Tweets from Game 3 of NBA Finals

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
DMN - Mavs Morning After Game 3 - http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/sturms-morning-after-game-3---miami-88-m.html
6 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
If you would have told me when I was a kid that someday you would help me reach 20,000 on Twitter, I would have been confused. #humblebrag
6 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@APMar84 and I commend your interest in being his guardian. It must be fun helping the needy like that.
6 Jun

sweetgreggo no, not THAT one
by SportsSturm
@SportsSturm bob. bob. bob. bob. bob. bob. bob. bob. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijZRCIrTgQc
6 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
“@KSJowell: Im scared. yfrog.com/h3j5gjfj” >> Don't do it!!!
5 Jun

BallinWithBryan Bryan Gutierrez
by SportsSturm
Carlisle, "Look it's seven games. Any notion that it was going to be easy would have been foolhardy by us or anybody else."
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@Hockeydude94678 that is my point. Should I be more clear? Read those cashing out tweets from everywhere.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
If you love this team and this run, you concede when and only when they get Win #4. Go out William Wallace style. No surrender.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
“@DarylRazorsRay: hi bob. U r a 40 year old man making snide remarks about a kid.” >> 38.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
No wonder Scottie Pippen was speaking so loud for Bron Bron. Takes a Robin to know a Robin.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
See you on the lonely streets. First to 4.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
This, gulp, comes down to Jet. No way they let 41 get the rock in a position to score. ALL IN.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
At the count of three: ALL CHICKENS GO! 1...2....3!
5 Jun

KSJowell Scott Jowell
by SportsSturm@
@SportsSturm Bob. Wang Zhizhi told me to tell the Maverick fans "たはやまあ 他ユナは生やら生やら生やら似た亜比喩にはラヤにかアタ与良弥太赤さ花やら霊屋なチアにや日並みやまあ中で" GO MAMRICKS.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
RT @iamjasonaguirre Does anyone ever cover chalmers?>> They would if they had 7 defenders, but with 5, no. Lebron and Wade are pretty good.
5 Jun

espn_macmahon Tim MacMahon
by SportsSturm
Shawn Marion's mama is undefeated on the dance cam.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
He got this.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@asifh007 and the NBA Finals pressure is the same? #knowthesituation.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Let's all consider this: yfrog.com/5p14epkj
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
AND THIS CROWD? WHAT THE HECK IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? DO YOU WANT THIS OR DO YOU WANT TO CHUG ON OVER TO MAMBY PAMBY LAND?
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I would have lost a lot of money on Ian Mahinmi nailing both of his free throws.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Sticker on. yfrog.com/h8sh7uaj
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
UNFORCED ERRORS? KNOCK IT OFF! DO YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE THIS NIGHT TO YOUR FREAKING GRAVES? ANSWER ME!!!
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
OK. The early returns on the halftime adjustments are not what we needed. It might be time for tough love.
5 Jun

VShiancoe Visanthe Shiancoe
by SportsSturm
Lets go Dirk
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
And I love Dirk's defensive rebound work, and Tyson's 0 fouls. Might need Kidd and Tyson to play about 22 minutes this half. JJ and Peja?
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Rebounds even, turnovers even. This first half was troubling, but could have been worse. Defense has been solid, save easy pts off break.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Go outside and pick out the best chicken you can find.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Turn 45-31 to 47-42 by the half is darn important.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I know nobody wants to hear this, but this Miami defense is insane. Has been for 3 games now.
5 Jun

johnschuhmann John Schuhmann
by SportsSturm
The Mavs have scored just 4 times in their last 17 possessions.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@roe27oakcliff there is no doubt there are many white front runners. But, percentage wise...therein lies the problemo.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
One key objective in Basketball is the making of baskets. HINT, HINT.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
This offense needs to get better quite quickly.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
If JJ wanted to start playing, I would be ok with that.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
RT @canes76006 no exception for your Packers?>> Biggest downside to winning Super Bowl. Front runners by your gear. SMH
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Misguided youth make many front-running mistakes. yfrog.com/edtflej
5 Jun

mycoskie Chris Mycoskie
by SportsSturm
@SportsSturm Nobody behind basket with big Delonte West heads? http://myloc.me/kA1Bq
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Mavs put in Ian Mahinmi; Heat counter with their version: Juwan Howard
5 Jun

