Now it's 2-2. I still think Dallas will win the series, but Dwayne Wade has been pretty impressive the last couple of games (especially considering he's hurt).

I still have faith. Particularly because Shaquille hasn't had a Shaquille O'Neal game yet -- but it was a decent effort, even after "Gangsta Steakhouse" (sic) hard-fouled him. I love Dwyane Wade.

I didn't see the game, so I'm only going off the numbers: 17 and 13 last night with 50% from the stripe, so he's getting better. Did they double him a lot last night, I saw he only took 8 shots.

Jerry Stackhouse was lucky. the first thought I had when after He hard-fouled Shaq was " Jerry Stackhouse is about to die in Shaq's hands on National T.V.:eek: "

good thing cooler heads prevail.

Stack was lucky. The fans (including the Sarge, his Dad) booed and cursed, and Dwyane Wade came in and intervened, because the Diesel was hot.

Shaq wouldn't have done anything, he even said after the game that he didn't mind. It was a good hard fould. 5 years ago that wouldn't have been anything more than a personal. But in today's pussy rules laden NBA conceived by David Stern, you can't even look at another player without getting called for a flagrant. Stackhouse getting suspended is an absolute joke, especially in the Finals. When you have one of the classiest individuals (Avery Johnson) in the NBA say on the radio that it is an absolute joke and a travesty....then that should mean somehthing.

The Mavs have continually taken shots and elbows to the head in this series....I have seen it plenty of times as I have watched every game finish to end.

If anyone thinks he's hurt than you are an idiot. Thats all you hear about now with this series.....Dwayne Wade is hurt, Dwayne Wade this....shutup.

Just going by the team and media reports - maybe he's not hurt, I don't know and don't really care. I don't have a rooting interest in the series.

He put up 43 last night though, so if he is hurt, it's not slowing him down at all.

I'm not one to make excuses for a team.....but the Mavs got pretty screwed with 11 seconds left in OT last night. (allthough if they wouldn't have gone to hack a Shaq at the end of the 4th quarter they would have won the game by atleast 10.)

1.) Dwayne Wade catches the ball in air off the inbounds in the front court and then jumps into the back court, which was blatantly obvious right in front of the ref.
2.) Then he forearm shoves his way out of a double team and then grabs Josh Howard's shorts and throws him out of the way in the corner at the top of the baseline.
3.) He gets a foul called with 1.9 seconds left on what looked like a hand on his back. Foul was on Nowitzki, who clearly didn't touch him.
4.) Refs took the game out of the players hands and into their own. Complete BS.

...good series
 

I said at the outset this series is going 7 games and I didn't know who would win. But I give a slight edge to Miami because what experience there was, they had it. (Riley, Shaq).

As I thought the series has gotten more physical as it has progressed, which favors Miami. As a result, you've seen Novitski, Howard, et. al, settle for more jumpers and go to the rim less because they do not want to pay the physical price when they get there. (Zo, Shaq, Haslem).

I thought Stackhouse's Game 4 foul on Shaq was a flagrant (he made no play on the ball and brought his arms down on Shaq after contact) and I would have thrown him out of the game. Stackhouse's suspension was completely justified. The NBA is fortunate that Shaq is a mellow dude because Stackhouse could have been killed in the Miami Arena that night. Easily.

The games have gotten more competitive and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Dallas. Can Avery Johnson marshal the troops? Or will D-Wade be the first of his "class" to get a ring?

Tuesday Game 6 -- be there.

I will be there. for game 6 and 7. Sorry, but the foul wasn't a flagrant. I haven't heard one report from a single analyst that said it was a flagrant. Furthermore, Shaq has continually been allowed to do whatever he wants in the paint concerning physicality. The foul calling is completely unjustified. I mean c'mon, Dwayne Wade shoots as many freethrows as Dallas had COMBINED.....something is wrong with that picture.

