Miami and Dallas will both be making their first-ever appearances in the NBA Finals this year. Two clubs with offensive mentalities get together for what should be a nice change of pace from a year ago in the final series of the season. No, this isn't Detroit and San Antonio playing defensive-oriented ball; this year's championship set should be an up and down the floor frenzy with the last team standing being the one with the most bullets in the proverbial gun.
This year's Mavericks have a lot of weapons and have consistently displayed a new found grit in their run to the final round. Dirk Nowitzki has emerged as a superstar on both ends of the floor for the first time. He actually seems to enjoy playing defense now. Josh Howard is showing that he's not just a quality NBA player, but likely a soon-to-be All-Star as well. And guard Devin Harris is finally playing like the #5 pick from last year's draft. His emergence in the backcourt alongside Jason Terry is a huge reason why the Mavericks were able to overcome the strong guard play of both the Spurs and Suns. Still, the key to it all coming together, this year's real life Lone Star version of the super glue has to be Avery Johnson. The animated sideline stalker has proven to be a tremendous influence for his team.
And yet it's the Heat, I believe, who will emerge from this final showdown victorious. Veterans Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning have given Shaq's crew a depth and poise that wasn't there in recent years. Pat Riley's intensity and focus on the bench has certainly added to that poise as well. But the fact remains that Miami is still indeed Shaquille O'Neal's team. Big Daddy looks healthy and eager to add a fourth ring to his collection. His play has been increasingly strong as the playoffs have gone on . . . you're going to tell me that Erick Dampier and Desagana Diop are going to contain him? I don't think so. They couldn't contain Boris Diaw at all in the last round. Shaq's a little bigger and badder than Diaw.
Ultimately, though, this series will be decided by the most exciting young guard on the planet. Dwyane Wade has been on a jet-propelled path to superstardom ever since leaving Marquette three years ago. Wade is so strong and crafty at getting to the basket, drawing contact and finishing, I just don't see anyone on the Mavericks who can stop him. He scores, dishes, rebounds and makes a whole bunch of key defensive plays as well. Outside of the three-point shot, he's truly as well-rounded a player as there is in the league today. It is Wade who will emerge on this biggest of NBA stages as the best of them all. Heat in six. Wade M-V-P.
-JAB
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