MacEngelProf Mac Engel
by SportsSturm
The Mavs are said to have the NBA's hottest dancers so they set one on fire just to prove a point. Have to commend their committment
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I believe that Peja will be in double figures tonight. But, then again, I had Portland in 6.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Bosh, barely still clinging to life, remains in the game.
5 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
This looks like a sell-out. #tweetsToEaseTheTension.
5 Jun

essjaytee Simon Terry
by SportsSturm
@SportsSturm Right now Dirk is stomping round the locker room like an incensed Khal Drogo ordering his men to prepare for attack on Westeros
5 Jun
»

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Yep. Fired up. yfrog.com/ca367uqj
5 Jun

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Mavericks vs Heat 6/5/11 Game 3 ADS

		ADS	ADS+
1st	Dal	15.3	13
	Mia	7.9	7.6
2nd	Dal	11.2	9.9
	Mia	13.7	12.4
3rd	Dal	15.5	14.6
	Mia	11	10.5
4th	Dal	15.9	15.2
	Mia	15.4	14.6
Total	Dal	14.3	13
	Mia	11.6	11

Side Notes
- Dirk had a game high 34 points.
- Since the NBA started the 2-3-2 format, the team that has won Game 3 went on to win the championship.
- Heat outscored Mavs 40 to 22 in the paint.
- Dirk scored 15 points in the fourth, including the last 12 for Dallas.

Mavericks FGM/A ADS ADS+ Barea 2/8 16.4 14.7 Chandler 1/4 1.5 1.3 Kidd 3/8 21 18.8 Mahinmi 0/1 3 3 Marion 4/12 9.4 8.8 Stojakovic 1/2 23 23 Nowitzki 11/21 14 13.4 Stevenson 1/1 26 26 Terry 5/13 16.7 14.6 Team Total 28/70 14.3 13

Heat FGM/A ADS ADS+ Anthony 1/4 3.3 3.3 Bibby 1/5 23 23 Bosh 7/18 9.6 8.7 Chalmers 3/7 20.6 20.6 Haslem 3/7 11.7 11.7 James 6/14 11.3 10 Miller 0/1 27 27 Wade 12/20 8.6 8.2 Team Total 34/76 11.6 11

ADS ADS+ Barea 12.5 11.6 Mahinmi 3 3 Chandler 2.1 1.7 Haywood 3 2 Kidd 21.4 20.6 Stojakovic 23.8 23.8 Marion 6.5 6 Terry 16.6 14 Nowitzki 12.7 11.5 Stevenson 24.4 24.4 Team Total 13.06 11.52 Opp. Total 13.24 12.16

What is ADS? Read the FAQ and find out.
Thanks to Adam Rosen and Heath Huston for the data.

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The Morning After: Game 3 - Heat 88, Mavericks 86 (2-1)

http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/sturms-morning-after-game-3---miami-88-m.html


How could anything be underrated on a team that is constantly discussed and critiqued everywhere you look?

I am here to tell you that after watching them for 3 straight contests in person, there is no question that Miami's defense is even better than we were told. The suffocating defense is enough to make any offense look out of sync. And, the Mavericks' offense certainly looks out of sync this morning after losing 88-86 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Dallas.

Look at what is going on to the Mavericks; They shot 47.5% all year long, but in these NBA Finals, the shots are not falling. They have been limited offensively to a FG% of 42%. In a season where they routinely scored 100 points (100.2 per game) and playoffs where they were able to flex their offensive muscle routinely, they are now scoring just 88.3 points per game. That number is a grand departure from Portland (93.3 points per game), Los Angeles (102.3), and Oklahoma City (105.2).

Now we can suggest that the pressure of the NBA Finals and the bright lights of the stage is causing too much for the Mavericks between the ears and causing shots that normally fall to miss their mark for our heroes.

Or, we can consider that this Miami team is a very formidable foe in the NBA Finals because for all of their reputation of having so many choices and routes to get points with their dynamically stacked lineup, the same can also be said for a defense that just doesn't give you an inch to breathe. Like Philadelphia (41%), Boston (45%), and Chicago (39%) before them, Dallas is missing shots they normally weren't missing - mostly because they are taking shots that they have to find rather than having shots given to them.

Miami, with superstar talent in many spots, have players that stress you on both ends of the court. They can prove to be impossible match-ups on offense and then, to make the game even more difficult, those same players can guard you on the other end with ease.

