The NBA 2006

[pholmeskc31]

So who do ya got Heat or Mavs?
I got the Heat in 7.

[armanisuit]

first of congrat to dmavsfan for his team making the finals.

as a Laker fan I will be rooting for the Mavs.

I voted Mavs in 7.

[durcam]

Go Heat!!!!!!!!!

[fitfan]

Mavs in 6. DWade and Shaq are fantastic but I don't think J Williams and A Walker will continue to shoot the ball as they have recently.

[supraman_2]

first of congrat to dmavsfan for his team making the finals.

as a Laker fan I will be rooting for the Mavs.

I voted Mavs in 7.
Don't congratulate that retard Mavs are going down!!!
Haha
I really don't care either way

[pholmeskc31]

Don't congratulate that retard Mavs are going down!!!
Haha
I really don't care either way
I hope the Mavs go down also.

[dmavsfan41]

I hope the Mavs go down also.

spoken like a true Suns fan! :)

[jdrock24]

I don't really follow the NBA that much during the regular season. But I think that Shaq can smell that ring and is going to dominate the Mavs inside and single-handedly propel his team to the title. So I voted Heat in 6.

[durcam]

Only 2 things come from Dallas , Queers n' Steers , and dem "Mavs" don't look like no Steers to me hahahahahaha...........:021:

[bigusdickus]

Shaq and Wade are playing phenominally well, but Miami's supporting cast doesn't match up very well against Dallas. Miami's only advandage is in the backcourt with D-Wade playing exceptionally well, I mean the guy is kicking ass all over the court. But that's it. Dallas has the upper hand in every other aspect of the game. Nowitzki is his usual MVP self, and Howard is playing--and has been playing all season long--at an all-star level. Dallas' depth is incredible. They have three men at every position, and all of whom can account for a starting lineup elsewhere in the league. This produces a non-stop force that any team in the league struggles to defeat, this is a good reason why Dallas went 60-22 in the reg. season, but it's mainly an effect of the suffocating defensive philosophy implemented by Avery Johnson, NBA's Coach of the Year. Dallas also defeated Miami 2-0 in the reg. season. I've got an ingling feeling that Dallas will be bringing home their first ring this year.

Mavs in 6.

[durcam]

Shaq and Wade are playing phenominally well, but Miami's supporting cast doesn't match up very well against Dallas. Miami's only advandage is in the backcourt with D-Wade playing exceptionally well, I mean the guy is kicking ass all over the court. But that's it. Dallas has the upper hand in every other aspect of the game. Nowitzki is his usual MVP self, and Howard is playing--and has been playing all season long--at an all-star level. Dallas' depth is incredible. They have three men at every position, and all of whom can account for a starting lineup elsewhere in the league. This produces a non-stop force that any team in the league struggles to defeat, this is a good reason why Dallas went 60-22 in the reg. season, but it's mainly an effect of the suffocating defensive philosophy implemented by Avery Johnson, NBA's Coach of the Year. Dallas also defeated Miami 2-0 in the reg. season. I've got an ingling feeling that Dallas will be bringing home their first ring this year.

Mavs in 6.

The "experts" also said the same thing about The Bulls , Nets and Detroit , we shall see how West Coast runnin n' gunnin aka sissy ball fares..........:021:

[dmavsfan41]

The "experts" also said the same thing about The Bulls , Nets and Detroit , we shall see how West Coast runnin n' gunnin aka sissy ball fares..........:021:

lol @ durcam calling dallas' game 'sissy ball' ... someone clearly has not been watching the actual games

[bigusdickus]

The "experts" also said the same thing about The Bulls , Nets and Detroit , we shall see how West Coast runnin n' gunnin aka sissy ball fares..........:021:Two things: 1) the depth of the teams you just listed off doesn't even come close to matching the dept Dallas has and 2) the Mavs play with an aggressively balanced style of play on both ends of the court, which leads me to believe that you don't know what you're talking about. So I'll leave it at that.

[durcam]

Two things: 1) the depth of the teams you just listed off doesn't even come close to matching the dept Dallas has and 2) the Mavs play with an aggressively balanced style of play on both ends of the court, which leads me to believe that you don't know what you're talking about. So I'll leave it at that.

Depth , smepth , the "best" team in the NBA , 64 wins , consensus favorite just got trounced.

West coast Ballet..... err I mean B-ball ain't my cup o' tea , if I wanted to see dancing I'd watch Bravo, Heat in 6 or less hahashahaha...........:021:

"which leads me to believe that you don't know what you're talking about"

Don't get all emotional and drop digs , it's all in fun + I bite back real hard , if you don't know you better ask somebody , it's all good , for now..............:075:

[pholmeskc31]

just cause Dallas won the reg. season series 2-0 doesnt mean shit and it never has. any true basketball fan knows that. this is the playoffs teams always play a lot harder in the playoffs than they do in the reg. season. this will be a tough series for both teams. and i am glad we finally got some new teams to watch this year. even though one of them isnt the one i wanted in the finals but 2 different teams i'll take this finals matchup anyday over the Pistons/Snores i mean Spurs. i dont want to see Dallas lose just cause they beat Phoenix. i just like the Heat more than the Mavs. ive always been a Shaq fan. my 2 favorite teams are the Suns an Magic and Shaq started out in Orlando and i been liking these teams ever since i been liking the NBA since '91.

[bigusdickus]

Depth , smepth , the "best" team in the NBA , 64 wins , consensus favorite just got trounced.

