mavs vs heat
As the NBA Finals gets under way tonight in Miami, the big question left to be answered is this: Who's guarding whom?
Dirk Nowitzki has turned in one of the greatest offensive performances in playoff history in leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals. He's destroyed every defender, from overmatched, smaller guards to athletic and skilled big men like Serge Ibaka. He's averaged 28.4 points per game second only to Kevin Durant, shot 52% overall and 52% from three point range. In several games he's gotten to the free-throw line at will, where he's shot an amazing 93%. There wouldn't seem to be anyone who can guard a 7-footer who can shoot over anyone, from any angle, or draw fouls with up fakes and occasional blowbys. The Heat could go big with Joel Anthony or Udonis Haslem. But what they should do, at least for part of the game, is use LeBron James. Guarding a 6 foot 4 point guard is very different than checking a7 foot power forward. But LeBron can use his rare combination of size, speed, strength, athleticism and court awareness to disrupt any player. It worked against Derrick Rose, and there's a good chance he'd have some success against Nowitzki, too.
Then there's another problem at the other end, where the Mavs will have to find a way to contain three prolific scorers. Tyson Chandler can guard Chris Bosh and probably do a good job. But every team is ill equipped to handle both LeBron and Dwyane Wade the Mavs more so than most. Jason Kidd did a commendable job on Durant in the Western Conference Finals, using his body and playing angles to goad Durant into long two-point jumpers. But if LeBron and Wade drive to the hoop instead of settling, Kidd will be in deep trouble. That's doubly true for J.J. Barea, who could give up 60 if he guarded Wade all game. DeShawn Stevenson is a good defender, but he's a disaster offensively, and the Mavs have made their living by filling it up in the playoffs. The best bet here is probably to play zone and hope that Mike Miller and James Jones, if he plays, don't kill the Mavs with threes, then run out Barea and Kidd with Nowitzki and hope to outscore Miami.
If these sound like remote possibilities, it's because they are. Nowitzki will need to have the series of his life for Dallas to have a chance. One or two other Mavs will probably need to do the same. This should be a compelling series,but i think that the heat will own Dallas
