- During the build-up to the game this afternoon, I couldn’t help but keep thinking ‘The Finals are back!’ I’ve said this a lot but I really can’t get over it. It’s amazing how the NBA Finals are actually an event again and have been for the past few years starting with LA/Boston Part 1. This is how it should be. The death match. The grand finale. The east’s beast vs. the west’s best. The two best teams in the league pitting it out for the crown. Remember the Nets vs. Spurs dark ages? That seems like ages ago and I really can’t believe we sat through it.
- With that said, that was probably the most boring entertaining game I’ve ever seen. Except for that unfair explosion (more on this in the next bullet) at the end, I’m pretty sure I dozed off at certain points. I think I figured out what it is. The Heat are only entertaining when Wade is dressed as Flash and not Crash and the Mavs are only entertaining when…well, when they’re scoring.
- After the Wade-James alleyoop, which will likely be replayed close to 10,000 times over the next few days, I thought to myself, “how can this be fair?” How can this team be beaten? Seriously, they weren’t supposed to be here this year, or at least were supposed to learn a lesson at the hands of the Lakers. If they draft well–and by ‘well’ I mean acquire anyone under 30, how can they be beaten? I think you’re only hope is that 1) the new CBA makes it tough for them to use that MLE (because if they can, it’s all over.) and 2) the 28-year-old Wade steadily begins to break down. The Chicago series taught us you can’t beat them with defense. (Then again, this Mavericks series is about to teach us you can’t beat them with offense.) I think you’re only hope is a lineup with five deadly offensive threats and a philosophical commitment to defense. You absolutely must have capable scorers at both the ‘4’ and ‘5’ (sigh Marc Gasol, if only ye were not restricted…), an assasin at the ‘1’, and a wing that will make James/Wade work. Check on the latter counts.
- Fascinating hearing JVG rave over Mike Miller tonight as that’s a guy I would have never thought he would ever have considered acquiring during his time here.
- More on that point: one of my favorite things during a JVG broadcast is to take note of who he favors. You get to learn a lot about the dynamics of those McGrady teams.
- I was watching Game 6 from 2006 on ESPN Classic for a bit earlier today and it felt weird, like when you look back at old high school photos of yourself. I will say this: Alonzo Mourning’s game that night was one of the most inspired performances I’ve ever seen during my time watching the NBA.
- Can you believe Jason Kidd is 38? I remember when he first entered the league, in ’95–I was 10 at the time–I thought it was funny to think to myself, “will he change his name when he’s no longer a kid?” In retrospect, that was pretty lame…but wow, Jason Kidd is 38! It’s even more amazing that Grant Hill is still active too. (No Glen Robinson jokes.)
- Tyson Chandler: Van Gundy talked about him having a Garnett-esque impact on the Mavs this year which is absolutely painful to hear considering the Rockets were reportedly within inches of acquiring him this past summer. Consider: he’s under 30. Is it a stretch to say Chandler would have been a franchise game-changer, if healthy?