West coast Ballet..... err I mean B-ball ain't my cup o' tea , if I wanted to see dancing I'd watch Bravo, Heat in 6 or less hahashahaha...........:021:

"which leads me to believe that you don't know what you're talking about"

Don't get all emotional and drop digs , it's all in fun + I bite back real hard , if you don't know you better ask somebody , it's all good , for now..............:075:Nobody's emotional here, and I wasn't dropping "digs" either. I just don't understand how you can reasonably make such a blanket statement about West Coast ball being "sissy ball", even after a West Coast team won the championship last year. Wouldn't that make East Coast ball seem even worse? Yep, it sure would. :021:

just cause Dallas won the reg. season series 2-0 doesnt mean shit and it never has. any true basketball fan knows that. this is the playoffs teams always play a lot harder in the playoffs than they do in the reg. season. this will be a tough series for both teams. and i am glad we finally got some new teams to watch this year. even though one of them isnt the one i wanted in the finals but 2 different teams i'll take this finals matchup anyday over the Pistons/Snores i mean Spurs. i dont want to see Dallas lose just cause they beat Phoenix. i just like the Heat more than the Mavs. ive always been a Shaq fan. my 2 favorite teams are the Suns an Magic and Shaq started out in Orlando and i been liking these teams ever since i been liking the NBA since '91.If it doesn't mean shit, then we should do away with the regular season all together, and jump straight into the playoffs every year. :031: The reg. season point is moot, I agree. It does, however, shed light onto my main point of supporting Dallas' projected victory: depth and matchups which will definitely prove as an interesting series to watch because both teams pose problems to the other, but I believe Dallas has the advantange in this respect.

I like Shaq, too, he's seems to be a very likeable guy and a fantastic player. Every time he's in town to play the Mavs, he stops by one of the local sports stations (The Ticket) to shoot the shit on the air. He's a cool dude. But I've been a Dallas fan since day one...yep, even through the shitty 80's and 90's when they were the laughing stock of the NBA. I'm a diehard fan for sure.

Anyway, it will be a fun series indeed.

[durcam]

If the West is the best , how the hell did the Suns make it to the finals or even playoffs, with only Nash and a few throw-ins ? If Stoudimare was healthy Dirk would be on his usual second rd. choking holiday hahahaha, I don't watch the West much , cause I can't watch that style.We shall see...........:004:

[dmavsfan41]

can't watch that 'style,' lol, you mean good teams and all? who's the east got? miami and the pistons are the only decent teams, I guess you enjoy watching teams like the raptors, bulls, celtics, sixers, magic, bobcats, knicks, etc. all complete losers.

your projection of amare being with the suns this year automatically putting them over dallas is a complete joke. why don't you add statements like, if the jazz had been healthy this year they would have made a big push? dude you talk about 'don't dig me' and then you proceed to dig the mavs like that. that's not cool

with only Nash and a few throw-ins ?
that's right, Shawn Marion, I forgot, he wasn't even considered as a possible MVP candidate. tim thomas flat out sucks, he's so bad the Bulls released him. Diaw, he's a lousy Atlanta Hawks reject, he probably won most improved player by default. and that barbosa guy, so what if he's fast, he's french, how can he be any good? sigh

I don't watch the West much
that explains a lot

[durcam]

Go Heat!!!

[durcam]

The Mavs and Heat can take a few "digs" I think , I'm talking about personal attacks over sumn' that should be fun , Heat in 6 , I read sumn' on ESPN that said Dirk had gotten "tough" hahahahaha right........:004:

2 things come from Miami , Thugs n' Juggs , and dem Heat sure don't look like no Juggs to me hahahahaha..........:004:

Go Heat!!!

[dmavsfan41]

I read sumn' on ESPN that said Dirk had gotten "tough" hahahahaha right........:004:


i give up...

[pholmeskc31]

what the fuck is up your ass lately anyway. those players your bashing are decent players that any team could use. did u see what happened last year when they had Amare they fucked the Mavs up in 6. I guarantee u if they had Amare this series would of at least gone 7 and not knowing who would win. Game 7 could of went either way. If the Suns suck so bad how come they made it to the West Finals 2 straight years. The Suns were the like the Heat of last year in this series not entirely but in some way not having a star player. The Heat last year didnt have Shaq and Wade healthy and look what happened they lost, this year their in the Finals. Im not saying the reason why the Suns lost that series against the Mavs was cause they didnt have Amare. The Suns fucked themselves with stupid turnovers in at least two of those games they lost. Phoenix needs to work on their defense. Do i think the Suns would of beat Dallas if they had Amare i dont know but the series would of been tough for both teams to win and i dont think Dirk would of had all those big games like he did.

[pholmeskc31]

your full of yourself if u think the Mavs are gonna win this Finals in 5 and if they do their lucky. im suprised u just didnt pick em in 4. if they win in 5 more power to u and your lucky guess.

[dmavsfan41]

those players your bashing are decent players that any team could use.

sigh. I guess I didn't hit that sarcasm button hard enough

[pholmeskc31]

sigh. I guess I didn't hit that sarcasm button hard enough
sorry about that i should of read that twice. too bad it didnt go 7 now we have to wait to see the Heat beat the Mavs until Thursday.:010:

[durcam]

Truth about this series is , no one know's , regular season mean's nothing now, the "experts" are all bandwagon , front running phoneys,

Pissedons vs. Bores , right.

Everyone's opinion come's down to "like" and homerism , funny to me, we shall see.........:010:

Go Heat!!!

[tommykhu550]

I'm taking the Heat in 7!
If the Mavs do win, it will be great. Sort of tired of seeing San Antonio. And really tired of Los Angeles winning the trophy.

[Remnant]

This is going to be an interesting series--plenty of storylines for the writers. But the real action is going to be in the matchups.

Dallas with the ball
Dallas runs tons of the high pick & roll with Dirk. Miami does not have two players who can switch from Dirk to a guard or vice-versa, so Dallas will kill Miami with this play. All. Series. Long. Miami will therefore intentionally overplay the perimeter on the switch, forcing Dallas to dive to the basket. Shaq/Mourning will patrol the paint and hope the referees allow some contact as they run shot blocking drills. All. Series. Long.

Dallas' smaller players will unfortunately slash and dish to open 3-point shooters at will. Again, the Heat will need to stay home on the perimeter and allow their centers to cruise the paint to counter this. Dallas slashers will then settle for tons of 8-12 foot jump shots and bury many.

As far as pace goes, we know Dallas will run against the Heat, neutralizing the slower centers and slow-witted power forwards of Miami by scoring early in the shot clock. Few answers available here for Miami.

