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.