It's Not Just LeBron

[Irish]

I know a lot of us were surprised at the success of the Mavs after the other Eastern Conference powers were decimated bu the Heat. A lot or reporters have obsessed about LeBronts lack of scoring. Somehow the matchup issues with the Mavs has been ignored.

Game 5 was illustrative. The Heat shot an outstanding 8 of 20 for three, but the Mavs shot 13 for 19 for three.As great as the Heat's defense has been, it was not easy to keep the Mavs shooters under control. Once the Mavs began hitting their three point shots, it was very hard from the Heat to stop the bleeding.

Oddly enough, the big three point threat for the Mavs in game 4 was Stevenson with 3 of 7. In game 5, Stenson was only 1 of 2, but Berea went 4 of 5, Kidd went 3 of 5, Terry went 4 of 5, Cardinal went 1of 1 and Dirk went just 1 of 1. With so many shooters, the Heat could not shut down Dirk and cover everyone else.

As good as the Heat's defense is, they have not played an offense as potent as the Mavs. At the same time, the Mavs decided to double Le Bron.

I don't know if it will work in South Beach, the Mavs deserve credit for a great series of games.

 

[Lorenzo]

I know a lot of us were surprised at the success of the Mavs after the other Eastern Conference powers were decimated bu the Heat. A lot or reporters have obsessed about LeBronts lack of scoring. Somehow the matchup issues with the Mavs has been ignored.

Game 5 was illustrative. The Heat shot an outstanding 8 of 20 for three, but the Mavs shot 13 for 19 for three.As great as the Heat's defense has been, it was not easy to keep the Mavs shooters under control. Once the Mavs began hitting their three point shots, it was very hard from the Heat to stop the bleeding.

Oddly enough, the big three point threat for the Mavs in game 4 was Stevenson with 3 of 7. In game 5, Stenson was only 1 of 2, but Berea went 4 of 5, Kidd went 3 of 5, Terry went 4 of 5, Cardinal went 1of 1 and Dirk went just 1 of 1. With so many shooters, the Heat could not shut down Dirk and cover everyone else.

As good as the Heat's defense is, they have not played an offense as potent as the Mavs. At the same time, the Mavs decided to double Le Bron.

I don't know if it will work in South Beach, the Mavs deserve credit for a great series of games.

I agree. Since the mavericks are underdogs and have been for much of the playoffs...its not really going to get coverage nationally. Just like when they beat the lakers the main headlines were about gasol and kobe feuding. some people even said the mavs really didn't beat the lakers...the lakers beat themselves....4 straight games at that. now it is about lebron fading. I really think the series turned in game 2 when dirk and the mavs literally stole that game in about 6 mins time period. almost like the complete opposite of 2006 in some ways.


at the end of the day who cares. as long as they win the trophy i'm happy. hopefully tonight...it will be tough.

 

[Irish]

I feel like this is becoming more like a college game where three point shooting is often decisive. Having a 13 to 8 addvantage in three point shooting in game 5 was decisive. If the Mavs win, they may lead to a rush tward shooters

 

[Lorenzo]

I feel like this is becoming more like a college game where three point shooting is often decisive. Having a 13 to 8 addvantage in three point shooting in game 5 was decisive. If the Mavs win, they may lead to a rush tward shooters

I think the 3 point shot is big in this series. it is always been big for dallas because 3 or 4 of their guys are prolific 3 point shooters. when they make their shots they are very tough to beat no matter who the defense is. the fact that it was a 2-2 series going into that offensive game 5 really goes to show how far this dallas team has come.

for miami...most of their role players are jump shooters from the outside. so if they don't make their open shots they don't really bring much else to the game offensively.

 

[leclerc]

I can't stand Dallas but rather them than the queen and Miami.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Actually its been very good basketball on both sides this series. Yes, there has been lot of talk about LeBron not stepping up, but if he were any other player, he would be having a good series. So, give Dallas credit. Its a good team where the product is greater than the individual parts. That is how basketball ought to be.

 

[PDXChris]

Actually its been very good basketball on both sides this series. Yes, there has been lot of talk about LeBron not stepping up, but if he were any other player, he would be having a good series. So, give Dallas credit. Its a good team where the product is greater than the individual parts. That is how basketball ought to be.

That just not true, if the situation was the same for Kobe, Michael or Magic, the same criticism was be there. That is what separates them from LeBron, they have delivered, he has not as of yet. And with the way Wade has played, if LeBron did step up, this would have been a sweep by Miami in my opinion.

 

[Covert Rain]

Actually its been very good basketball on both sides this series. Yes, there has been lot of talk about LeBron not stepping up, but if he were any other player, he would be having a good series. So, give Dallas credit. Its a good team where the product is greater than the individual parts. That is how basketball ought to be.