Miami with the ball
Miami will play inside-out with Shaq (duh), so he'll need to stay out of foul trouble. Then he can wreak havoc on the poor Dallas centers. He'll foul Van Horn out at will but Diop and Dampier will slow him down, especially as the fast pace wears Shaq out.

Fortunately for Shaq, he can always pass to Wade. He'll be matched up against any of three players: long-limbed guard Jason Terry, quick guard Devin Harris, or great athlete Josh Howard. My guess is he'll eat Harris alive, but Terry and Howard will harass him enough to make him pass too often.

That leaves most of the games in the hands of Miami's role players. They are overall slower than Dallas and will have to rely on size and ball movement. Doesn't bode well for them. The Heat are just going to have to work much harder than Dallas to score.

So my prediction is Dallas in 6.

[Remnant]

Here's an article that says what real experts think: gamblers.
Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/060506dnspomavsodds.d78242b.html

Two Las Vegas casinos and Charles Barkley have named the Mavericks the favorite to win the NBA title over Miami.

The Las Vegas Hilton sports book lists the Mavericks as 2-1 favorites. They're 3-2 favorites at Mandalay Bay.

Dallas is a 4 1/2 -point favorite to win Thursday's opener of the Finals at American Airlines Center.

Barkley, a former player and TNT analyst, has bashed the Mavericks for several years. But after Dallas defeated Phoenix in the Western Conference finals, Barkley picked the Mavs to beat the Heat.

Part of the reason Dallas has opened as a slight favorite with the Vegas books is the home-court advantage it holds in the best-of-7 series, said Jay Rood, sports book director at Mandalay Bay.

"The rest is talent," Rood said. "I think Dallas has the most versatile of the teams, with Dirk [Nowitzki], who can drop 50 on any given night. That's a dangerous element the Heat will have to deal with."

David DuPree, a longtime NBA writer with USA Today, agrees that Dallas' depth will be too much for the Heat.

"Miami has the experience, but the Mavericks are so versatile, it's tough to go against them," Dupree said. "Dallas has the big bodies to throw at Shaquille O'Neal, and neutralizing him someway is the first step in trying to beat the Heat."

DuPree picked the Mavericks to win in six games. ESPN analyst Marc Stein, a former Mavericks beat writer with The Dallas Morning News , predicted the Mavs to win in six games.

There are people, however, picking the Heat.

Magic Johnson, a guest analyst for TNT and part-owner of the Lakers, picked Miami in six games. So did Chris Broussard, a writer with ESPN The Magazine.

[pholmeskc31]

just cause u have a lot or the most talent doesnt mean they'll win. look at the Knicks. the Blazers a few years ago when they should of went to the finals and won instead they blew a 20 point lead in the 4th to the Lakers. which to me was the greatest playoff game i ever seen.

[adude00724]

I don't think the heat can stop Dirk - so mavs will win, but it should be a pretty good series.

[4fire]

Heat should win, They will slow Dirk by using a big guy and a small guy to double on him

[sandler]

im rooting for the mavs!!

[Echo]

I don't see the heat having the supporting cast to beat the Mav's. Dirk is an animal and shaq is getting long of tooth.

[fartman23]

I know I should like Mark Cuban...he's an involved owner who spends money to make his team better, he's pretty much a self-made guy, he's got an irreverent attitude, and he speaks his mind, unlike most of the corporate-sounding drones who dominate the American sports landscape. So why do I dislike him so much? Am I jealous? Am I foolish for hating the thing I've wished would happen. Cuban is a populist owner, but there's just something...unsavory about him. I'll be rooting for Miami....

--FM23

[MichaelJordan]

I am saying Heat in 6, almost all playoff series ends in 4-2. I want the mavs to win thou, they have been on the backburner for so long!!! I remember the days with Derek Harper and Ronaldo Blackman hehe.

[pholmeskc31]

I am saying Heat in 6, almost all playoff series ends in 4-2. I want the mavs to win thou, they have been on the backburner for so long!!! I remember the days with Derek Harper and Ronaldo Blackman hehe.
I remember them days too. I had a bunch of Blackmans basketball cards.

[bubblegumbo]

I really think it will be up to the bench players that will determine the deciding game, it will be interesting to see how well Payton and Mourning perform for the ultimate fufillment of their career goal.

[PhoeniX27J]

What's the score...?Mav's thru...?And I didn't know Payton and Mourning still played, 4 which team...?

[demen23]

unfortunatly my home team Detroit lost to he heat in game 6 so i think the mavs are ganna do the same thing to them, Mav in 6

[pholmeskc31]

unfortunatly my home team Detroit lost to he heat in game 6 so i think the mavs are ganna do the same thing to them, Mav in 6
its actually good for the NBA and the rest of the country that Detroit or San Antonio didnt make the Finals cause it would of been the 2nd straight year for me that i didnt see any Finals games. they are great teams but damn these teams help me sleep at night.

[sandler]

i dont think anyone in miami can guard dirk. he's gonna shoot the lights out of the heat!

[pholmeskc31]

we'll see how tonights game goes.

[pholmeskc31]

Mavs win game 1 90-80. At least its best of 7. Pretty good game.

[durcam]

Jason Williams reverted to a shot happy PG and Pat Riley was out-coached :013:

Go HEAT!!!

[sandler]

jason terry killed the heat tonight!! its just weird why the heat didnt pass the ball inside to shaq in the second half of the game. payton, just like the last time he was in the finals, was terrible again.

i just have a question about mark cuban. is the dude gay? coz, if i was a billionaire who owned the mavs, id have lots of chicks beside me while im watching the game.

[dmavsfan41]

the mavs, aside from terry, played a pretty poor offensive game and still won by 10. what'd they have, it was at least 7 turnovers in the 3rd... then there was that frustrating stretch in the 4th... up by 10, terry AIR BALLS a wide-open layup... lead down to 6, 4, maybe 3 at one point... sigh, that was annoying. howard and nowitzki will get on track soon :)

[fitfan]

Very strong defensive effort for the Mavs after the first quarter was the main reason they won the game. Jet Terry kept them in it for the first half, he was fantastic.

