[Note from the writer: I apologize to my readers for not posting for a month or so. I have been dealing with some personal issues that have kept me from writing. That being said, thank you for checking back and I look forward to producing quality writing moving forward.]
There comes a time when a journalist has to become accountable for their words. It's an interesting concept, I'm far from a recognized expert but I still consider myself a solid, valuable voice of reason in the world of sports. Since I never wrote anything down it would be easy for me to take the easy way out and say that I had Dallas the whole way, but that would neither be honest, or right. I made a prediction about the NBA finals and I was 100% wrong.
Looking at the finals on paper, I gave more value to individual talents than I did to the concept of team and vision. Basketball is a game unlike any other where one player can be the difference and change a game, team or series. I submit two examples, both of them ended up facing one another in the finals this year, Le Bron James and Dirk Nowitzki. Last Season the Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the league, Le Bron infamously left his hometown last summer and with out that one player, the team went from first to worst. Last season, Cleveland was sniffing at the finals, this year they're #1 in the lottery. That is a remarkable effect on a team generated by one player. Cleveland went from 61 wins in the 09-10 campaign to 19 this previous season. It's reasonable to come to the conclusion that the presence of Le Bron James accounted for 42 wins. An effect unseen since Jordan retired the first time.
Hands down, the MVP of the playoffs was Dirk Nowitzki. The leadership he provided and with every clutch shot he hit, it became more and more obvious that he was hitting his stride at the perfect time, put the Mavericks on his back and carried them to the Larry O'Brien trophy. It may sound obvious but without Dirk, the Mavericks don't get past Portland in the first round, let a lone win the whole thing. Yet, this is my point, the drive, leadership and determination exuded by Nowitzki carried his team to the title. He had help, don't get me wrong. Marion locked down James and the role players hit big shots down the stretch but Dirk was the best player on the floor when he had to be and Dallas has their first championship because of it.
This being said, I looked at what Wade, James and Bosh had done together as a squad in the Olympics and it made me believe that Dallas would be lucky to mop the floor after the Heat walked away with the series. Miami was a more talented squad, but Dallas was the better team. When it came down to it, no matter how big of a run Miami went on , no matter how much they were up by early, Dallas would chip away at the lead and be in striking distance down the stretch. The last 5 minutes belonged to Dirk Nowitzki and it seemed like he hit another gear when it came down to it. Personally, I have never liked Dirk but throughout these playoffs, I will say it again; he was the best player on the floor.
In summation, I was wrong about several things in the playoffs. I thought a Miami win was a sure thing. I guess that's why they play the games and why I ask sports in the first place. You never know.
