NBA Finals Preview

I have to be honest, I never heard an NBA Finals scenario featuring the Miami Heat against the Dallas Mavericks before the play-offs began. Most prognosticators were screaming Pistons/Spurs rematch. Both Detroit and San Antonio fizzled out but I’m not sure that we don’t have the two best teams in the finals.


There are lots of interesting match-up in this series starting in the backcourt. I don’t think the Mavericks have a player on their roster that is in Dwyane Wade’s category. Wade most definitely gives the Heat a backcourt advantage and whoever gets assigned to guard him will struggle. He just makes shots that no one is supposed to make. On the flip side for the Heat, Jason Williams is very streaky and at times can hurt you more than he helps.

In the frontcourt Shaq proved against Detroit that he can still be the most dominant player in the NBA. The only problem is that he either can’t do it every night or he won’t do it every night.


For all the problems that Dwayne Wade poses for the Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki does the same thing against the Heat. His athleticism and ability to score inside or outside is going to be a nightmare for Miami on defense. Couple that with the diversity that Josh Howard brings for the Mavericks I say that the frontcourt becomes a wash with free throw shooting giving an advantage to the team that shoots best from the foul line. Not music to Pat Riley’s ears.

It was the Mavericks bench that was the difference in the Western Conference Finals. Jerry Stackhouse may be the best bench player in the play-offs.

The Heat also have veteran experience both with players and with coaches. It appears that Miami has a small advantage in the series but you have to think that this is the Mavericks year. They just seem to be a team of destiny. I’m taking the Mavericks to win the NBA Championship in six games.