And this is Rick Carlisle's seemingly impossible challenge. He has to figure out how to attack this Miami defense - which is hard enough - but, he also has to figure it out while not using players who are seen as a liability when LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have the ball on the other end of the court. This series is asking the Mavericks to play true "2-way basketball" which shortens up your roster considerably.

So, when the Mavericks have the ball, we see the Heat at their strongest. They challenge every pass. They push out Dirk Nowitzki just a bit further than he would like to be pushed out to catch the ball. They make lob passes a thing of the past by being able to cheat off Tyson Chandler, but not so far off him that Jason Kidd can find him for an easy deuce. They jump passing lanes. I swear, LeBron and Wade get their hands on more passes than just about any players I can remember since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen played defense like this back in the 1990's. And like those players who won ring after ring back then, what makes this pairing so powerful is that they seem to be able to play as many minutes as you wish to play them. LeBron in particular plays about 45-46 of the 48 minutes of an NBA game. And there is never a time where at least one of them isn't on the court.

And, if that wasn't enough to deal with, once they turn the ball over, they are off to the races. If the Mavericks could figure out a way not to give 4 or 5 unchallenged fast break dunks each game, they would be winning this series with great ease. But, of course, that isn't how this thing works.

Miami has players who are dominant on both ends of the court. And they make you either match them in that ability or try to play "catch-up" all night when you can't. And Game 3 was a great example of never feeling like you could quite get up the mountain. Every single time the Mavericks thought they had reached the Heat, it seemed to be only an illusion as the Heat were still above them.

What the Heat have on defense is what makes everything else possible. They honestly have a very basic offense, it seems. Very special players who can pull up from 24 feet when nothing else is working on their offense and bailing out the play with another Wade launch that goes right through the rim. But, it all starts back on defense. They have dominant range on defense. They cheat on those who do not require their full attention to help out on those who do. They fly around in passing lanes and sneak up on players from behind to steal the ball. They are truly a pack of dobermans on the prowl. And, when they get the ball, those same top defenders - James and Wade - can take the ball and attack you with it on the other end. They are All-NBA on both ends of the court.

And that is what the Mavericks are up against if they want to achieve their dream of the NBA Title. They, too, have unstoppable players on offense and very strong defenders, as well. But, they are not the same players. Nowitzki, arguably the best offensive player in the league these playoffs, is a guy you try to expose on defense. The same goes for when Jason Terry, JJ Barea, or Peja Stojakovic are on defense. As skilled as they are on offense, you can not ask them to guard top players on defense without great concern and attention.

Meanwhile, the Mavs also have very strong defenders - Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, and DeShawn Stevenson. But, as good as they are at getting stops and causing major stress on those they cover, they are of little or no concern offensively for set plays or intended offense. Sure, Marion and Chandler can both score, but it usually comes on scramble situations where points are a result of Dirk getting all of the attention.

And it has worked throughout the entire regular season and all through the Western Conference Playoffs. The Mavericks figured out a perfect combination and rotation to navigate through a 48 minute game while always keeping their opponents off their balance and from ever finding comfort. They would keep rolling fresh bodies out there and Dirk could match Kevin Durant or LaMarcus Aldridge, and then the Dallas bench could expose the opponent badly when it became a battle of the benches.

But, Miami is a different animal. Even when you perform well against their starters, when you try to rotate to your bench, they keep LeBron on the court. When Wade is on the court, LeBron is your #2 option on the offense. But, when Wade sits, you still have one of the best scorers in the world taking shots rather than a guy off your bench trying to create offense. And of course, you cannot attack the Heat bench on defense because James is still running the defense when you normally have JJ Barea and the Mavs' reserves dominating a game.

They are just so loaded.

The good news is that this Mavericks team is proving to be one of the most resilient and persistent teams we could ever imagine. They will not negotiate a peaceful surrender or hang their heads in defeat. They play with a passion and resolve that is flat-out admirable. And no matter how big of a mess they find themselves in, they put all of their efforts into working their way out of it.

But, this one is the biggest challenge yet. They are painted into a corner of not being able to play to their strengths. There are guys on the roster that have been used the entire journey who have a very limited role against the Heat. James and Wade force your hand or attack your weak.

And as the coach, you try to solve this very complex and rare problem on the biggest stage of your coaching career. Do you ask Dirk and Jet to play offense with very few threats around them? If you do, you realize Dirk will attract 2 or 3 defenders most of the time because Eric Spoelstra doesn't have to worry about playing honest on the other Mavs. He knows only 2 Mavs can beat him offensively and he can attack them accordingly. Or, you can put better offensive weapons out there with Dirk (or ever less attractive, when Dirk is resting) and concede defense because Peja and JJ cannot guard for very long or with very much effectiveness.

