come a coaching legend, but you have to go with the man that has the jewels.
My Pick
In the end I’m going with the team that has 2 unguardable forces over the more well rounded squad. I like the passion that the Heat will get off the bench from their old Vets. Expect to see the Shaq of old for one last hoorah, he takes home his 4th finals MVP and the Heat win in 6.
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