Yeah...don't get this. Other great players have been in this position and didn't disappear like he did. Let's not pretend this was just one game it was the entire season.

Here is the major difference:

There has never been a player more hyped that has failed so miserably. There has never been a player more hyped that didn't show up.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Mavs in 6? LOL!

What if the Cavs, who have the #1 and #4 picks in the draft, end up finding a way to win a championship before Lebron? That's what I'm rooting for now (not because I have a dog in that race, but because this Suns franchise is clearly futile and that outcome would just be funny).

Go Cavs!!!

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah...don't get this. Other great players have been in this position and didn't disappear like he did. Let's not pretend this was just one game it was the entire season.

Here is the major difference:

There has never been a player more hyped that has failed so miserably. There has never been a player more hyped that didn't show up.

Oops. Missed my point. Not trying to be a lebron apologist. Yes he failed miserably given his ability and hype. I was just trying to point out that i enjoyed the quality of ball on both sides. This series was not tainted by the thugball we have seen in the past. It was physical but there was also good quality offense.

Hope i am making sense. Trying to give dallas credit rather than just characterzing the series as a lebron failure.

 

[Michael]

In all seriousness, the Heat should consider trading LeBron for Dwight Howard. LeBron and Wade teamed up for a highlight every now and then, but most of the time, one of the two seemed useless while the other one had the ball.
With one of them gone, the roles in the Heat offensive schemes would be clear. Simplified, Wade would be the primary ball handler, Chalmers and Miller would be the spot up shooters to spread the floor. Bosh spots up on top of the key, and Howard creates havoc down low.
On defense, the Heat would lose some of their potency on the perimeter but would have the best low post defense and a fantastic rebounding team (Howard, Bosh, Miller, Wade with Haslem off the bench...).

I'm not saying that Howard is a better player than James, but I think he'd fit so much better with the Heat than James. And wouldn't it be hilarious if James was traded to a rebuilding Orlando?

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wouldn't trade James for Howard. It might increase their chances in the next year or two but I just don't see Wade as a long term player. I'd be surprised if he was still among the elite in 3 years. He takes such a beating the way he plays and he's already shown signs of being injury prone. I'm far from a James fan but even if he isn't the most clutch player in the game, he's still one of the two or three best. And, when he's confident that the Heat are truly his team I think his disappearances will become less of an issue.

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

I wouldn't trade James for Howard. It might increase their chances in the next year or two but I just don't see Wade as a long term player. I'd be surprised if he was still among the elite in 3 years. He takes such a beating the way he plays and he's already shown signs of being injury prone. I'm far from a James fan but even if he isn't the most clutch player in the game, he's still one of the two or three best. And, when he's confident that the Heat are truly his team I think his disappearances will become less of an issue.

Steve

So this is all pie in the sky but Orlando would not give up Howard for Wade. The more realistic scenario is they would take LeBron for Howard and the only way they could get their hands on him.

Using that as the most feasible scenario, Wade's age is exactly why they should do it. You could probably get 2 or 3 more titles before Wade retired and was too old to matter. With Lebron you would be questioning if that could even happen. Once Wade retires, without some fantastic trade, it would be just LeBron and Bosh wich won't get it done. So your Miami now without any titles, Wade retired and wondering if there is anyway to unload Bosh for another superstar.

Give me the short term chances of a title.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So this is all pie in the sky but Orlando would not give up Howard for Wade. The more realistic scenario is they would take LeBron for Howard and the only way they could get their hands on him.

Using that as the most feasible scenario, Wade's age is exactly why they should do it. You could probably get 2 or 3 more titles before Wade retired and was too old to matter. With Lebron you would be questioning if that could even happen. Once Wade retires, without some fantastic trade, it would be just LeBron and Bosh wich won't get it done. So your Miami now without any titles, Wade retired and wondering if there is anyway to unload Bosh for another superstar.

Give me the short term chances of a title.

They already have the short term chances of a title without making an unnecessary trade. Wade was clearly having problems physically and Lebron turned in one of his worst postseason performances and even still it's not like they were dominated by Dallas. It was a well fought match and several games could have gone the other way. Keep the Heat together for another season, find a way to get and keep Wade healthy and this Heat team wins it all next season. And, for what it's worth, I picked Dallas to win it all long before the Finals began (IOW, I'm not on the Heat bandwagon).

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

They already have the short term chances of a title without making an unnecessary trade. Wade was clearly having problems physically and Lebron turned in one of his worst postseason performances and even still it's not like they were dominated by Dallas. It was a well fought match and several games could have gone the other way. Keep the Heat together for another season, find a way to get and keep Wade healthy and this Heat team wins it all next season. And, for what it's worth, I picked Dallas to win it all long before the Finals began (IOW, I'm not on the Heat bandwagon).