The NBA has overhauled its rules so horribly that it has turned its players into a bunch of pussies. 5 or 6 years ago......that foul on Shaq would have been a personal. Thats why players like Wade and Lebron James should never be compared to Michael Jordon. Jordon and all of the greats of his era were abused night in and night out without the comfort of knowing that a foul would be called on something like am effing hand check.

......The NBA and its officiating have serious problems.

The foul should have been called on Devin Harris - if you watch the replay, Harris grabbed Wade's arm as he went up for the shot.

I was sure Dallas would win this series in 5 or 6 games. I can't believe it's going the other way right now.

Shaq, because of his size, is the hardest guy in the league to officiate. He dishes it out, but takes an an awful lot of punishment that never gets called too.

Basketball is the hardest of the big 3 pro sports to officiate, IMO. I officiate high school basketball in Ohio. Even on our level making sure no one gets an unfair advantage is hard. I think the NBA guys do the best they can and generally do a good job out there.

We just see the Stackhouse flagrant differently, but it's cool. As I said, I'd have thrown him out of the game. (Had Stack not been disciplined I think you would have seen a Miami player go hard at a Maverick in retailation. Not saying it's right, but I think it might have happened.)

I do agree with you that D-wade went over and back and should have been called for a backcourt violation. That foul on Wade the end of G5? I wouldn't have called it on that much contact; you want the players to decide it unless it's clearly excessive contact-- but Tim Legler said tonight on SportsCenter that it was a foul, not on Novitiski, but one of the others grabbed his arm.

D-Wade is getting to the line so much more than the Mavs because he's going to the basket. You're not going to get to the free throw line shooting jumpers-- it just won't happen. I think Dallas will be more aggressive in G6 and you'll see the FTs equal out a bit more.

...I loved MJ's game like everyone else, but superstars will always get the calls. MJ got his share, just like this era's superstars will get theirs.

If anyone it should have been him, but it still wasn't enought to warrant a foul at that time in a game. Besides, Wade should have been called for two offensive fouls and a back court violation before he drove the lane.

This series will probably go seven just because thats what the NBA wants.

agreed. you wonder how many times that happens

Congratulations to the Miami Heat on a great series win. Dallas played much better tonight than in Games 3-5, but Miami had a little more at the end. Maybe it was the "desperate veterans" (mourning, payton, walker) who brought a little more fire.

Dwayne Wade is a straight up beast. Period.

Steeltrap, are you headed to the victory parade in South Beach? :)

Dallas is in mourning.... the Mavs express train has been derailed. Now the local sportscasters are crying 'wait 'til next year!' I'm expecting die-hard Mavs fans to disembowel themselves in front of the American Airlines Center or in Mark Cuban's driveway...

Congrats on the Heat for winning their first champeenship! (I may live in Dallas, but I still consider Miami my hometown!)

Congratulations D. Wade, Diesel, Riles & Co.
 

http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg....lt-512x408.jpg

Even though Shaq was not the playoff diesel that I expect, I'm pleased with the result.:cool:

Maybe Mark Cuban can save a few bucks during the off season.

"Bad" officiating generally depends on your point of view, but truely bad officials are usually bad for both teams.

The officiating truly was piss poor.....but Dallas gave that series away by playing the exact same game that Detroit played against Miami in the Eastern Semis. No taking the ball to the hole and settling for jump shots. The Mavs played to preserve leads rather than take a killer instinct and try to win by 30. The better team lost the Finals and that is a fact.

I love when people complain about officiating.

Get Crazy Cuban to buy any other sports teams and I'll hate that team too. I saw him at a Bulls game once and he seriously needs a kick to the groin.

-Rudey

So the season is over - who do you want your team to get in the draft?

It looks like the Celts may be leaning towards Redick or Marcus Williams. It would be nice to get Williams; he's an NBA-ready point guard, can play defense, and is a pretty good shooter. Of course, the whole laptop-theft thing could be a problem...

If you're a Knicks fan, of course, you're probably just wishing you had a 1st round pick and hoping Thomas doesn't mess up the team anymore than he already has. Seriously, I'm wondering why anyone lets him run anything anymore.

