[Fantasy Matchup] 2013 Miami Heat vs. 2011 Dallas Mavericks

So, last night, I'm in my apartment about to go to bed, and my roommate and his friend were making fun of the Rockets and how they're not a fun team to watch, and usual Dallas BS. They argued that in 2011, they essentially won 3 championships, because (get this), they swept Kobe, beat Durant, and ultimately beat the Heat.

I said that wouldn't be the case today. If today's Miami Heat played the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat would totally win, and they argued about how that wouldn't happen. They both were getting so frustrated, making it seem like I was illogical with my choice.

Now, while the Mavs were good that year, it would be a fun matchup, but I think they play a Miami Heat team that's hell of a lot better than what it was then.

Here was my argument as to why the Heat would win.

Lebron is a more focused player now than he was then. That year they lost, during the series, Lebron stayed up reading articles and listening to all the trash talk. He took it for granted that he still was a basketball player and performed subpar, but realizing that he's in an opportune situation, Lebron is more focused, and it's made him a better player today. He's more efficient, in the sense that, he makes his shots when he needs to now. He can be more clutch now, than what he was before.

My friends were arguing that the Dallas zone defense that series was magnificent, and it was just Lebron couldn't play around it. I'm saying, yeah the D is good, but if Lebron today played that defense then, he would know how to dominate.

I'm sure it's all just a Dallas bias, because ask anyone, the 2013 Heat would beat the 2011 Mavs.

I'm not the only one that thinks this, right? My friend thinks only Houston people think this way.

 

Do people agree with me that Lebron is more focused now?

My friend was arguing that how can we see if someone is focused or not..

I'm like, dude, you can tell by how he performs if he's focused. He took coming to South Beach for granted. He made fun of Dirk being sick. He looked like he didn't take it seriously.

But now, because of his focus, he understands that at the root of it all, he's a basketball player, a competitor, and he needs to take care of what he needs to do first before joking around.