Game 4 - What to look for

After seeing Dwayne Wade's performance in the last two games, one thing is certain for the Mavericks: Keep him out of the paint. Mavericks will certainly defend Wade tightly to make sure he does not score as well as he has been.

But this raises the question, what about Lebron James? Sure he has not contributed as much as he usually does during the last two games but if he steps up it will become a problem. Doubling up on Wade will only mean more openings for Lebron. If the Heat decide to take advantage of the tighter defence on Wade, they should do so by making Lebron penetrate the paint instead.

The Heat on the other hand have to make sure they do not foul. They especially have to make sure Dirk Nowitzki does not get to the free throw line. Nowitzki is very troublesome with his great shooting skills, already making over thirty consecutive free throw shots. If Heat can pressure the Maverick offensive without fouling and keeping Nowitzki tightly defended they will win Game 4.

How the Mavericks can win the NBA Finals

Dirk Nowitkzi / Keith Allison

Although Dallas can not match the star power of Miami they do have their own superstar and a strong supporting cast. Here are three things the Mavericks will have to do to keep up with the Heat.

1. Give Dirk Nowitzki the Ball

On offense this is the one man which would create a defensive match-up against the Heats elite defense. Lebron James doesn't have the height to guard Nowitzki's lethal jumper and the Heats big men don't have the quickness to stay in front of him. Nowitzki has been unstoppable in the playoffs thus far and this must continue to be for Dallas to have a chance of winning the series.

2. Shoot the three

Though this may be difficult considering the speed of Maimi's defense and their ability to close out on three point shooters Dallas has been lethal from three so far. In the playoffs the Mavericks have hit a remarkable 38.8% from three. Hitting timely threes will help put away the Heat or keep the game close when the Heat go on a run which they surely will at some point.


3. Control Lebron James and Dwayne Wade

The Mavericks don't have any single player who can match-up with either James or Wade. In order to keep them under control Dallas will have to throw double teams and zone defenses at Lebron and Wade to keep them out of the paint. Forcing Wade and Lebron into shooting jumpers and securing the rebounds when they miss will keep Dallas in the game.

Mavericks seeks to prove they can beat the Heat

As the NBA Finals approaches, a rivalry is renewed as the Mavericks take on the Heat again after the Mavs lost to the Heat in the 2006 Finals. Both teams have gone through significant changes after five years. Even though the Mavs could not fill their roster with All-Star players, they have improved for the better.

Here are few things to look out for in the Mavs:

1. Dirk Nowitzki is still the MVP of his team. Nowitzki have improved his defense to complement his offense. Nowitzki is fast on the dribble and he can easily pull up and hit the fade away. He can affect both his team and the opposing team mentally when he makes tough shots and lifts his team spirit up when they are on a scoring drought.

2. Jason Kidd is arguably the best pure point guard left in the playoffs. He can find his teammates open and make excellent passes. In the playoffs he is making and attempting more three pointers than in the regular season. The Heat can not afford to lay back against Kidd just because he is 38 years old.

3. Since the Heat play really tight defense, the Mavs will be taking plenty of three-pointers. If the three-pointers go in, it will open up the defense inside the paint allowing players to drive in and get the rebound.

NBA finals: What to look for from the Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki / Keith Allison - Wikimedia Commons

It is safe to say that the Dallas Mavericks have both shocked and impressed many in the 2011 postseason. Not only have they swept the Los Angeles Lakers, they also were able to defeat the much younger Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite all of the flashy plays, the Mavericks were still able to pull through and make it to the finals.

In order to win the Finals, the Mavericks need to:
1) Keep the confidence and the aggressiveness they exhibited in the semifinals against the Lakers and conference finals against the Thunder. These two modes are big time factors in playoff success, as stated by Jack Nicklaus. "Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your talent, there is only one way to obtain it-work."

2) Use their height to their advantage. The Dallas Mavericks have a seven foot tall power foward, Dirk Nowitzki, who is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and definitely the best shooter for his height. In his stint against the Lakers, Nowitzki averaged 25.3 points a game, shooting at 0.727% from three pointer range. In the Conference Finals, he averaged 32.2 points a game. His smart shot selection and ability to play in the clutch will surely be a challenge for Miami to defend. Dirk has also been the MVP of the 2011 playoffs so far.

