How come the pistons have had the same team for three years yet Flip Saunders can't seem to do much with them? After horrendous performances vs Cleveland and Miami, maybe someone forgot to tell Flip that this isn't Minnesota.

mavs vs. heat


who's your pick?

go mavs!!!

well....the drafting of Darko Milicic as the #2 overall pick instead Carmelo, Dwayne Wade, and a couple others really hurt the Pistons......who need a younger player that can dribble penetrate better than Chauncey Billups.

I never liked the Darko pick but Carmelo or Wade may or may not have gotten the playing time and development they needed right away. The Pistons liked Prince so they didn't have a need for Carmelo. Not many thought Wade would be this good, certainly not teams three and four from that years draft. They needed a power forward/center badly at the time since they didn't have Rasheed yet.

The younger guard is #1 on their priority list for sure this offesason. That and trying to re-sign Ben Wallace although he wants a ton of money.

GO MAVS!!

Go Heat!!!
 

^^ I think somebody just shared their latest screensaver :cool:

this series is going 6 or 7 games. ...I just don't know whose going to take it at the end. The benches will tell the story, here. Whichever team has the better, more consistent bench play, will likely win.

I'm a huge Avery Johnson fan, for all he represents and if Dallas wins, I'll be most happy for him. But Pat Riley is a straight-up beast on that bench and will bring a ton of championship experience to the battle. ...and dude, reminiscent of his Showtime days, is still probably the best dressed coach in the Association.

^^
Perhaps he will be the latest screensaver.
I also think it will go 6 or 7, and Miami, with Riles' championship savvy, can steal a game or two in the D. But Dallas is going to be tough -- my feeling is that Dirk the German will get his points, and the focus will be stopping the others.

I discussed this with a friend this morning. Dirk Novitski (sp?) has stepped it up during these playoffs -- but the title round is different. Yes, he got to the rim against Phoenix, but that will be a 'whole nuther matter against Diesel, Alonzo Mourning, et. al. Same question for D-Wade, but Miami is a more physical team than Dallas. And remember, (although I'd rather not) Riley took a physical, albeit rim-bending Knicks team to the finals in '95.

I'm watching in particular Posey, Payton and A. Mourning, who has chased a ring for a loooong time. Dude will leave it all on the floor. If Dallas' bench matches their intensity, it will be a monster series.

...geez, ya think the Kobester and Mr. Buss will be watching the series? and is Shaq flying you in for the games? :)

I don't think Shaunie would dig me at the games. :p
And I think that Kob**** and Dr. Buss are probably the two biggest Maverick fans now.

Re: Go Heat!!!
 

Shaq in rare form.

I pick Miami in seven. this will be a Dwayne Wade/ Shaq Moment.

I thought Nowitzki relied much more on his jumper than taking it to the rim during the Phoenix series. I think he will eat Shaq alive in the Finals because he will force Shaq and Mourning to come out and guard him from the blocks. He is too quick for Shaq and has the height over Mourning. Plus I think Dallas has a far better bench.


Dallas wins 4-2

game starts tonight! i will be watching at dave and busters with some co-workers.

Went to the game last night.......box seats.....bad ass.

Why anyone thought Miami was going to win this series is beyond me. Dallas is so much better than the Heat, its almost funny. I think people forget that the Mavs swept their season series aswell and embarassed them both times. Dallas is also capable of rotating 10 guys at any point during the game with confidence.....something Miami could only dream of, unless they think someone like Mike Doleac could help them.

I am revising my former prediction of a 4-2 series win to 4-1. Actually I wouldn't even mind the Mavs only taking 1 of 3 in Miami so I can go back to AA Center and watch them win the title in Dallas.