Mavs, Heat Meet in the NBA Finals

Photo courtesy of callthecomputerdoctor.com

The Dallas Mavericks are matched up against the Miami Heat in an epic NBA final showdown.  The NBA got exactly what they wanted, two high-powered offensive teams.

What can you say about the 2011 NBA playoffs?  They have been a thrill to watch this year.  Every match-up has been intense, even with teams that got swept or only won one of the four games.

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls series, which ended last Thursday night, didn't feel like a five-game series at all.  Derrick Rose and the Bulls put their sweat and tears into the series, but LeBron James and company were just too much to handle.

Rose came up short.  James came up big.  Simple as that.

Time and time again in the series, Rose had chances to be a hero and help his team come out victorious.  However, Rose came up small.  Instances such as having two opportunities in the closing minutes to put his team up ahead in game four as well as a missed free throw in game five with 25 seconds left in regulation.  

On the other side of the court, James showed how dominant he really is.  I am not too fond of his character, but the man is a force to be reckoned with.  Erik Spolestra, the Heat coach, had difficulty of choosing who to give the ball to for a game-winning shot during the season.  He should have no problems now because James is on a mission; a mission for a ring.

Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have also chipped in tremendously as well.  Wade's shoulder had been bothering him the last couple of games, however, he came up strong when his team needed it the most, blocking two shots in the final two minutes of game five.  Bosh's jumpers from just inside the three-point line has reeked havoc on defenders. Bench help from Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem is important because resting the big three will provide a possible late run in the fourth quarter.

Now, we will go to the Heat's opponent in the finals, the Dallas Mavericks.

Led by Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs are creeping closer to their first NBA title.  Nowitzki has received comparisons to Larry Bird, deservingly so, with his shot making abilities.  Yet until he has a ring on his finger, those comparisons will diminish.

Contributions by Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and Tyson Chandler are key for Nowitzki to be successful, whether it would be in the paint or perimeter shooting.  JJ Barea is also an asset off the bench with his quick-drives to the basket, three-point shooting and intelligence of distributing the basketball.  

This should be a finals to remember.  It is a finals of two admirable superstars in the league looking for their first ring (James and Nowitzki).  Both are craving for a championship and want their legacy to be known.

Who will welcome the challenge and guide their team into history?  We will find out in the weeks to come.

Most Underrated Soccer Players

10.  Park Ji Sung- The Korean native, who plays club ball for Manchester United, has been a key asset to United's winning ways.  Sir Alex Ferguson loves his tenacity; it's like he has a motor that never stops moving.

9.  Wesley Sneijder-  The Dutch native, who plays club ball for Inter Milan, has won a Champions League title as well as making it to a World Cup final.  He is the heart and soul for his teams in the central of the park.  His intelligence and physical style of play has won the hearts of many fans, yet he still seems to not make the headlines as often as he should.  

8.  Dirk Kuyt-  The Dutch native, who plays club ball for Liverpool, always has a knack for scoring.  While he was paired up with Fernando Torres at Liverpool, Kuyt did his job well, but Torres would usually take his shine.  His work-rate and commitment to the game has been a major factor of why he is still at Liverpool.  Post Torres, Kuyt has excelled, topping his goal count from previous seasons in the Premier League.

7.  Gianluca Zambrotta-  The Italian native, who plays club ball for AC Milan, is one of the top defensive-wingers ever to play.  He has played for elite clubs such as Juventus and Barcelona.  Zambrotta is known for his consistent play in the back as well as going forward.

6.  Alex De Souza-  The Brazilian native, who plays club ball for Fenerbahce, has made his presence heard in the Turkish League.  Also a left-footer, De Souza has 152 goals with Fenerbahce and has made several appearances with the Brazilian national team.  He, as many have said, is the Lionel Messi of Turkey.

5.  Michael Essien-  The Ghanaian native, who plays club ball for Chelsea, is the definition of a midfielder.  He is known for his feisty defensive play as well as being an offensive threat in the final third.  His cracking strike, which was 30 yards out and traveled at 64 mph against Arsenal, will be remembered as one of the best goals of all time, in my opinion.  It defied the laws of physics.