Sandler, Cuban isn't gay, he is married and his wife is I think 6 or 7 months pregnant. Not to say he might not have something on the side but he has about 4 billion reasons why you never see him with a woman on his side. :)

[babyblues]

the mavs, aside from terry, played a pretty poor offensive game and still won by 10. what'd they have, it was at least 7 turnovers in the 3rd... then there was that frustrating stretch in the 4th... up by 10, terry AIR BALLS a wide-open layup... lead down to 6, 4, maybe 3 at one point... sigh, that was annoying. howard and nowitzki will get on track soon :)
Wade was making some poor decisions down the stretch. He forced alot of shots and it looked like the Heat were in some kind of damned hurry. And Shaq only takes four shots in the first half???? WTF is that? It didn't seem like the Heat were playing too smart. No disrespect to the Mavs, but this series is Miami's to win or lose. If Miami plays well, I don't see the Mavs being able to do a damn thing to stop them.

[MichaelJordan]

It is gonna be a good series, I want the Mavs to win, but I think the heat will... Not so sure now with Dallas up 1.... Can go either way. Whoever wins, alot of deserving and good players are gonna get their first championship! :001:

[durcam]

I've been reading what a plain majority of people have to say after game 1 , and it seem's all the Mavs have to do is prepare for a ceremony , hmm . after 1 game where they were held to 90 points and Pat Riley didn't seem focussed? , kinda pre-mature , if you ask me.........:004:

Go Heat!!!!

[sandler]

fitfan, thanks man.

im watching game 2 now and looks like another win for the mavs. the heat look bamboozled by what the mavs are doing. i think detroit wouldve been a better match up with the mavs compared to the heat. well, at least the detroit of old, the ones who used to do defense.

[Junkboxy]

All the Heat have to do is guard guys shooting wide-open jump shots, don't let guys blow past them to the hole, knock down some open shots, don't throw the ball over 5 feet over Shaq's head, and speaking of Shaq, maybe get him the ball early and often, make some free throws, and maybe they'll have a chance of hanging with the Mavericks ... YA THINK!

[pholmeskc31]

Thats one thing thats bothering me bout watching the Heat, they need to get the ball to Shaq more. If they did that the games would be closer to at least have a shot at winning it. Mavs are killing em.

[demen23]

i missed game 2, who won?

[fartman23]

Mavs killed 'em. Shaq set a career-low for the playoffs with five points scored, and also career-lows in field goals attempted and made. It was ugly if you're a Heat fan. Generally speaking, this looks something like a disastrous matchup for Miami: Dallas is so much quicker, and can hang in there, rebounding-wise. Detroit and their lumbering offense was a better matchup, for sure. But that's two at home for Dallas...maybe Miami picks it up at home over the next three. It ain't over yet....

--FM23

[dmavsfan41]

i want to knwo what the f-ck the refs are doing at the end fo this game. you got mavs getting knocked down left and right yet never a single foul call. it doesn't help that hte mavs are sucking, keep trying to give it to dirk and he tries a lame shot that inevitably falls short, then just might as well give the ball to haslem there

:ANGRY:

[JadeGiant]

So now it's a two-point game!

[dmavsfan41]

I still believe the Mavs will win the series, but honestly - they have NO killer instinct. None at all. I thought the refs ignored some fouls the Heat made, but the Mavs had a 10+ point lead with like 4-5 minutes left. You suck real bad to lose a game after that.

[pholmeskc31]

Heat win game 3 98-96! Now its a series.

[JadeGiant]

Sorry dmavs, looks like the Mavs won't win any "Team of the Decade" awards, but at least they did go two up on the Heat, which is no small feat.

[pholmeskc31]

I still believe the Mavs will win the series, but honestly - they have NO killer instinct. None at all. I thought the refs ignored some fouls the Heat made, but the Mavs had a 10+ point lead with like 4-5 minutes left. You suck real bad to lose a game after that.
Every game has bad calls and no calls. Theres no reason to bitch about that shit anymore. Refs suck we all know. Almost every team some time or another blows a big lead. I think the Mavs might still win the series but if Miami takes game 4 i dont know.

[tozer21]

heat wins!

[fartman23]

Wade was just amazing in the final five minutes. That's probably what it's going to take...super-human efforts from the Flash. Oh, and Shaq actually making a free throw.

--FM23

[sandler]

i still think that the mavs will win the series. they just crumbled towards the end. its just like, they lost the game more than miami winning it.

[fartman23]

i still think that the mavs will win the series. they just crumbled towards the end. its just like, they lost the game more than miami winning it.
Good point, sandler. Dallas has played better in all three games...they've obviously been the superior team, but gagged away the last few minutes of Game 3. ABC is simply *begging* Miami to win the next one, because then Sunday night's tilt will actually mean something. Wade apparently still isn't in top health...it may be asking too much.

--FM23

[pholmeskc31]

Heat win game 4 98-74 and tie the seies 2-2. Dallas might of played better in the 3 other games but not this one. They got their asses whooped! Looks like Dallas wont win in 5.

[dmavsfan41]

Heat win game 4 98-74 and tie the seies 2-2. Dallas might of played better in the 3 other games but not this one. They got their asses whooped! Looks like Dallas wont win in 5.

they would have if they hadn't sucked in the last 6 minutes of game 3. :(

now, they have to win game 5 pretty bad... sure they could win 2 in a row in dallas, but they'd have no momentum coming off of 3 straight losses. after dirk's incredibly poor performance last night, I'm wondering if it's time to switch the gameplan a little bit to take aat least some of the focus off of him. let terry and devin harris attack the rim, and when they draw help they can find howard and nowitzki for easier shots. it can't be any less effective than dirk taking 15+ ft fadeaways that inevitably clank off the front of the rim lately...

