Everything is "fool's gold" nowadays... sorta like how everyone was a "Joe the Plumber" 2 summers ago. Vocab regurgitation FTW!
First, this article says what many of us could have said in one sentence. Turnovers killed the mavs early, and if they take care of the ball they will win every game. I think the recipe for beating Miami has been exposed. Make them execute in the half court. As for your statement, I don't think anyone I. Their right mind picked the celtics or bulls to win. I know many of us said we wanted those teams to win. Third of all, the rockets might have a better record than the mavs too if we got to play the bucks, wizards, pacers, raptors, nets, and cavs four times each in the regular season instead of the lakers, thunder, blazers, spurs, and nuggets four times each. The bulls and celtics have better records than the mavs, but when those records are put into context they are clearly not better teams.
I'll just say it again: not that many people were making these claims about Boston and Chicago before they played the Heat. Both series were being polled at about 50/50. After the fact, of course, it became clear that a Heat win was inevitable and therefore not the least bit impressive. Just remember what you're posting about Dallas right now. If the Heat win the series, will you finally give them some credit? Or are you going to start saying that Dallas really never had a chance because they are a one-man team, Dirk didn't have enough help, the refs screwed them over, etc.?
THIS. This series has a REVERSE SWEEP written all over it. The Mavs have figured out the simple way to beat the Heat: dare them to execute in the half court. It's back to 2006 all over again, except for the other way around. Ron Artest will have to run down Santa monica with electrical shocks on his chest nipples.
Didn't pope gregory the VII once say, "Live by the three, die by the three." I read this article as the three point shot is fool's gold. Horrible movie!
My god, how revolutionary... dare them to execute in the half court!!!! If only teams had thought of that during, you know, the FIVE MONTH REGULAR SEASON. But if it helps you sleep at night, more power to you my man!
I don't know about that. Some of it was due to poor shot selection by Miami. Long jump shots generate long rebounds and fast break opportunities when they miss. Terry got that layup, and the Dirk had an easy left handed layup on a 3 on 1 break. Missed shots by Miami also prevented them from getting back and really set up on defense. If the Heat shoot better or if they get back on defense better on long shots and not go as aggressively for the offensive board, that will certainly help their transition defense. I give Rick Carlisle credit for that staggered pick they ran, which threw the Heat rotations into complete disarray. The Heat will plan for this and be better at guarding it, but I could still see this being pretty effective for the Mavs the rest of the series. Make the Heat deploy four or all five of their defensive players and make them switch, and something will open up for Dirk or one of their shooters. I could see Carlisle running this to pretty devastating effect for half quarter stretches, just like he did with the Dirk-Jose Juan pick and roll against the Lakers and Thieves. If they can get quality shots in their half court sets, that will cut down on turnovers and transition baskets for the Heat, where they are pretty damn good.
Good point about the fast break opportunities for Dallas. I forgot how much that helped the Mavs in the fourth quarter. I give some credit of that to Dallas's defense. I especially remember watching the defensive rotation by Kidd, Marion and Chandler while guarding the pick-and-roll and being very impressed. It will be interesting when and how Carlisle uses the staggered pick-and-roll in Game 3. You know Miami will be ready to counter it, but the variations on that play, and the fact that the Mavs are so good at running the halfcourt, makes it really hard to guard. I can't wait to see if the Heat's defense is up to the task.