I've been hearing that the Nuggets might take Gansey, which doesn't thrill me because I just kind of hate WVa. However, as long as it's not Pittsnogle, I can't complain too much. I'm kind of afraid of what's going to happen to the Nuggets after their late-season meltdown, but we'll see.

Also, this is hilarious.

I heard today that the Knicks traded away their first round pick for EDDIE CURRY???? What in God's name are they thinking.

Also, I was listening to ESPN Radio all morning driving from Dallas to Austin and the word on the street is that the Mavs are gearing up to sign Ben Wallace and or Kenyon Martin. I'm sorry , but if they could get the defensive boost from perennial Defensive MVP Wallace.....the titles will come soon.

Wallace would be a great fit in the Big D. Word from Detroit is that they want to re-sign him, but only for the right price.

Wallace was saying during the season that he wanted to stay in Detroit. That may not mean anything though.

Yes, the Knicks traded their first rounder for Curry. It was all part of Thomas' grand plan to sink the Knicks as quickly as possible. It's a weak draft, but still, a first rounder for a center who can't rebound or block shots?

The Bulls just signed Ben Wallace, 4 years, $60 million. Crazy. They're also trading Tyson Chandler, actually getting a good deal for him (P.J. Brown's expiring contract, and the possibility that J.R. Smith could turn into a player).

OMFG. The Bulls are going to kick ass.

And hey, at least the Nuggets are paying $$$$$$ to keep a dude who played THREE MINUTES last season. I hope that doesn't end up being a huge mistake.

The Bulls will be awesome, plus, they have the option of trading picks with the Knicks in 2007 (part of the legendary Eddy Curry trade). Next year's draft is very deep, so if the Knicks bomb again, the Bulls will look to be in good shape.

As for the Nuggets signing Nene; I've never understood the fascination with him. He always struck me as very overrated.

Yesterday was a sad day in Detroit. We lost Bbbbbbbbbbben Wallace and Stevie Yzerman :( Sad sad day

Losing Wallace in the short term sucks but I am not so sure on paying fifteen mill a year on the third and fourth years of that contract. Pistons are on the decline now for sure but appeared to be heading there anyway before losing Wallace. Getting Nazr Mohamed for five years was a desperation move methinks.

I hadn't heard about Stevie Y yet...:(

He announced his retirement yesterday. BUT... he hinted that he would still like to be involved in the Red Wings organization in another capacity. So, we're all hoping the Captain will be a Coach soon. When they said he'd been playing for Detroit since the age of 18 in 1983, I about choked because I was 18 in 1983 and I'm definitely too old to be playing hockey. Of course we don't blame him for retiring and it wasn't a surprise, it's still sad to see him go. We were glad we got a season out of him after the lock out year.

Absolutely. One of the true Detroit sports icons. I'm glad he is staying involved with the franchise.

I've heard about that signing yesterday on ESPN. A lot of money but It'll give them a very good defensive player.

Yeah, but he only scores 6 a game. In today's NBA...offense wins games. All you need is a mild defense. The ridiculous rule changes have turned the NBA into a bunch of pussies. You can'g put a finger on a guy now without a foul call....so the days of the rough and tough stringent defense are over.


.....oh, but they'll still let Shaq elbow people in the face and knock people into the third row of seats simply because he is "big." What a friggin joke. God I hate the NBA

Yeah, Dallas doesn't have anyone marketable hence the horrible calls. The NBA seems way too set up for me to watch regularily.

According to ESPN, Mavs are trading Marquise Daniels to Indy for Austin Croshere. Croshere's contract ends next season, and they were already loaded at the 3 spot, so not a bad deal for Dallas.

Glad to see LeBron James structure his contract extension in such a way that requires the Cavaliers to continue working to upgrade talent, increasing their chances for a title. ....heard Dwayne Wade is now considering taking a similar deal in Miami.