NBA Finals... It's OVER!

I think LeBron's looking for someone to give him some heart.


I know I know, I predicted the Heat to take this series in 6 games. And I know there are two games left in MIami. But the Mavs only have to win one. They won't get the first one more likely than not but they're going to win this series. Dirk's gonna get his ring. Jason Kidd will get his ring, and Jason Terry won't look like a complete idiot for getting the championship trophy tattooed on himself.

This series is over simply because LeBron doesn't have the heart for it.

Unless Wade plays out of his mind for two straight games the Heat will not win this series. All the allegations about Rashard Lewis sleeping with his girl aside, I just don't think LeBron has the moxy or the killer instinct right now. He had in the Boston and Chicago series' but it looks like he's lost it. From a strictly basketball perspective, his jumper is now back to suspect status so he's reluctant to shoot the jumpshot too much and instead be a facilitator (which is made a much easier way for him to go when Wade's hot). But in Game 5 when Wade was out and LeBron was supposed to take over, he didn't. He played pretty much the same seemingly unengaged and uninspired basketball. That led me to believe that he just doesn't have "it". At least not right now.

I'm a big time LeBron fan and I think he a ton of talent and still more potential. He should be out there driving to the hole battering ram style like he normally does if his jumpshot isn't clicking. But he's not. He should know that if Wade is out, he's gotta score. It doesn't seem like he cares all that much. Whether it's on-courrt confidence or off-the-court issues, LeBron just doesn't have it right now and I don't think he will in the next two games. He'll probably play better, but if these games are close and the Heat need him, can they really count on him? I dunno. What I do know is that the Mavs can count on Dirk and if the Mavs can keep these games fast-paced and Barea and Jason Terry hit their open shots, they're going to win one of these last two games for sure.

The Heat are close to pulling it off, but I don't think they have it left in them without a fully functioning LeBron.

NBA Finals Game 4 Prediction

I missed my prediction for Game 3 because I was too busy. I actually thought the Mavs would take that game but Dirk couldn't pull off the heroics like he did in Game 2. Instead, Dwayne Wade dominated for Miami and Chris Bosh hit his standard 17-footer to ice the game. Dirk had a shot to win it but Haslem's defense was pretty solid and Dirk's shot was just a little off. I don't think anyone in the entire building would have been surprised had Dirk nailed that jumpshot to take the game to OT. But I will say that Haslem's defense at that moment in Game 3 was far better than Bosh's defense at that same moment in Game 2 where he basically let Dirk drive to the basket and get a relatively easy lay-up rather than forcing him to shoot a jump shot. Haslem did have a two-point lead (not a tie ball game) so he had a little more leeway to be aggressive because he could have just put Dirk on the line to tie the game rather than win it (you know Dirk don't miss free throws, lol).

My prediction for Game 4 is the same as what it was from Game 3. I expect the Mavs to win this game. If they don't the series is over in 6 like I mentioned in my original prediction for the series. Jason Terry's dumb azz went and called LeBron out in a not-so-aggressive way so I expect LeBron to have a big game and I also expect Wade to have another solid game.

When you think about the 1 win Dallas has so far it was really a fortunate situation in that the Heat shot horribly in that final quarter and squandered a double-digit lead. Had the Heat shot a solid percentage that game would not have been close and Dirk would not have had the opportunity to hit that game-winner. Game 3 was similar but the Mavs took a lot of the momentum in the 3rd quarter with a huge run. The fourth quarter was pretty tight and Dirk kept them in it. But in the end, the Heat's stellar defense and multiple offensive options kept them in the game... And a little bit of a lucky roll off the rim at the end.

If the Mavs don't win tonight Miami's going to end this thing as soon as they get a chance to play in Miami again. I think the Mavs recognize that and it will show tonight. I expect another close game but I think the Mavs will come out on top this time.