[durcam]

I think it's unfair for the league to allow the Heat to play the Dallas cheerleaders , oh damn , you mean that was the Mavs? hahahahahaha

Go Heat!!!!!!!...........:004:

[Junkboxy]

Finally a complete game from the Heat.
http://img15.imgspot.com/u/06/166/23/D8I9JLRG1preview1150514807.jpg

Get this --
Shithouse got suspended for Game 5 for this mid-air mauling on Shaq,
....and Avery Johnson is crying bloody murder about it.

I think he's lucky for not getting suspended for 2 games. That was not a basketball play.
I mean, that wasn't the ball Shithouse got is paw on, that was Shaq's head for crying out loud. Shaq could have landed in a way that was career-ending. Karma, Jerry, Karma.

[pholmeskc31]

I thought at first when that play happened i didnt really think it was a flagrant foul but the more they showed the replay u could tell he was not going for the ball. It was a flagrant and i had a feeling he was gonna get suspended for the next game before they even mentioned it. What a asshole for hurting his team like that.

[dmavsfan41]

At least he was trying to be assertive against the Heat unlike practically the entire rest of his team. Shaq is huge, and he was going to get an energizing monster dunk. Stackhouse decided to error on the side of fouling him too hard, and it cost him a game. The Mavs are deep enough that they can survive without him for a game ... if Dirk and Howard figure out how to make shots again...

[pholmeskc31]

But still he dint have to rush his shoulder into him he could of just hit him on the head like he did, instead of doing both. I think the Mavs could win without him but it still doesnt help.

[fartman23]

It definitely doesn't help, but I think dmavsfan41 has an excellent point: a night after Mark Cuban goes on Letterman and essentially calls out Pat Riley for being a dirty coach, his team plays Game 4 like they're afraid to break an egg. Who knows if it'll really be such a harm to the Mavs...it's all everyone's talking about, and it drew attention to Dallas's lack of intensity. I agree: someone needed to do something.

--FM23

[sandler]

if the mavs can start making their shots fall again, they'd win. game 4 was just a bad shooting night for them. they also have to find a way to stop, or at least contain, d wade. the guy is unstoppable.

[pholmeskc31]

Heat just won game 5 101-100! Howard what a jackass. I guess the Mavs take turns playing dummy. First Stackhouse and now Howard.:024:
I thought the Mavs were gonna win in 5.:006:
GO HEAT!

[Hard Drive]

OMG... Josh Howard............................................

It's over now, Mavs will not win :(

[durcam]

Mavs took off their skirts , wasn't enough ..........:004:

Go Heat!!!!!!

[dmavsfan41]

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9446/qbert3vh.gifhttp://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9446/qbert3vh.gifhttp://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9446/qbert3vh.gifhttp://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9446/qbert3vh.gifhttp://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9446/qbert3vh.gifhttp://img48.imageshack.us/img48/9446/qbert3vh.gif

[Junkboxy]

Hey what happened with that whole timeout thing? Did he call TO before Wade's second free throw, and mess-up the chance of taking the ball inbounds at half-court?

At first I thought the announcers were saying he called a timeout they didn't have, which would have meant technical foul free throws for Miami, but that didn't take place.

[PhoeniX27J]

Erm who's winning...? Did the Mavs loose...?

[pholmeskc31]

Erm who's winning...? Did the Mavs loose...?
The Heat lead the series 3-2 now. Why arent u watching the Finals if u want to know whos winning so bad? And if your using the internet to get here to find out whos winning u can just go to some sports website and look for the scores. Like ESPN or NBA.com.

[fartman23]

The Heat lead the series 3-2 now. Why arent u watching the Finals if u want to know whos winning so bad? And if your using the internet to get here to find out whos winning u can just go to some sports website and look for the scores. Like ESPN or NBA.com.
Well, that's what forums are for, too, right? Friendly helping out? Anyway, yes, Heat 3-2, Dwayne Wade has been incredible, and Mark Cuban made a horse's patootie out of himself in interviews after Game 5. Although I suppose from the perspective of a Mavs fan (or owner), I might be pretty peeved about that last foul call. But here's a question for y'all...why are we still interviewing Mark Cuban? Does anyone think he actually adds insight? Let's face it...any reporter going to a Mark Cuban press conference is just waiting for the dude to say something retarded.

--FM23

[pholmeskc31]

Yea forums are for helping out but if im gonna need to check a score im gonna go to a sports website to make sure im getting the right score.

[Junkboxy]

So what is Cuban/Johnson/Mavs complaining about now? I still didn't get that whole timeout thing straight at the end of game 5.

I would really like to see Shaq go after a loose ball and land on top of Cuban in the $$$ seats. That would be beautiful.

[pholmeskc31]

So what is Cuban/Johnson/Mavs complaining about now? I still didn't get that whole timeout thing straight at the end of game 5.

I would really like to see Shaq go after a loose ball and land on top of Cuban in the $$$ seats. That would be beautiful.
Yep that would be nice. Hes a great owner and a good dude but he is so damn annoying and they need to keep the camera off him. We dont care about the crowd we care about the game.

[sandler]

im not really a mavs fan, but i think the last foul call was somewhat unfair, especially during that situation. its like, the referee was acting god. i remember some sort of play like that in the detroit and cavs series when rip had a shot but was fouled but no foul was call and detroit lost. even though i was so disappointed since im a detroit fan, i figured it was ok not to call that foul since i didnt want the game to be decided by a ref's call thats quite unclear.

just my 2 cents.

[fartman23]

im not really a mavs fan, but i think the last foul call was somewhat unfair, especially during that situation. its like, the referee was acting god. i remember some sort of play like that in the detroit and cavs series when rip had a shot but was fouled but no foul was call and detroit lost. even though i was so disappointed since im a detroit fan, i figured it was ok not to call that foul since i didnt want the game to be decided by a ref's call thats quite unclear.

just my 2 cents.
And I think it's a very valid two cents. You don't want the refs deciding a game on a ticky-tack foul. The thing is: they called the foul on Nowitzki, and what Nowitzki did was kind of just slap a little bit, and clearly didn't make hard, shot-altering contact. I agree: it didn't really seem like a "he-murdered-me" kind of foul, and that's the only thing you should really call at the end of a game.

