The Mavericks played arguably their worst game of the playoffs (omitting the Brandon Roy Game) Tuesday and hung around until the end of the fourth quarter against a Miami Heat team playing very well on both ends of the floor.
LeBron James was unstoppable in the lane and unconscious from beyond the arc, hitting four of five three-pointers, including a 25-foot dagger to end the third quarter while being double-teamed and fading out of bounds. He was disruptive on defense, creative in the pick-and-roll, and his rebounding from the small-forward position (and Wade’s at guard) was a big reason Miami won the battle of the boards.
Dirk Nowitzki, JJ Barea, Jason Terry, and Peja Stojakovic all missed shots that they’d been making in the Western Conference playoffs, and one of the major questions going into game two is how much of that was a blip on the radar and how much should be attributed to Miami’s defense. Miami’s defense was excellent, especially in the fourth quarter. Miami’s rotations closed out on Dallas’ shooters faster than anyone they’d faced in the playoffs and gave Dirk minimal time to operate.
Dirk did a great job of recognizing double teams and creating open looks for his teammates, who failed to convert. Barea, Terry, and Stojakovic shot a combined 4-21 from the floor. If Barea, Terry, and Stojakovic go 8-21, still only 38%, Miami’s eight-point margin of victory is erased. Dirk Nowitzki, who “only” put up 27 points on 18 shots and is now nursing a torn tendon in his left hand, will need to be better as well. Dallas was getting good shots, but they were missing.
They have bigger problems on the other end of the floor. While I think it’s a safe bet that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, not known for their sharpshooting, won’t keep draining two-thirds of their long balls, Miami eventually broke Dallas defense with an endless barrage of pick-and-roll variations. Dallas’ zone—while successful against the penetration of LeBron and Wade—was exploited by Miami’s big men. Chris Bosh (and the rest of Miami) dominated the offensive boards. Bosh found space in the soft spot of the Dallas zone, just below the free throw line, received the ball there, and either made a move or kicked it out as the zone collapsed on him.
Miami won the offensive-rebounding battle by ten. When the Mavericks big men stepped up to stop penetration in the zone, it opened a lot of room for the Heat to get rebounds. The Mavericks big men need to be better containing Miami’s penetration and limiting the Heat to one shot, even though those tasks run counter to each other.
The way Wade and LeBron closed out the Mavericks in the last four minutes was Mariano Rivera-esque, but the Mavericks were within four until that point. The Heat played a better game one, and while the Mavericks have more questions before game two—Dirk’s injury, LeBron James, Miami’s pick and roll game, rebounding in the zone, and the lack of production from their bench—the Finals are far from over. Dallas in Seven.
—Photo AP/David J. Phillip
They’ve taken one in Miami, so it’s looking more plausible. I would really enjoy watching Dirk lift the trophy this year, he has been a joy to watch in the playoffs and I hope the Mavs can take the next step and get W’s in at least two of three in Dallas…