It is the ultimate "classic conflict" or in today's cliches it is known as "picking your poison". Do you short-change your offense or your defense? There is no correct answer, really. And, it looked like that for much of Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3. The Mavericks could easily be up 2 games to 1 this morning, but if you were to consider who has played while leading in this series, surely it would be the Miami Heat by a large margin. The problem that Dallas faces may not have a solution.

The Mavericks must scratch and claw. They must fight and battle. And when the game comes to its climactic conclusion, the Mavericks must play perfectly because they are always coming from behind. In Game 2, it worked. Everything they tried in the final moments fell right and they made all of the big shots and Miami missed all of theirs. But, Game 3 would not smile upon the Mavericks.

4.4 seconds to go. Surely, Miami would be talking in their timeout about how they cannot let Dirk beat them again. 88-86, Miami, but Dallas has the ball side-out. The question would be whether the Mavericks would attempt a 3-point shot and go for the win or play by the books and attempt to tie the game and win it in overtime.

To look at the final sequence is actually quite interesting, because it appeared that Miami was not going to run a 2nd defender at Dirk until the last second - as they appear to be very intent on not leaving the Mavericks' shooters open at the 3-point line. Terry, Peja, and Kidd are never left open, and therefore, Dirk keeps the ball and goes to his trademarked spin and fadeaway from straight on.

If we all had a dollar for every time Dirk hit this shot - even when heavily guarded - none of us would need to drag ourselves to work today. But, on this occasion, his shot hit the rim and the American Airlines Center collectively sunk. The attempt to rescue a game that they never controlled from the jaws of defeat was unsuccessful at the finish line. Dirk, who made every big shot all night long finally missed. He played amazingly well - and yet it still wasn't enough. And that is their margin for error against this formidable foe. As long as Dirk makes every shot down the stretch, the Mavs have a chance. But, Miami seems so strong that if he misses even once, they are in big trouble.

Yikes.

Home court advantage swings back to Miami, as does momentum in this NBA Finals. In any proper best-of-7 series, the roller coaster of emotions is part of the agony and part of the fun. This series will hopefully be no different.

Mavs' Coach Rick Carlisle placed the picture in the frame last night in the postgame: "Look it's seven games. Any notion that it was going to be easy would have been foolhardy by us or anybody else."

Game 4 is surely now of the "must win" variety. And frankly, Game 5 is pretty much in the same bin.

And Carlisle and his team between now and Tuesday Night must continue to try to figure out the problems that may not have solutions to keep their NBA Title dreams alive.

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Mavericks v Heat 6/2/11 GM 2 ADS

Mavs: 95
Heat: 93

It took Dallas only 6 minutes to erase the barrage of dunk highlights that were cued up on ESPN to be followed by lots of "booyahs" and put this series at a 1-1 tie.

Against insurmountable odds, Dallas was able to sneak back into the game and the series while sifting through the complacent bombarding of Miami three pointers in the 4th quarter. Miami went 2 of 11 from beyond the arc and shot 11 of their 18 total shots from long distance in the 4th quarter, posting an ADS of 18.3.

Notable Make/Miss differentials for GM 2 and the series

(GM2 Make/Miss) (Series Make/Miss)
Heat: 11.2/18.1..............................12/15.5

James: 11.5/21.1.............................12.4/17.1
Wade: 5.8/21..................................8.5/16.1

Mavs: 10/13.5.............................11.1/13.3
Terry: 9.4/16..............................15.1/17.5
Barea: 4.5/12.8.............................3.7/12.2

		ADS	ADS+
1st	Dal	12.9	11.3
	Mia	16.4	16.4
2nd	Dal	11.7	10.1
	Mia	14.1	12.7
3rd	Dal	10.5	9.1
	Mia	10.4	9.0
4th	Dal	12.2	11.7
	Mia	18.3	15.8
Total	Dal	11.9	10.6
	Mia	14.9	13.5

Side Notes
- Dwayne Wade had a game high 36 points from 13/20 shooting.
- Heat suffered their 1st loss at home in the 2011 playoffs.
- Dirk hit a layup with 0:03 left on the clock to give Mavs the lead
- Chris Bosh is now a combined 9/34 shooting for 26.5%