Funny, I think people are taking a little less pride in being a "Nowitz-ness" right about now.

--FM23

[PhoeniX27J]

The Heat lead the series 3-2 now. Why arent u watching the Finals if u want to know whos winning so bad? And if your using the internet to get here to find out whos winning u can just go to some sports website and look for the scores. Like ESPN or NBA.com.


I wish I could watch...unfortunely I can't watch TV since atm I don't have cable...Otherwise I would...I can't even watch the Worldcup...:(

[PhoeniX27J]

The Heat lead the series 3-2 now. Why arent u watching the Finals if u want to know whos winning so bad? And if your using the internet to get here to find out whos winning u can just go to some sports website and look for the scores. Like ESPN or NBA.com.


I wish I could watch...unfortunely I can't watch TV since atm I don't have cable...Otherwise I would...I can't even watch the Worldcup...:(

BTW. I hope the MAVS win...Shaq has won enough...

[fartman23]

I think Dallas wins tonight. In fact, I think they blow them out. Game 7, though, I'm not so sure about.

Somebody please shut up Mark Cuban.

--FM23

[bigusdickus]

I think Dallas wins tonight, too. I just can't imagine Miami winning four straight games in this series.

[KanMan]

I want Miami to win it, But like Langdon said. Its unlikey for them to win 4 straight and plus Stackhouse is back so expect something huge from him. The first two games in Dallas were double digit wins and Wade isn't very good on the road. Suprised he was getting comparrisons to MJ on SportCenter today.

[pholmeskc31]

Im also rooting for Miami. The Heat got something to prove since they havent won in Dallas in six games. But i think Dallas will win though.

[dmavsfan41]

Man. Dallas ... please don't lose! :(

[dmavsfan41]

It's over for Dallas :(

[pholmeskc31]

It's over for Dallas :(
I hope your right.

[pholmeskc31]

Alright Heat just won the NBA Finals in 6! Heat won 4 straight. The experts dont know what the hell they are talking about. I seriously thought Dallas would win tonight and force a game 7 but im glad they blew it.

[durcam]

The Mavs and Heat can take a few "digs" I think , I'm talking about personal attacks over sumn' that should be fun , Heat in 6 , I read sumn' on ESPN that said Dirk had gotten "tough" hahahahaha right........:004:

2 things come from Miami , Thugs n' Juggs , and dem Heat sure don't look like no Juggs to me hahahahaha..........:004:

Go Heat!!!

Told you so..........:D

[pholmeskc31]

Told you so..........:D
Nice call for the Heat in 6. I had them in 7. I cant believe some people thought the Mavs would take this in 5.

[pholmeskc31]

The crowd is just booing the shit out of Miami, and i think its pretty funny. Wonder how Mark Cubans taking it.:p :D

[dmavsfan41]

Good job Haslem
Good job Payton
Good job Mourning
Good job Wade, it's not your fault the refs were bad
Good job Posey, laying out Hinrich in round 1 is still totally lame though

[dmavsfan41]

Nice call for the Heat in 6. I had them in 7. I cant believe some people thought the Mavs would take this in 5.

I wish the Heat would have lost just to spite your rubbing an innocent prediction in my face repeatedly like that. It's one thing to take a cute jab at someone for being wrong, but you're just acting as immature as a third grader or a pot smoker, or both. I mean, do I sit here saying "How come the Chiefs didn't make the playoffs? What losers!" No, I don't.

[pholmeskc31]

I hate how a lot of people blame the refs, when the players fuck up themselves by missing free throws and open jumpers. Refs make bad calls in every sport, no way getting around it.

[pholmeskc31]

I wish the Heat would have lost just to spite your rubbing an innocent prediction in my face repeatedly like that. It's one thing to take a cute jab at someone for being wrong, but you're just acting as immature as a third grader or a pot smoker, or both. I mean, do I sit here saying "How come the Chiefs didn't make the playoffs? What losers!" No, I don't.
Im not trying to rub it in your face. Some of my friends, family and know those so called experts thought the Mavs were gonna beat the Heat in 5 or 6. Some even thought the Mavs would sweep the Heat. Sorry if i offended u but people were talking about Dallas like they were way superior to the Heat. If u wanted to talk shit about the Chiefs i wouldnt give a flying fuck and u know why cause u can say what the fuck u want. Mavs are a great team and they'll be back and i think next time they are i think they'll win it. If your a sports fan u gotta expect people to talk shit about some teams.

[Junkboxy]

I want to make one observation:
Dirk Nowitzki obviously believes he's joined the Immunity Club.

Did anybody take a close look at the first play of the 4th QTR?
Avery Johnson called Dirk's number. Dirk had the ball and drove to the hole. Shaq stepped outside the "charge arch" and stood there straight-up. Dirk drove into him and put up the shot. No call was made, but that was the textbook definition of a charge. No commentary was made by the announcers on that aspect of the play, either. Switch those two around, and Dirk (or any other NBA player for that matter) goes flailing to the deck like a European soccer player making sure to bring attention to a small amount of Shaqian contact.

Sometimes you have to look close at the game to notice things like that. Shaq doesn't whinily bring attention to call/no-call plays the way the Nowitzkis, Duncans, Rasheeds, et al do. That's what I like about Shaq, he takes it like a dude.

And Wade WAS fouled - not ONCE but TWICE - on that drive at the end of Game 5. Before the tic-tac thing on Dirk, one of the guards got him, I think it was Devin Harris. Refs made the right call, but gave the foul to the wrong guy. No injustice there.

[fartman23]

A great series...peace and love, people. Don't hate. Not even Dallas is making the argument that the Heat weren't the better team in this series. I count myself among the fooled...I thought (and posted) that the Mavs would win in a blowout tonight, and they could have, considering they led by double-digits twice, but the fact that they didn't just shows that Miami had a bit more this year..... Special condolences to dmavsfan41, who is a really good poster.