3) Keep up their solid defense. In the postseason against the Lakers, Dallas was able to clog up the lane and slow down Kobe Bryant. This same defense will keep LeBron James and Dwayne Wade out of the paint, and pose a harder challenge for Miami to use their speed, youth, and athletic ability. Dallas' defense also made Pau Gasol disappear. If they play the same against Miami, Chris Bosh will not be as effective, and he will be unable to fill in for James' and Wade's lower point totals.

4) Keep their guns warm and loaded. Lights-out shooting has always been a part of Dallas’ formula. In addition to Dirk, Peja Stojakovic has also shown his ability to hit threes. Jason Kidd has also stepped up. It is safe to say that Dallas has a trio of all-time range shooters. You cannot forget about Jason Terry, because this guy can get hot. In Game 4 against the Lakers, he had a playoff record-tying three-point performance.

5) Use their experience to their advantage. All four of the primary shooters have tons of playoff experience and have a track record of performing well in the clutch. It is safe to say that they will not be intimidated, even when the word Finals is printed on the floor. Miami lacks experience, because two of its three star players are missing an NBA ring, and the only player who has (Wade) did it in a landscape nothing like the NBA of today.

What to Expect From the Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki/ Keith Allison via Getty Images

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is finally in sight, and it is important to recognize the key players and advantages that the Dallas Mavericks are bringing to the game. One should look for :

1. The Mavericks will put foward Dirk Nowitzki to make crucial jumpshots and pick up their offensive game-play overall.
2. Defensively, the Mavs stand capable of limiting the Miami Heat's scoring ability with Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and DeShawn Stevenson.
3. Overall, they must be able to maintain their high points per game average while stopping the "Big Three" from the Heat, which includes Wade, James and Bosh.

For the Mavericks, Caron Butler's ability to play in any of the playoffs games still remains a mystery although Coach Rick Carlisle said it was not likely. This absence probably wont impact the offensive play too much for the Mavs but they could always use his consistent shooting. Before Butler was injured, he averaged about 15 points per game and that would only add to the high scoring average held by the Mavs. In terms of defense, the Mavericks will look for the ability of Tyson Chandler in playing strong defense that will shake off Dwyane Wade and Lebron James. His ability to pickup rebounds can also aid the Mavs in setting up for good shooting plays.

Why Miami Will Take It All

Dwayne Wade / Flickr

1. LeBron James and the Big 3 - The biggest factor in this series will be the coordination of James, Wade, and Bosh. If you double Lebron, Dwyane Wade will score. If you box out Wade and Lebron, Chris Bosh will make lay-ups. As long as these three are in sync, the offensive is flawless. Lebron going for the dunk is almost guaranteed scoring or foul. This massive guy is like a bull when he rushes to the rim.

2. Defense - This is a strong point, and was key to their victory against Chicago Bulls in game 5. Even if the offensive scores, the main point in their tight defense is putting pressure, wasting the shot clock, and ultimately causing the offensive to take bad shots.

3. Homecourt Advantage - During the playoffs the Maimi Heat have not lost a game played at home. The finals consist of four home games for the Heat. If Heats can win both home games, then they will stay in this series even if they lose the next three games in Dallas. Game 6 and 7 are both in Miami so winning both home games are essential.

Miami Heat's fight for victory.

The Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks have very little experience with obtaining a championship, which makes this victory that much sweeter for both teams. Miami has only won once, and the Mavericks have never won. Both teams also lost in the first round last season. The tension is high for these teams.
Miami has the upper hand for the finals with more points per game and less points allowed than Dallas. Also, with the big three, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, Miami became a hard team to beat. James tops his new rival, Dirk Nowitzki in rebounds and assists per game. Many people believe that Miami will win the finals because of the Heat's defense. In an interview of Derrick Rose, the Heat's defense was hard to penetrate. “Tonight was a tough night,” Rose said. “They played tough defense." But the Mavericks however, did improve their defense. Their improved defense is the largest factor in their advancement to the playoffs. But for Miami, the hardest part against Dallas will be going up against Nowitzki. James and Wayde will have a lot of work to do.