The matchup for the 2011 NBA finals has been set. After 2,534 games across the league this season, only the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat are left standing, and just four wins remain between one of those two sides and championship glory.
There’s a sense of poetry about this matchup, as Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat will meet Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, five years after the former beat the latter by recovering from a 2-0 deficit and winning four straight games to claim the 2006 NBA title.
The series has plenty of talking points, but the main one being the respective legacy of the two star players.
The finals give Nowitzki the shot at redemption he has desperately craved, even since the capitulation in 2006. Playoff failures have seemingly followed Nowitzki throughout his entire career, and if he were able to lead his Mavericks side to the 2011 title, he would silence the majority of his doubters.
Similarly, Miami’s LeBron James has been viciously criticised for not winning an NBA title. An NBA championship is the only accolade missing from James’ resume, and if he is successful in claiming his first this year, it undoubtedly cements his spot amongst the top players in NBA history.
One of these great players of the modern NBA era will claim their first title in just under two weeks time, and the other will to confront another soul-searching defeat at the final hurdle.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Two words: Dirk Nowitzki. The German superstar has been arguably the best player in this year’s playoffs. He has averaged just under 30 points per game and has displayed amazing efficiency, shooting at over 51 per cent.
Nowitzki has an amazing ability to stretch the floor – due to his great shooting range – and can routinely knock down perimeter jump shots. His range, coupled with a greatly improved post-game, make Nowitzki one of the toughest players to defend in the entire league. Stopping Nowitzki will be one of the key points of the series for the Heat, with Nowitzki the main factor in this Dallas offense.
Chris Bosh is the most logical opponent for Nowitzki, however Bosh is hardly known for his defense prowess. It may seem like a risk, but I believe that LeBron James is the best match-up for Nowitzki. James has proven to be one of the best defenders in the league – he almost single-handedly took Chicago’s Derrick Rose out of the series against Chicago – and would relish the chance to shut down the red-hot Nowitzki.
James has the pace and agility to limit Nowitzki’s efficiency on the perimeter, and also has the body strength and size to slow down the Dallas star’s relatively fragile inside game.
MIAMI HEAT
In LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Miami have three of the four best players in these NBA finals. Arguably, there has never been a greater collection of talent on one team in the modern NBA era. Miami have the ability to simply overpower opponents with their immense offensive talents. The team was put together to showcase explosive, high-paced basketball – similar to the ‘Showtime’ Lakers of the 1980s.
Ironically, Miami’s greatest strength comes at the other end of the floor, on defense.
James and Wade are not only highlight players on offense, but they are willing to put in the effort on defense. The tremendous athleticism and agility of both Wade and James, makes them two of the premier perimeter defenders in the league.
They have the speed and pure vertical leap to contest almost any shot, and have the quickness and finesse to manufacture fast-break points in the blink of an eye. Chicago was a team that should have troubled Miami’s defense – as a result of Bulls strong inside game and rebounding – but Miami dominated Chicago, forcing them into submission.
The Dallas Mavericks offense, however, plays perfectly into the hands of the Heat and their strengths. Dallas are a perimeter team, relying mainly on jump-shots for their offensive production. Those jump shooters that have been integral to Dallas so far this season, simply will not be given the number of open looks, that they have been afforded so far in the playoffs.
PREDICTION
This current version of the Miami Heat was built purely for one purpose, to win an NBA championship. In just a few weeks, they will have served their purpose.
Miami have the edge in basically every category that comes to mind when trying to determine who will win. Their top-three players are better than Dallas’ top three, they play better defense, and with the return of Udonis Haslem and an in-form Mike Miller, they even have greater depth on the bench.
Miami also have the most to play for in this series. Granted, Nowitzki is playing to exorcise his playoff demons and cement his legacy amongst the greats, but Miami still have more on the line.
The Heat – and especially LeBron James – became the villain in the NBA this season. They were willing to accept this role, as it was prefaced on the knowledge that Miami were going to win a championship.
For LeBron James, winning a championship serves as that validation for his acrimonious departure from Cleveland. James said all along he joined the Heat to win a title, if he can achieve that monumental feat in his first season with the club, it will only further establish James as one of the true greats in the NBA.
I was tempted to predict a sweep – such is my belief in Miami’s dominance – but I think that the Mavericks would have to win at least one of their home games.
Miami to win the series in five games.
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