--FM23

[durcam]

A great series...peace and love, people. Don't hate. Not even Dallas is making the argument that the Heat weren't the better team in this series. I count myself among the fooled...I thought (and posted) that the Mavs would win in a blowout tonight, and they could have, considering they led by double-digits twice, but the fact that they didn't just shows that Miami had a bit more this year..... Special condolences to dmavsfan41, who is a really good poster.

--FM23

Well said , very attached fan , congrats young Mavs , hang in there , your time will come.............:)

[dmavsfan41]

Good read: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060620

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Cuban):
He deserves a title as much as any other owner in the league. Rumor says that he was robbed of a championship in 2006 because of David Stern's dislike of him.

lol

[pholmeskc31]

The Mavs wiil make it back and at least win a title here soon. They got a great team with young players and a superstar they can build around.

[jdrock24]

I haven't posted in here since I predicted the Heat would win in six before the series started. Anyway, I think that the Heat deserved to win. What can you say about Wade that hasn't already been said? And do you think Shaq has called up the Lakers and rubbed it in their face yet?

[fartman23]

The Mavs wiil make it back and at least win a title here soon. They got a great team with young players and a superstar they can build around.
Also from that Wikipedia (or should I say "Wikifraudia") entry:

"The Fountainhead was incredibly motivating to me. It encouraged me to think as an individual, take risks to reach my goals, and responsibility for my successes and failures. I loved it. I don't know how many times I have read it, but it got to a point where I had to stop because I would get too fired up."

Now, I don't mean to trash anyone who considers Ayn Rand to be their guiding light, but IMO this "logical positivism" stuff tends to attract immature minds who need structure to make it through the day. Besides which, man, "The Fountainhead" is just turgid and unreadable. Unsurprising that Cuban, one of the most immature men to needlessly be interviewed on TV over and over again, would be a Rand-head. He should really get together with Tom Cruise.

--FM23

[durcam]

[QUOTE He should really get together with Tom Cruise.

--FM23[/QUOTE]

Are you saying he's a homo + a damn jackass ? hahahaha I was trying to be polite but the Mavs and all the Western teams suck with their sissy ball, nice in the reg season to watch :rolleyes: I guess, but that shit is weak when the other team decide's to play Eastern style on their ass , whiny bunch of lewzers and their no class fans , the one's at the game anyway, LEEEEEEWZERS hahahahahaha........:D

[durcam]

but you're just acting as immature as a third grader or a pot smoker, or both. .

Maybe them mofos should have shared a damn bowl before the game , Leeeeewzers hahahahahahaha

[Melo]

No matter how you slice and dice it.... The Heat are worthy champs and Dwayne Wade is the best player on the planet!!!

[dmavsfan41]

The Heat are an average collection of players who were led to a title by a decent player and a great player who the NBA is clearly intent on building into the next Michael Jordan. Their style isn't fun to watch. You know, it's too bad the Suns didn't make it to the finals. They would have taken the Heat in 4 I bet you. Wade wouldn't have gotten near that many foul shots because Phoenix would have let him have a layup and then gone down and one upped them with a 3.

Man, Dallas just shot poorly all series. They would have won if they could have made anything resembling a decent percentage of their shots, but they didn't.

Detroit will regroup next year and make sure the Heat don't get back to the finals. Phoenix will get Amare back and make sure the Pistons don't win it all.

[durcam]

The Heat are an average collection of players who were led to a title by a decent player and a great player who the NBA is clearly intent on building into the next Michael Jordan. Their style isn't fun to watch. You know, it's too bad the Suns didn't make it to the finals. They would have taken the Heat in 4 I bet you. Wade wouldn't have gotten near that many foul shots because Phoenix would have let him have a layup and then gone down and one upped them with a 3.

Man, Dallas just shot poorly all series. They would have won if they could have made anything resembling a decent percentage of their shots, but they didn't.

Detroit will regroup next year and make sure the Heat don't get back to the finals. Phoenix will get Amare back and make sure the Pistons don't win it all.

WTF!!!

Dream , dream , dream , all I do is dream.........:D

[allegro8]

Both teams are good, or else they never would have advanced to the finals. It all boiled down to desire; Miami wanted it more, as evidenced by their bench players, especially Mourning, who "left it out on the floor" as if there was no tomorrow. Dallas should be congratulated. They'll be back, and hopefully, have learned a thing or two about how to finish tight games against a relentless opponent.

[squonk]

Wade had a tremendous series, Miami has to congrat this player for his performance. Most of the championship was because of him.

[bigusdickus]

And Wade WAS fouled - not ONCE but TWICE - on that drive at the end of Game 5. Before the tic-tac thing on Dirk, one of the guards got him, I think it was Devin Harris. Refs made the right call, but gave the foul to the wrong guy. No injustice there.Injustice, indeed! The picture of Harris' arm on Wade's was taken after the whistle blew. Dirk never touched Wade during that play; so why was Dirk charged with the foul? It was a hedious call by the ref, who by the way was 40 feet away blowing his whistle. It was a call that he clearly had no business of making.

[Junkboxy]

I went looking for stills or videos of that last drive by Wade in Game 5. I could only find a grainy YouTube vid that had the long shot from the half-court angle, not the under the basket replay. Anyways, I remember when watching it live, I called it out to the living room crowd 'foul on Devin Harris.' Then Breen/Brown announced the call was made on Dirk.

Looks like every sports columnist out there thinks there was no contact by Dirk. I have to backtrack on that bit. And, the percieved/minimal/no-harm-no-foul/actual-foul/whatever by Devin Harris shouldn't have mattered.. b/c

..that was a backcourt violation, Cuban was right:
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2qDdzU8Dxj4"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2qDdzU8Dxj4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Sorry Mavericks.
Judge Junkboxy renders decision:
Yous gots'd hosed

Good read: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060620


I read that the other night Dmav. It was a good read. He is right about Gary Payton. Good for Zo, a real workhorse ballplayer, but GP? He's right about us being surprised when GP does something good. I think every jumper is going to miss - he has no jump shot. He flips free throws up there like he doesn't care. (At least Shaq takes his time with a brick). He likes to do "the bump" against the guy guarding him while dribbling at point - an obvious easy O-foul call for the ref and us too. Technical foul for jabbering the referee. Missing a teammates pass because.. he was busy jabbering with the referee. Enuf about GP.