4.  Andrea Pirlo-  The Italian native, who plays club ball for AC Milan, is considered as the best midfielder Italy has ever produced.  However, he doesn't get the recognition he greatly deserves.  Pirlo's creative passes are a delight to watch, usually chipped over a defender's head and placed perfectly onto the foot of an ongoing striker.  He helped Italy win a World Cup in 2006 and has won two Champions League titles to add to his resume.  

3.  Arjen Robben-  The Dutch native, who plays club ball for Bayern Munich, is a speedster with excellent skill.  He was one of the main reasons why the Dutch made their first World Cup final appearance since 1978.  He has a crafty left foot that intimidates defenders when making his cut towards goal.








2.  Ryan Giggs-  The Wales native, who plays club ball for Manchester United, is known for his class.  The left-footed sensation wows crowds with his elegant first-touch.  He seems to come up big whenever United needs someone to step up.  Imagine if he had an international team that could do damage in the World Cup.  He is 38 years old and is still at his prime.  He is a legend.

1.  Andres Iniesta-  The Spanish native, who plays club ball for FC Barcelona, is a gem to the Barcelona organization.  The witty midfielder mesmerizes his defenders with his quick silky touches and genius on-the-field IQ.  Barcelona has always counted on him as a big-time player even through his younger years in the academy.  He has won a World Cup, two Champions League titles and the Euro 2008. He is best known for his goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final that helped them reach the finals.

2011 NBA Playoffs

Photo courtesy of NBAsoup.com

The 2011 NBA playoffs have kicked off to an emphatic start.

There are thrilling teams in the Eastern Conference like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.  The Western Conference includes strong teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Every matchup has been highly competitive and a pleasure to watch for fans like Edmon Roberson, a WPU business major, who feels the intensity of playoff basketball has risen.

                “A lot of the games have been where the better team gets behind early and ends up coming back to win or makes it a pretty good game,” said Roberson. 

A perfect example of this was between the number one seeded Chicago Bulls and eighth seeded Indiana Pacers.  The Bulls, who won the series 4-1, had several instances where they were trailing and could’ve lost.  However, their MVP candidate guard, Derrick Rose, was able to rise to the occasion and help them win.

Another series that was thought to be a good matchup, turned out to be the total opposite.  The number six seeded, New York Knicks, and the number three seeded, Boston Celtics, looked to be a potential seven-game series after games one and two.  However, the Knicks fell apart in games three and four, handing the Celtics a broom for their 4-0 sweep. 

“Everyone was saying that this is the series that can go to seven, but no, they get ousted in four,” said Adam Clarkson, a communication major.  “Yes they can score 105 (points) a game, but when you give up 110, they are not going to win.”

The Spurs, a number one seed, seemed to have drawn the “bust” card as well.  Facing the number eighth seeded, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio appeared to have lost their swagger.  The Grizzlies took advantage of the Spurs in game one, when they were without standout guard, Manu Ginobili, because of an elbow injury.

Roberson thought the Grizzlies would give the Spurs a series but did not think they would burst out to a commanding 3-1 lead. 

“They (the Grizzlies) are a young team with a lot of heart and I believe they can go far in the playoffs,” said Clarkson. 

The New Orleans Hornets were a team that challenged their high-seeded opponents to a battle.  Talented guard, Chris Paul, guided the seventh seeded Hornets to a great series against guard, Kobe Bryant and the second seeded Lakers.  The two teams went to six games, but in the end the Lakers came out as the victor 4-2.

Clarkson said the Hornets kept up with the defending champs and never gave up.   

“Everyone had the Lakers in four or five games,” said Clarkson.  “They have proved everyone wrong and Chris Paul carried the team on his back.”

Overall, this year’s playoffs have brought excitement back to the NBA.  They’ve had games go down to the wire from 76ers guard Lou Williams game-winning three with eight seconds left in game four against the Heat to Spurs guard Gary Neal’s game-tying three at the end of regulation in game five.

“The playoffs are where moments happen,” said Clarkson.

Which superstar or unknown name will step up for their team next?  This answer lies in the upcoming rounds.