Click here to read Bob's Morning After for Game 2

Mavericks 5/31/11 FGM/A ADS ADS+ Barea 2/7 14 12.4 Chandler 4/6 3.2 2.3 Haywood 1/2 4 4 Kidd 2/7 19.6 19.6 Marion 9/14 4.2 4.0 Stojakovic 0/0 - - Nowitzki 10/22 12.9 12.3 Stevenson 3/6 24 24 Terry 5/11 13 10.4 Team Total 36/75 11.9 10.6

Heat 5/31/11 FGM/A ADS ADS+ Anthony 0/0 - - Bosh 4/16 8.8 8.4 Chalmers 3/8 19.8 19.8 Haslem 1/3 16 16 Howard 0/0 - - Bibby 5/8 23.9 23.9 James 8/15 16 15.1 Miller 0/3 24.7 24.7 Wade 13/20 11.8 9.3 Team Total 34/73 14.9 13.5

What is ADS? Read the FAQ and find out.
Thanks to Adam Rosen for the data.

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Tweets from Game 2 NBA Finals

ggressniff Yeah Dude
by SportsSturm
one vid that @SportsSturm may be talking about: http://youtu.be/rvnY19IFe34
3 Jun Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Awesome stuff here about the X's and O's of Mavs comeback - http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/06/03/the-play-that-sparked-dallas-comeback/
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@MikelDallas @bigjondaniel thank you, gents.
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
RT @pwip Video: Go Crazy AAC http://youtu.be/EkZ4VwX9Nt4 http://youtu.be/1g4dpCIfjMs >> Holy cow. That incites sports emotion!
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
DMN - Mavs Morning After Game 2 http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/sturms-morning-after-game-2---mavericks.html
3 Jun

WylieCody Cody Wylie
by SportsSturm
Hate to pick on Heat fans, but you can't bring a broom to Game 2 of a 7-game su.pr/1tUWCA”@SportsSturm bob you follow @si_vault
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Wow. Maybe this year IS different.
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@APMar84 thanks coach. But that has nothing to do with my point.
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@drumrboy93 for sure.
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@APMar84 the offense in the final 3 minutes. If you don't believe me, believe his coach.
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Arrogant? Nah. yfrog.com/h0rdzvaj
3 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
LeBron is as talented as they come. But his arrogance is his biggest enemy.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Smash and grab heist.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@beevomav I didn't make a pick, Sherlock. Since round 1.
2 Jun

OldHossRadbourn Old Hoss Radbourn
by SportsSturm
And with that shot, D. Nowitzki made basket ball palatable again for 25,000,000 white people.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
It's clear: The Mavs only respond to tough love tweets. I need to get ugly sooner. My bad.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Let's go get a ___ ____ Snack!
2 Jun

marcvincenti Marc Vincenti
by SportsSturm
@SportsSturm Nobody move.
2 Jun

GSF_23 بئلال
by SportsSturm@
@SportsSturm I'm waiting for Buster Posey to drain a 3 against Dallas...
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I wonder if there are any more flights tonight back to Dallas?
2 Jun

sc0ttwest Scottw
by SportsSturm@
@SportsSturm we need Miami to plan a parade
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Um. I may be out of optimism. Feel free to freak out.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Kidd, Jet, and Dirk. Must be way better from "big 3"
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I realize I had these guys losing to Portland, but let's not forget the degree of difficulty to win games in June. Hang in there. 9:16 left
2 Jun

Marcheesi Marcus Taylor
by SportsSturm
@SportsSturm the old grey wolf! twitpic.com/565b4g
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@chadandrus 75-71? Come on. You know this league better than I do. They don't have style points.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Composure.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I hate to admit it, but Kidd has been bad.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I don't like the whiny body language. Freaking stop the bleeding!
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@ytsurcarver wasn't me bro. I have defended him to Dan. You are confused.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
No, I did not check in. That is Brian Cardinal. Could be looked at as either desperation or out of ideas. Or both.
2 Jun