NBA Finals Game 2 Prediction

In my original post about this series I predicted that Miami would win the series in 6 games. Well, after game 1 I reconsidered changing the prediction to 5 games, but I won't. Game 1 was a close, slow-paced, but good game. I was joking on Twitter about how the first team to 90 would win (which actually did happy by the way, lol) and after the first quarter I joked that I might need to change that to first team to 80 wins. It really was a pretty slow game and there was solid defense on both sides of the ball. That is until…

LeBron and Dwayne Wade took over.

The 4th quarter of game 1 exemplifies just how difficult it is to stop two GREAT players that really really want to win. Miami kept the game close until the fourth when they just seemed to impose their will on the Mavs just like they'd done with the Celtics and Bulls (more so the Bulls). You can tell these guys have the composure, will, and talent (because composure and will only gets you so far, right) to win these games at the end when the tension is high and so are the stakes.

I think Game 1 was a "feeling-out" game for the most part. Dallas was feeling out Miami and vice-versa. I expect Dirk (torn ligament/tendon/heart and all) to have a better game but the question still remains whether Dallas's shooters can knock down shots and whether Dallas can somehow keep Wade and LeBron from showing up and showing OUT! I'm sure the defensive game plan will change a little in Game 2 for Dallas but does that mean that Bosh goes off this game? He's been playing well lately and he's probably due for at least one big game this series. Or are LeBron and Wade going to continue dominating the 4th quarter and lead Miami to a 2-0 lead? Who knows, I sure don't. But it's gonna be fun to watch!

My pick. Well, I'm going to pick Miami to win game 2 because LeBron still seems focused and Dirk seems a bit dejected in his interviews since game 1. They say a series doesn't start until a team wins on the road so I'm gonna guess that this series won't start till game 4 when I expect the Heat to go up 3 games to 1 on the Mavs. I guess I just gave my game 3 prediction too huh, lol.

My Pick for NBA Champion

First and foremost, this has been a great NBA Playoff season so far. Even with the Lakers and San Antonio getting ousted earlier than most of us probably expected, we've had other young/up-and-coming teams step-up and make their mark. The NBA has a bright future and it's shown throughout these playoffs.

Now for the NBA Finals match-up between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. I'm happy to see Dirk and J. Kidd get another shot at winning it all. I'm also happy that my favorite player, LeBron James, is also going to get another shot at winning it all. Both of these squads seem to be peaking at the right time and they both have at least one superstar that can carry the team (in Miami's case, two, maybe even three). I think this series is going to come down to a couple things:

1. How well can Miami's defense close-out on Dallas's streaky but most of the time hot 3-point shooters
2. Can Dallas contain 2 of the Big Three for Miami? It seems like Bosh can be neutralized the easiest since Chandler is a solid defender and Haywood is another big body they can throw at him. But whose gonna stop BOTH LeBron AND Wade?
3. Can the eat guard J.J. Barea? This may sound funny but I think the series may come down to Barea. If he can penetrate the lane and dish out for wide-open 3's or pull his crafty lay-ups around the rim, it's gonna be a tough series for Miami. And I'm not sure if Miami has a PG that can keep up with Barea. Maybe Chalmers but definitely not Bibby.

Taking all those things into consideration, I think this will be at least a 6 game series.

I don't think that Dallas will have an answer for Wade and LeBron. I don't think Miami will have an answer for Dirk (yeah I know they've been saying Haslem and Anthony guard him fairly well and LeBron will have his shots at Dirk too). But in the end I think Miami's safe letting Dirk get his points and neutralizing EVERYBODY else. That is, as long as they can consistently score on the Mavs, which I don't see being such a big hurdle. Miami's the better overall defensive team and Dallas is solid on D but trying to stop Wade, LeBron, and Bosh for 4 wins is gonna be a tall task for the Mavs.

With all that said, I'm taking Miami in 6 games to win the series. It'll be LeBron's first and unfortunately, Dirk won't get his. The Heat are coming together at just the right time and clicking on all cylinders and if they remain focused on defense I believe everything else will take care of itself.

Video: D-Wade Playing like the NBA's MVP

I don't think he'll win the MVP because his team is not doing as well as Lebron's or Kobe's (and because deep down I want Lebron to win). But you have to admit that D-Wade is playing out of his mind this year.