[bigusdickus]

Yeah, the Bill Simmons column was right on. The refs were terrible in the playoffs and especially the finals. No matter. The Mavs still had their chances to win despite the very poor officiating. No excuses. D-Wade was very Jordanesque during the series, and he is the only reason why Miami is the champ right now.

Man. Four straight games. :(

[fartman23]

I went looking for stills or videos of that last drive by Wade in Game 5. I could only find a grainy YouTube vid that had the long shot from the half-court angle, not the under the basket replay. Anyways, I remember when watching it live, I called it out to the living room crowd 'foul on Devin Harris.' Then Breen/Brown announced the call was made on Dirk.

Looks like every sports columnist out there thinks there was no contact by Dirk. I have to backtrack on that bit. And, the percieved/minimal/no-harm-no-foul/actual-foul/whatever by Devin Harris shouldn't have mattered.. b/c

..that was a backcourt violation, Cuban was right:
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2qDdzU8Dxj4"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2qDdzU8Dxj4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Sorry Mavericks.
Judge Junkboxy renders decision:
Yous gots'd hosed



I read that the other night Dmav. It was a good read. He is right about Gary Payton. Good for Zo, a real workhorse ballplayer, but GP? He's right about us being surprised when GP does something good. I think every jumper is going to miss - he has no jump shot. He flips free throws up there like he doesn't care. (At least Shaq takes his time with a brick). He likes to do "the bump" against the guy guarding him while dribbling at point - an obvious easy O-foul call for the ref and us too. Technical foul for jabbering the referee. Missing a teammates pass because.. he was busy jabbering with the referee. Enuf about GP.
It's funny...one of the primary reasons I rooted against the Lakers that last Shaq/Kobe year was I can't stand Payton, either. Somehow he bothered me less this time around. But of course, you're right: every time they cut to Payton running his yap it really did make me want to throw something through the TV.

--FM23

[pholmeskc31]

Yeah, the Bill Simmons column was right on. The refs were terrible in the playoffs and especially the finals. No matter. The Mavs still had their chances to win despite the very poor officiating. No excuses. D-Wade was very Jordanesque during the series, and he is the only reason why Miami is the champ right now.

Man. Four straight games. :(
Wade is the main reason they won but he didnt score all them points and play every minute of the game. Their role players stepped up also.

[Junkboxy]

Their role players stepped up also.
Of those, I think some extra cred should go to Alonzo, Posey, and probably most unsung/underrated of them all - Udonis Haslem. After going down hard and hurting his shoulder, his jump shot was AWOL until he knocked down a few in game 6. But he perservered through that to be the main guy spying offensive scoring machine Dirk Nowitzki, and he did as much as you could ask for in that.

[johndevon]

i am glad that miami won they earned it

[johndevon]

shaq it the man

[hateme]

Who u guys like to win it all? I'm pullin' for the Nuggets...

[krackerz]

close series, lakers vs nuggets

[Darth Not-Jesus]

I still want to see Kobe vs. LeBron

[jojo03]

im going with the lakers

[mathatter]

i would have liked to see lakers cavs....but thats not gonna happen

[mitaiwan82]

anyone but the lakers! go orlando!

[rjv]

i hate the lakers, go magic!

[milton]

Lakers in 4. They actually have people to guard dwight.

[Trip]

magic

[rjcaddell]

I Think that Orlando will beat LA

[rjcaddell]

If Dwight Howard gets going watch out!!

[rjcaddell]

Once he gets going no one can stop him.

[fogdod]

LA ... 24# is "king" for now ... :p

[ass1970]

Does anyone outside of LA like Kobe? I am a Portland fan and we all hate him.

[tycat]

agreed, no laker, no Kobe

[hitman1234]

does not look good for the magic right now .... i hope howard can step up !!

[underthere2000]

its all she wrote... no "tricks" up the "sleeves" left for the "magic" <--- get it??? ... funny stuff, right??? ... :p

LA all the way

[eng12]

magic just beat the lakers!!!! LA now leads 2-1.

[boogie4]

go magic!!!

http://manapproved.com/wp-content/uploads/Babes/jessica-barton-03.jpg

[Phantom53]

Any one there with tixs for game 6? I'd be awesome to be in staple center.

[ultramarinos]

WE all most there Pau, 3 more games......

[ultramarinos]

go magic!!!

http://manapproved.com/wp-content/uploads/Babes/jessica-barton-03.jpg

I call this Magic ;-)

[Phantom53]

It's interesting how some people develop "feelings" around athletes, actors, or any other public figure for this matter. The Kobe dude is a heck of a basketball players, but I don't see how anyone can love or hate the guy.

[dead57]

I beleive in magics

[kssteve2003]

Go Lakers. They will still win the series.

[pepel13]

Lakers are a more experienced and more talented team. They'll win in five.

[benco74]

Lakers are the greatest

[kssteve2003]

last night shows the Lakers will wen the series.

[edho]

I think they'll win it in 6.

[hound815]

I think they'll win it in 6.

IU think that too.

[oronhey]

That foul at the end of overtime last night by Piétrus was garbage. He needs to be suspended for game five. It was not a "basketball" foul. He slammed both his fists into Gasol's back as he was dunking. That was dangerous and total trash.

[spncr525]

Lakers all the way

[sonchee99]

Grats for Kobe!

[j-b69]

Go Tony, Gooo !!

[elict4@hotmail.com]

Phil is still the best coach around

[chrysalis]

It was like watching a poodle vs a rottweiler, lol.

[yassup]

Lakers Are The Best

[dictator]

gooooo LA!

[HybridTheory]

La 4 2009!!!