Earl_Thomas Earl Thomas
by SportsSturm
Dallas mavs coach look like Jim Carey..
2 Jun

espn_macmahon Tim MacMahon
by SportsSturm
Jason Terry's right wrist appears to be bothering him. Trainer Casey Smith was working on it while teams were shooting.
2 Jun

tuttleputter Brad Shasteen
by SportsSturm@
@SportsSturm ur a dumbass
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Now, in other news, Dirk and Jet have to do better. Dirk 3-10, Jet 1-5. Not going to work in 2nd Half.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Oh, stop. All of you. A halftime lead? The game still doesn't start for another quarter. Knee Jerking All over Texas.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Keep your heads, people. 51-51. Right where you want to be.
2 Jun

MFollowill Mark Followill
by SportsSturm
9-2 Miami after Lebron got 3rd foul...huge squandered opportunity
2 Jun

culrich13 Chris Ulrich
by SportsSturm@
@SportsSturm at the bar: Wade Heat jersey, red ankee hat, and wearing an elbow sleeve. I wish I was joking.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Look, I am multi-tasking. Proof reading is a low priority. Our/Are. Work it out.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
So, Wade and Lebron are going off - Dirk is 3-8 - and the Mavs are up 9? Sounds good.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
It looks like are hopes are pinned to DeShawn Stevenson. I wish I was kidding.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
"The Heat is On"; proving "Rock and Roll, Part 2" is not that bad.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
That dunk by Wade was beyond goaltending unless the rules have changed back to the 1963 interpretation. And, I mean his first dunk. :)
2 Jun

TheFullerTron Adam Fullerton
by SportsSturm
@SportsSturm Udonis Haslem comin' yo!
2 Jun

DEZ_88 Dez Bryant
by SportsSturm
Headed to pappadeaux
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Dirk doesn't even watch that shot go in. He knew when it left his hands.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
@
@DoomsDaddy I am really worried about my credibility.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
The Heat have taken 9 3's. This is good. I promise.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Haywood has Dampier hops. Or, one of those weight belts that improves your vertical on. Take it off before the game.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I love the guy that wants them to block out better on that Lebron rebound dunk. With what, a F-16?
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Good gravy, that narcissistic jackwagon can dunk.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
This trip has shown me that the word "suck" is played out. Dallas does it, too, but wow. It constitutes about 55% of the vocabulary.
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
DeShawn thinks he is Jordan. Sorry, even when he makes it you have to get him out of there.
2 Jun

gordonkeith Gordon Keith
by SportsSturm
Save us, Dirkules. http://twitpic.com/563zpl
2 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Look for Rhynes in the Corby seats. #notcommonmen
2 Jun
»

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Please. One time, baby. One time. One time!!!

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The Morning After: Game 2 - Mavericks 95, Heat 93 (1-1)

http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/sturms-morning-after-game-2---mavericks.html


On May 23, the Dallas Mavericks pulled off one of the most improbable victories in team history. They rallied from 15 points behind in the final 5 minutes of a game that was completely dominated by the opponent and the loss seem assured. The next morning I threw out some pretty bold claims that;

What followed was some of the most unexplainable, historic, and chaotic basketball most have ever witnessed.

Years from now, this was the type of game that those who weren't at the arena will claim they were and those who went to sleep when the lead was 15 will always deny it.

This was the win that you had to see to believe. And really, it still is not easy to comprehend.

You can watch 1,000 NBA Games and never see that. The Dallas Mavericks did something so unlikely in Game 4 in Oklahoma City after a night of such disappointing results, that one can easily summarize the moments late last night under the heading of, "It might just be their year".

1,000 games? Was that writer-hyperbole? Given that 3 games later, they did it again - this time in the NBA Finals - either says I was guilty of a gross exaggeration or we just witnessed the 2nd basketball miracle in 10 days.

This time the 15 point lead was with 7:14 to play, but a comeback seemed all the more unlikely given the architects of this lead were veteran superstars who had almost no peers on the planet when it comes to measuring their abilities.

There had been one demoralizing moment after another. One monster dunk after another. One ridiculous shot made from great distance after another. One thunderous celebration after another. The Mavs looked beaten. Demoralized. Even a little whiny about the way they were being bullied and pushed around on the court.

This 2011 NBA Finals was Dallas' shot at redemption. They finally could get critics off their back by showing up huge in these Finals. They are a team loaded with different stories, but they all have one big thing in common - no trophies (Save for the one tattooed on Jason Terry). They are veterans unified in the "close, but no cigar" club.

And here, in their moment of need in Game 2, those who wanted and needed this the most were the ones having the worst night. Dirk Nowitzki was having a very tough shooting night. He was 3-10 at the half and appeared to be struggling. Jason Terry looked awful yet again offensively for most of the first 3 1/2 quarters. And very unexpectedly, their veteran point guard, Jason Kidd looked his age of 38. Kidd committed many turnovers and his always dominant assist to turnover split was a very average 4 to 4.

