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.

Will the Heat come out on top?

The advantages the Heat have over the Mavericks are the following:

- Miami Heat is known for their tight defense. The main reason for the Chicago Bulls’ loss in game four was because of Miami’s defense. MVP Derrick Rose could not penetrate like he did in the regular season because he would be surrounded by two or three Miami jerseys.

- The Dallas Mavericks have too many old players, but this can be an advantage since they have more experienced players than the Heat. However, the Heat have speed and stamina which the Mavericks lack. Who would be able to keep up with “The Flash” Dwyane Wade? By the end of the third quarter, the Mavericks will be out of gas, while the Heat are still ready to go.

- The Dallas Mavericks are known for their excellence in three pointers. This would definitely be an advantage for the Mavericks. However, the Miami Heat have the 2011 three point champion; James Jones. Jones was the key to the Miami Heat’s victory in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.

The Edge The Mavs need to win

The Dallas Mavericks are a veteran team who all have come up short during the Finals. All of their players have been close so they know the feeling of defeat. In order for the Mavericks to be successful in this series, the following has to happen:

• Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 28.4 ppg and is only missed two free throws in the last round vs the Thunder. Dirk is doing great all around the court and he is virtually unguardable.

• They shoot 39% from three point range and average eight a game giving them 24 points from three land

• Their bench is strong, filled with pure scorers such as Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic . These guys come of the bench and  giving 10 to 15 points of offense per night.

• They have powerful paint game led by Tyson Chandler and Shawn Marion. These guys control the rebounding in the Mavs.

• The Mavs play great zone defense keeping Dwanye Wade out of the paint. If they can keep Wade under 20 points, it will be an interesting series to watch

One should review products before trading

Carmelo Anthony / Flickr

Currently, the Knicks are 7-11 with Carmelo Anthony as a New York Knick. How successful has this trade really been? With the thought of benefiting the Knicks, it is the Nuggets that have benefited so.far Comparing the Knicks to the 10-4 Nuggets, the Knicks definitely did not have this change in mind.

Now 35-36, this team has sunk from the original 28-26 and are under .500 for the first time since November. This downward trend could be due to the fact that the young players have been traded off, right when they were getting their team chemistry down. The results of the Nuggets after the trade is proof of their growth. Perhaps if the Knicks did not do such a trade, especially trading away their young players, this would have been the current record for the Knicks.. Sure Carmelo Anthony is a highly valued offensive player, but he does not have the passing and defensive ability such as great players like Lebron James or Dwyane Wade. Their defense is lacking, and the slack has to be picked up. If the team keeps up good defense against the opposing teams, Carmelo Anthony will have an easier time to shoot. Based on their recent games, the Knicks are getting crushed during the fourth quarter. Why? Their defense is sloppy. Anthony has to defend more than he can score in the fourth quarter. Instead of playing individual games, the team has to form some chemistry, fast!