Nope. Even with a healthy Yao & TMac, I don't see us being the equals of Dallas or San Antonio. Two years ago when both TMac & Yao were healthy and we (supposedly) had better shooters, do you recall what happened in that last game? The Mavs completely smoked them with their youth, speed and versatility. That's because they (Mavs) simply refused to play the way you, JVG and the rest wanted them to play. They didn't try to play a half-court game with Yao matching up against a clearly inferior Dampier. No, they extended their defense, expanded the area of play to the full court and attacked our physical weakness at the guard and forward positions. You may have forgotten but I remember TMac having to score points, play Dirk (because our PFs couldn't) AND having to bring the ball up the court (because our guards couldn't) and initiate the offense (same reason). On defense, Barry & Wesley were blown by and torched by the faster Mav guards. Bowen & Howard were cremated by Dirk. Yao was surrounded and smothered. That last playoff was historically ugly and should have been a wakeup call to this organization but as has been the case for the past 10 years, that call went unanswered. See, the Mavs are better not just because they have 3 legitimate scoring threats (they actually have 6) but because they play a superior system that is flexible in it's ability to adapt to the capabilities of their opponents. Their system allows them to create mismatches on the floor and to exploit those mismatches. Thus they can adapt to more than one style: up tempo or half court, inside-out or outside-in. Contrast that to the Rockets' system which works only if the opposing team is willing or can be forced into playing a half-court, low post game. If the other team decides not play this way then what? That's why this off season is so crucial for this franchise. If they continue to try to run their current system and "patch" it yet again by attempting to add more "shooters", they will be merely postponing the inevitable and it will be YEARS before this team contends for a title. It's my belief that adding more shooters won't force other teams to play their style of basketball nor will it radically change the way teams defense TMac & Yao. More shooters alone also won't negate the impact of the new rules that allow opposing teams pack into the lane and smother your low post players - they can perhaps make them pay for doing so but they won't stop them from employing this type of defense because it's effectiveness has been documented. If you don't want to believe me, then sit back and watch another Texas team use this strategy to win an NBA Championship against a team that employs the same system as does the Rockets.
It also took them 7 games to beat us. We didn't have Juwan Howard that series either. We had freakin' RYAN BOWEN guarding Dirk Nowitski. If it weren't for Jason Terry we would have had that series. Revenge will be ours.
Good post and I totally agree. People here extrapolate the ability of the current Rox to last years team that let that series slip away. Well it doesn't work because the Mavs are a different and better team, they actually started defining themselves in that series. They benched Bradley after losing the first 2 games, went small and ran our guys out of the gym. Another defining event was when JT didn't pressure Nash and let him get off that 3 and Dirk blasted him, I can't imagine that JT would do that again, that one play I believe showed the Mavs how important defense is and to challenge every shot. Another big change from last year is they don't settle for the outside shot, Avery recognized that have great athletes that can slash and that high percentage twos are better than taking a low percentage 3. Now you have a team that can play at multiple tempos and play multiple defenses, both zone and man on man help defense, beat you from the inside and outside. They have a great system that is made better by their personnel. Drafting a shooter like Redick might let us beat a lesser team with his outside shot but he would be a target of those mismatches you mention that a superior team like the Mavs would create. We need to be drafting Harris, Stackhouse, Harris and Terry type of players not JJ Redick.
Erica is outplaying Shrek again. How humiliating to be outplayed by a WNBA player in the NBA final. And sure the media will blame his teammates for not giving him enough ball so that he can do better than 2-16 from the FT line.
Series is tied 2-2 yes. Shaq's averaging around 14/9 this series. Those types of numbers are just not acceptable for the "best" center in the league. I have been watching the games, yes. Beyond the numbers - his contributions are overvalued. Is he the second best player on the team? yes. Could the Heat be winning these games with Alonzo getting most of the minutes? yes.
Yep, but he did a great job distributing the ball in game 4....still he is just not all that great anymore....gets by a lot on reputation. DD
Shaq is not the Shaq of old but to say the Heat could get by with Alonzo replacing him is going way too far. Shaq demands a double-team every time he gets the ball, which means he still commands respect from the defense, and it opens up everything else for the Heat's offense. Alonzo hasn't been double-teamed in like 6 years.
If Shaq hits half his free throws last night he has a monster game and the Heat blow out Dallas by 10+ I wish Hack-a-Shaq could RIP.
I know about double-teams. Maybe I went too far with the Alonzo comment. Shaq is actually a very good passer. Just when a guy goes 2-10 (or whatever) from the line and sits during key stretches, it does say something. Guy is averaging 15/9 this series and - I'm sorry - he is plain overrated. If Wade doesn't go crazy - Miami probably woould have swept out. If Miami wins - they better not hand out the MVP to Shaq.
This is why I think Shaq's overrated. While he is definitely the second best player on the team - the unquestioned MVP of the Miami Heat (and this series even if they lose) is Wade.
The voters need to get their head examined if Miami wins and Wade doesn't get the MVP. Hell he might deserve it even if the Mavs win the series.
yah know, its entirely within a subject's perspective to view whatevah howevah. so i can read the overrated phrase and understand its context. aint credible context ... but my mind is flexible like that. Shaq's Heat up 3-2.