During breaks in play, observers were allowed to jump to conclusions. And when Dwyane Wade hit a 3 in front of the Mavericks bench to make it 88-73 with 7 minutes left, almost everyone watching across the world felt that was the dagger in the heart of Game 2 and maybe the entire series. The Heat were too strong. They were too good. And the Mavericks veterans, led by Dirk, Jet, and Kidd, were a nice story, but there would be no fairy tale ending.

But, I keep coming back to the Mavericks marketing slogan for these playoffs; "This Year is Different". Trust me, the trash bins are full of cheesy and pointless playoff slogans from all of the local teams over the years that didn't connect. But, this one is so perfect that I want to personally congratulate who every came up with it. Because, that is the issue with the Mavericks and their fandom and it captures the vibe so perfectly. Every time something goes wrong, the emails and tweets come pouring in that "it is the same old Mavericks" and "why don't we ever learn from these guys?" I am as guilty of this feeling as anyone. When you watch a team that seems in reasonable position to contend for a title for almost a decade - but something always goes wrong - you are conditioned to expect the same results. Perhaps it is a defense mechanism in many of us to soften the death blow when it inevitably arrives.

Regardless, despite seeing a similar miracle 10 days prior, I believe all precincts reporting last night around the time of the Wade 3 (followed by an elongated Wade/Lebron celebration right in front of the Mavericks bench) showed that there was no optimism to be found. This team was being dismantled in Miami; a sports city that has also given Dallas disappointment as the sites of Super Bowl V, Super Bowl X, Super Bowl XIII, and the 2006 NBA Finals. Miami is not where Dallas miracles occur.

And then, slowly, the game started getting back in range. Granted, at the time, nobody knew what we were looking at, but Jason Terry started hitting a few shots. The defense started looking able. And perhaps most importantly, the Miami Heat took their foot off the gas.

Anytime there is a historic comeback, there are certainly two sides to every story. Just ask fans of Oklahoma City. What Dallas sees as an amazing rally in their city is categorized there as more of a showing of immaturity from their young studs. The Thunder allowed the rally because of poor shots, poor composure, and inexperience.

Well, last night, as wonderful an effort it was from the Mavericks to pull this victory from the jaws of defeat, it is easy to find those who wonder if the rally last night told us more about Miami than it did about Dallas. You see, last night revealed the biggest weakness on a Miami team that appears to be without weaknesses. They play an extremely arrogant brand of basketball. It is amazing and unmatched for all of its excellence, but they also have all of the symptoms of a team that falls victim to believing they are invincible.

And the Miami arrogance struck them right between the eyes last night. Credit the Mavericks for taking full advantage, because that was not easy, but when forced to tell the story of Game 2, I feel compelled to lay this one right at the feet of those stars that were willing to have a "Yes, We Did" rally before they ever played a game.

It is arrogance that launches 30 3-pointers. As we suggested in Game 1, even if they hit those long perimeter shots, they are still playing into the Mavericks hands. The Mavs have a very hard time dealing with teams that drive the ball to the rim. And it seems when the Heat are aggressive, they can get to the rim with ease - especially against the zone. But, the cheese in the mousetrap is so inviting. Especially when the first few go in and the crowd goes nuts. They average 16 attempted 3-point shots a game, but in the NBA Finals, they are taking 27 per game. More of those shots mean fewer trips to the line and the rim. Advantage Mavericks.

It is arrogance that causes the team to stop running offense when the game got tight. Lebron on one possession with less than 2 minutes to play dribbled the ball 20 times outside the 3-point arc before launching a 25-foot heave as the shot clock went down. Why run plays when you can just make a 3 anytime you want, right? Well, the shot missed and the rally door was left open. And what is more arrogant that one star ignoring his star-teammate who had 36 points for much of the final few minutes?

And yes, it is arrogance that causes you to not use a foul or a double team on the last possession of the game. Dirk had the ball up high and he knew that the foul was coming because Miami still had a foul to give. Pretty much any team in that situation would foul Dirk and make the Mavericks use some of those last precious seconds. Also, pretty much any team would double-team Dirk in those final seconds rather than risk getting beat by an opponent's best player. But, Miami was sure they could just play him straight up and swat whatever he attempts into the 2nd deck.

