NBA Finals 2011: Do the Dallas Mavericks Matchup Better with the Heat or Bulls?
The 2011 NBA Finals are almost here, and with the Dallas Mavericks clinching a spot to represent the Western Conference, the team is waiting to find out who they face.
With the Miami Heat up three games to one over the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose's team will certainly have to pull out all of the stops if they hope to reach the championship.
Although both Eastern Conference clubs are strong, each has five legitimate concerns should they take on the Mavericks in the next round of the playoffs, and we'll address exactly what those are.
Heat: Payback
1 of 11
Although some of the faces remain the same for both sides, these two teams are very much different from the last time they met in the finals back in 2006.
Throughout the series, the Heat simply looked like a team that wanted to win more than the Mavericks. But this season, it's been a different story.
Miami has been playing very well of late, but after the Mavericks swept the Lakers and blew by the Thunder in just five games, it appears that this team is on a mission to secure the ring and ready to push aside anyone standing in its way.
Bulls: Bench
2 of 11
The Bulls were viewed as a fairly deep team during the regular season, but the game of basketball is a different beast when it comes to play in the postseason.
After Taj Gibson, the team really lacks depth off of the bench to counter a well-rounded attack from Dallas. Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer have been inconsistent contributors for the majority of the season, and the team's play drops dramatically when Derrick Rose is removed from the court.
It's going to be extremely difficult for the Bulls to stand any chance against the Mavericks with how thin their second-tier talent is performing.
Heat: Point Guard Play
3 of 11
The combination of Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers stands no chance against a revitalized Jason Kidd.
With Kidd looking like he's in his mid-20's once again on the defensive end of the floor, there's no chance that either of Miami's point guards will be able to have a big influence on the outcome of this potential series.
Miami's best chance to counter Kidd's surge of electricity is to sit both underachieving guards on the bench and play a lineup that features either LeBron or D-Wade bringing the ball up court.
Bulls: The Front Line
4 of 11
Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer haven't played to the level that they're capable of thus far, but the Bulls' major problem does not fall squarely on the shoulders of the starters.
The front line has looked exposed at several points during Chicago's playoff charge, and they're simply not playing with the confidence that they should be considering how talented they are.
The Mavericks have a potent mix along the front line of Nowitzki, Chandler and Marion, who are all playing very well right now, and they could very well silence the Chicago front court entirely.
Heat: Tyson Chandler
5 of 11
When the Mavericks went out and acquired the services of Tyson Chandler during the last offseason, many brushed off the move as insignificant after the big man struggled with injuries for the majority of the season in 2010.
But Chandler was determined to prove to the world that he was still a dominant force in the middle, and there's no doubt that he's exceeded all expectations for Dallas this year.
Miami has absolutely no depth at the center position, and the idea that Joel Anthony is going to body up with Chandler for 30 minutes per evening in a potential finals matchup should make the coaches in Big D strongly consider running some offensive sets through TC.
Bulls: Omer Asik's Fractured Fibula
6 of 11
Omer Asik's injury isn't going to be the item that drives a stake through the heart of the Bulls' championship aspirations, but it's a mighty chink out of Chicago's armor.
The Turkish import had really turned it on for the Bulls and was playing very well in the inaugural stages of the team's recent successes, and more importantly was taking some of the pressure and stress off of the shoulders of Carlos Boozer.
Now, his place in the rotation will be occupied by an aging Kurt Thomas, and although the veteran is still effective in spurts, he doesn't offer the same skill set that the seven footer does.
Heat: Depth
7 of 11
Unlike the Miami Heat and their big three, Dallas is a team that has built its success through depth in the rotation.
With Erik Spoelstra looking likely to stick to a tight eight-man rotation from here on out, the Mavs can really assert an upper hand by attacking Miami's second unit with multiple weapons off of the bench.
Jason Terry, J.J. Barea and Brendan Haywood are all very serviceable options off of the bench, and it's going to be a real test for the Heat to see if the LeBron, Wade and Bosh can compete with a team that's deeper than any I've seen in a long time.
Bulls: X-Factors
8 of 11
For the Bulls to enjoy success, the team must have solid production from its stars: Rose, Boozer and Noah. However, it's a different story for the Mavericks.
While it's true that Dirk Nowitzki has stolen the show with his extraordinary play during the playoffs, the Mavericks wouldn't be in this position without key contributions from x-factors throughout.
The team has really benefited from the performances that they've received from guys like Jason Terry and J.J. Barea, and with their most important basketball games still ahead of them, it's unlikely that they're going to fall off any time soon.
Heat: Nobody Can Guard Dirk Nowitzki
9 of 11
Dirk Nowitzki has proven to be one of the hardest people to defend on a yearly basis in the NBA, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's proven to be a tough task thus far in the postseason.
Should the Heat advance to the next round and square up against the Mavs, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and really anyone else they try to throw on Dirk is going to have an awfully tough challenge in front of them.
With the ability to take his game anywhere on the floor and work from the outside toward the rim, it's going to be very interesting to watch and see what the Heat's plan to defend Dirk just might be.
Bulls: Derrick Rose Is Running out of Gas
10 of 11
Since the series against Miami began, Derrick Rose is shooting just 33-of-91 from the floor (36 percent) and just 5-of-22 from beyond the three point line (23 percent).
He might be the reigning MVP of the NBA this season, but he's running out of gas when his team needs him to be at his best. Granted that the Heat have played terrific defense on the point guard, and he's certainly not getting a lot of help from his teammates, but when your shot isn't falling, you've got to drive to the rim.
After the Bulls leaned on him all season long, it's looking like he's going to come up just short of the finish line.
Conclusion: Bulls
11 of 11
The Bulls are really struggling with a team identity right now, and down deep in the series, they may be in a hole that's insurmountable.
Miami is playing their best basketball of the season, and despite the fact that they have to rely heavily on the big three to produce every night, they're not a team that the Mavericks (or any other team) would like to face.
Unfortunately for Dirk and the Mavs, it's looking very likely that they'll have to go through Miami if they want to win a championship.
But at this point, I'd be fairly surprised to see anything or anybody slow them down. It may not be destiny for them to win it all, but it certainly smells like something is cooking in the kitchen.
Finals Prediction: Mavericks Win in Six Games, 4-2.
