Miami Heat - Beast in the East - Matadors the Bulls, Arrange Rematch VS Dallas Mavericks

I am part of the stunned crowd whom the Miami Heat snuffed the life out of nowhere as they beat the top seed Chicago Bulls in Game 5 83 - 80 to finalize a rematch of the 2006 of NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks.

Minutes earlier, I was convinced that the Heat will allow the Bulls this win and just end the series at home in Miami in Game 6. All of a sudden, Dwyane Wade wakes up, conspires with Lebron James and finishes the Bulls.

It hurts. But the Miami Heat is really the Beast in the East.

The Miami Heat
2011 NBA Eastern Conference Champion
Imge from Wikipedia

Deja vu.

The Heat did to the Bulls what the Mavs did to the Thunder. Lock down defense in the end game and clutch offense. Wow.

But I'm crediting this win of the Heat to Wade, who has struggled some 90% part of the game. While D-Rose will only regret how it ended up.

Wade and Dirk willing their teams to the finals for a rematch. How poetic can that be?

Heartbreaking for D-Rose, Thibs & the Bulls and KD, Brooks & the Thunder. They couldn't will their respective teams over the hump. But they are still young. Playoff failures should drive them more to better themselves. Every star of a team that undergoes this usual process will only make them cherish it more when they finally win a championship for their team.

I pray that Dirk, Kidd and the Mavericks prevail. Because if they win the title, it will signify that success in the NBA comes from getting a group guys, go through all the struggles, pay their dues, until finally claiming the grand prize. I still believe that there is no shortcut to success.

If the Heat win it all this early, they would show a new blueprint for a fast championship - talent and money to pay for it - to be that effective. I'm sorry but that doesn't feel right and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

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Dallas Mavericks Best in the West | Mavs Crushes Thunder and My NBA-Fortune-Telling Career

The Dallas Mavericks once again displayed grace under pressure, coming back and beating the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of their Western Conference Final showdown 100 - 96 and march to the 2011 NBA Finals.

Dirk and the Mavs used the same strategy they used in Game 4 - make the game close in the end and make the young Thunder wilt under their defense and pressure of the moment. The Dallas Mavericks are this year's best in the west.

And in so doing, made my NBA champ prediction and my sports fortune-telling foray to its immediate death.

The Dallas Mavericks
2011 NBA Western Conference Champion
Image from Wikipedia

I also saw the Thunder's Game 4 collapse. And it was so obvious the way Kevin Durant walk to the bench during the Mavs amazing rally. Nothing's going for him and his whole team.

In today's game 5, the Thunder gave a spirited fight for it but in the end couldn't find a way to solve the Mavs defense. And made things worse with late turnovers.

Granted that a bounce here or there could probably changed the outcome, it surprised me that Durant never showed an angry disposition that that their butts are getting kicked again in the latter part of the fourth quarter and their season on the line. I saw submission. And that may be credited to the Mavs defense headed by Shawn Marion.

I began to dislike Marion when he wanted out of Phoenix, altering the core of my favorite team. But in Game 5, I admire Marion's defense, hustle and court presence.

It looks like that we are heading to a Dallas - Miami finals rematch. And if that would be the case, I wish the Dirk and the Mavs to finally exorcise the ghost of playoff pasts. And it is so fitting for them since they disposed the defending champs LA Lakers with a sweep. Plus, the storyline for Dirk and Kidd would be awesome.

Common, D-rose, Thibs and the Bulls. Help me make at least half of my NBA Finals predictions. Let those talented guys who converged in South Beach wait another year to reach the NBA finals!

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2011 NBA Playoff Openers, Sign of Things to Come?

The 2011 NBA Playoffs are underway and I pray that openers are sign of the things to come - an exciting play-off all through - out.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs
Are the Series-Openers Sign of things to come?
Image from here.

Today is actually Day 2 of the 2011 NBA Playoffs and it featured closed games and upsets.

First was the Memphis Grizzlies upset of the West's no. 1 seed, the San Antonio Spurs. Shane Battier, who rejoined his team via mid-season trade, nailed a clutch trey to help the Grizzlies notched their franchise's first ever playoff win, 101 - 98.

Chris Paul then showed the defending & 3-peat-seeking Los Angeles Lakers that his New Orleans Hornets still got some sting left even without David West, 109 - 100.

The other two higher seed escpaed the upset ax. The Boston Celtics survived the New York Knicks attempt while the Oklahoma City Thunder got passed the Denver Nuggets.

In Day 1, only the Atlanta Hawks upset no.4 Orlando Magic. The other higher seeds prevailed but not after encountering tougher showing from the lesser seeds. The Chicago Bulls came back to defeat the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat held on against the Philadelphia Sixers and the Dallas Mavericks trounced the Portland Trail Blazers.

I hope that these close games and upsets will continue through out the playoffs. And I am planning to stay at my friends' boarding house to watch the 2011 NBA Playoffs via their cable TV. Hehehe!

It's a long shot but I am dreaming for a Bulls - Thunder finals with Kevin Durant and the Thunder prevailing in 7 games.

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