And in the post game, the players on Miami pretty much admitted that they were supposed to foul him. Just like they admitted they were supposed to run their offense instead of dribble the ball into the ground 20 times. Eric Spoelstra told his players what to do. But, they made evidently made decisions on the floor that seemed to dismiss what they were asked to do by their coach.

But, regardless of the reasons that both Oklahoma City (youth and inexperience) and Miami (arrogance and carelessness) left the doors open for Dallas, this Dallas team had to hit a very high amount of clutch shots to take full advantage. And make them they did. They also scrambled for loose balls and were able to steal the ball away. 5 players were on the court during this stretch (Dirk, Jet, Kidd, Shawn Marion, and Tyson Chandler) and every single one of them had moments of greatness down the stretch.

Dirk Nowitzki, however, stole the show late. A player who has much of the basketball world finally recognizing as the dominant player that he is, took over late in the game - like he did in that miracle in OKC - and scored the team's final 9 points. A largely forgettable performance from the big German for much of the night ended in our memories as one of his most heroic efforts. Using the left hand that was much discussed over the last few days for the game's final drive was just another brick in the wall of his legend. So clutch. So sure. He had to make Miami pay for that disrespect of not double-teaming one of the league's most "unguardable" scorers on the final possession. And make them pay he did with a finishing drive to the basket that will be long remembered.

It was a comeback that seemed to be stolen from the famous fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare", the Mavericks might have saved their chance at a World Title. Somehow, they survived one of the more absurd dunking exhibitions ever seen in a NBA Finals game and left with the only thing that truly matters; the victory. There is no doubt that Miami has a multitude of match-up advantages up and down the rosters, but after two games, this series is all squared at 1-1. This seemed like the ultimate "smash and grab" heist, but it doesn't matter how a team achieves a victory.

What happens from here will be very interesting. The Heat are so powerful that this might be the wake-up call that makes them understand that games are not won until they are over. On the other hand, the drama in their room could spark up if adversity continues in Dallas.

Meanwhile, for Dallas, they had to work very hard to get their road split. But, now, they are quite sure that they can play with Miami. They won a game in Miami and were only trailing by 4 in the other game with 3 minutes to play. They fully understand that the most amazing dunk in basketball history was still only worth 2 points. The fans can go crazy and the networks can show the highlights over and over, but in the end, it is still just 2 points. Now, they have 3 straight home games and even get an extra day of rest for their old legs before the battle resumes.

The Mavericks have shown us that they do not give in. They came back huge on the Lakers at the Staples Center, on the Thunder in Oklahoma City, and now this in Miami. They have calm in the storm and often survive to get the last laugh. This is a veteran team that makes veteran plays at just the right time to survive. They are going to need better performances across the board - take care of the ball better, shoot better, and get performances from more players (Peja!) to have a chance to beat this Miami team 4 times.

But, again, just when people on both sides of this series were getting ready to ponder the possibility of a sweep, the series took a real turn with one Dirk finger-roll. Apparently, the series has only just begun.

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Tweets from NBA Finals Game 1

tsSturm Bob Sturm
DMN - Mavs Morning After Game 1 - http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/sturms-morning-after-game-1---miami-92-m.html
1 Jun

LeBronJamesEgo LeBron James' Ego
by SportsSturm
IT FEELS GREAT TO FINALLY BE A NBA CHAMPION!!!!!!!!!
1 Jun

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
What happened with Jonah Hill? He took down all of his basketball tweets. Who got the screen shots?
1 Jun

M_Copeland Michael Copeland
by SportsSturm@
@SportsSturm it's Georgie time: yfrog.com/h0woulzzj
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
100 percent of teams that win Game 1 take a 1-0 lead.
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Offense dried up. Nothing is easy. Need more rain. Defense is keeping them alive.
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Carlisle's wacky sub ideas are curious. It's go time. Kidd and Matrix over JJ and DeShawn IMO. Quickly.
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Ok. That 3 was sweet. I'll give him that.
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
I count 1 2 point basket so far.
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Can't tweet much in here. But if DeShawn sends Lebron flying that is 5 games. Absurd.
31 May

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Hold me.
31 May

P1BradC Brad C
by SportsSturm
I don't know what to say really...
31 May
»

SportsSturm Bob Sturm
Hey, @swish41 - save the universe. One basket at a time. #firstto4
31 May

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