Steve

um... why is Howard looked at as a worse building block than LeBron? in the last three years, he's carried a team to the Finals, got them to the Conference Finals and then melted down this year... all while playing with a lot of garbage. in the last three years, LeBron has lost in the Conference Finals, gotten his ass-kicked in the second round and then, with all the talent in the world, just pulled the greatest no-show in NBA history in the Finals.

BOTH guys are probably the two best building blocks in the league, no? But what do you usually build around to win titles, historically? Dominant Cs or Wings (who have the mental toughness of a 2 year old).

Dwight's a pretty good bet short and long-term, no?

 

[Covert Rain]

um... why is Howard looked at as a worse building block than LeBron? in the last three years, he's carried a team to the Finals, got them to the Conference Finals and then melted down this year... all while playing with a lot of garbage. in the last three years, LeBron has lost in the Conference Finals, gotten his ass-kicked in the second round and then, with all the talent in the world, just pulled the greatest no-show in NBA history in the Finals.

BOTH guys are probably the two best building blocks in the league, no? But what do you usually build around to win titles, historically? Dominant Cs or Wings (who have the mental toughness of a 2 year old).

Dwight's a pretty good bet short and long-term, no?

Bingo.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Rick Carlisle. Everyone seems to forget that starting Game 4 when he brought Barea into the starting lineup, locked Peja to the bench in favor of the Janitor, and started using the zone and Jet in pick and roll more then Dallas never lost a game.

Going back to the Suns, we have never had that kind of coach that could scheme a series like that.

 

[AzStevenCal]

um... why is Howard looked at as a worse building block than LeBron? in the last three years, he's carried a team to the Finals, got them to the Conference Finals and then melted down this year... all while playing with a lot of garbage. in the last three years, LeBron has lost in the Conference Finals, gotten his ass-kicked in the second round and then, with all the talent in the world, just pulled the greatest no-show in NBA history in the Finals.

BOTH guys are probably the two best building blocks in the league, no? But what do you usually build around to win titles, historically? Dominant Cs or Wings (who have the mental toughness of a 2 year old).

Dwight's a pretty good bet short and long-term, no?

Well, first off, Lebron is already on the Heat and I see no value in demolishing a team that has spent just one year together. Especially since this one season produced a trip to the conference finals. We're bitching and moaning about the Suns being dismantled after reaching the WCF Finals so where exactly is the consistency here?

Secondly, I think the gap between Lebron and Howard is significant. I wouldn't suggest that James is on Jordan's level and I wouldn't put Howard on Shaq's level but IMO Lebron with all his shortcomings comes a heck of a lot closer to his target than Dwight does. Lebron is one of the most complete players this game has ever seen even with his less than impressive 4th quarters of late. Howard has collapsed or disappeared even more often than Lebron and while he may not have been on a star-studded team, it was nowhere near as bad as the Cavs IMO.

Defending Lebron??? I feel dirty. I think I'll go throw up a bit now.

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

Well, first off, Lebron is already on the Heat and I see no value in demolishing a team that has spent just one year together. Especially since this one season produced a trip to the conference finals. We're bitching and moaning about the Suns being dismantled after reaching the WCF Finals so where exactly is the consistency here?

Huge difference. The Suns dismantle and usually get jack in return. If you make this trade it's superstar for superstar.

Not the same thing.

Secondly, I think the gap between Lebron and Howard is significant. I wouldn't suggest that James is on Jordan's level and I wouldn't put Howard on Shaq's level but IMO Lebron with all his shortcomings comes a heck of a lot closer to his target than Dwight does. Lebron is one of the most complete players this game has ever seen even with his less than impressive 4th quarters of late. Howard has collapsed or disappeared even more often than Lebron and while he may not have been on a star-studded team, it was nowhere near as bad as the Cavs IMO.

Defending Lebron??? I feel dirty. I think I'll go throw up a bit now.

Steve

LOL. The only thing is though you don't need Howard to close per say. You just need him to grab some boards and let Wade do his thing. I hear what your saying but I would still do it. That's why I get paid the small bucks though....so I don't have to be a GM.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Rick Carlisle. Everyone seems to forget that starting Game 4 when he brought Barea into the starting lineup, locked Peja to the bench in favor of the Janitor, and started using the zone and Jet in pick and roll more then Dallas never lost a game.

Going back to the Suns, we have never had that kind of coach that could scheme a series like that.

when we decided not to blow up the team in 2008 after we canned DA, Carlisle was the guy I wanted us to go after. Instead we went ultra cheap and signed Mr. Potato Head.