NBA Finals Preview: Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat Position by Position

The NBA Finals are finally here.  The rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals in which Dwyane Wade took control and won Miami their first NBA Championship will be sure to be a thriller.

The Mavericks have been riding on the shoulders of Dirk Nowitzki's MVP-level performance throughout the playoffs, while the Heat's "Big Three" might get their first championship in their first year playing together.

The teams have vastly different play styles and will have quite a few interesting position battles.

This article will take a look at the battle in each position for the top five players of each team.

All statistics are 2011 Playoffs averages courtesy of NBA Stats Cube.  All stats are based on 15 Playoff Games the teams have played.

Dallas Mavericks Center: Tyson Chandler

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 23: Tyson Chandler #6 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts in the first half while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena on May 23, 2011 in

MPG: 30.4

PPG: 7.3

RPG: 9.3

APG: 0.4

BPG: 0.8

TOPG: 1.2

FG%: 57.6 percent

Plus/minus: 4.5

Chandler's length and height have been a huge part of why the Mavericks have done so well this season.  He has also helped the Mavericks develop a "toughness", which they were lacking in the past few seasons.

Kendrick Perkins told the Dallas Morning News that "[Chandler's] just as dirty as anybody else."

When you have a player like Perkins frustrated to the point that he calls you dirty, you know you have someone who will be causing problems.

Chandler's size was fairly effective in preventing players like Westbrook and Durant from driving to the basket.

Dallas hopes his presence will have the same effect on James and Wade.

Miami Heat Center: Joel Anthony

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 21: Joel Anthony #50 of the Miami Heat puts up a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 21, 2011 in Philadelphia, Penns

MPG: 30.3

PPG: 3.3

RPG: 5.1

APG: 0.5

BPG: 2.1

TOPG: 0.8

FG%: 40.0 percent

Plus/minus: 5.8

Anthony has been doing just enough to be relevant to the Heat.

With Spoelstra's decision to start Anthony over Ilgauskas, he has been getting a lot more time on the court during the playoffs.

While not a prolific scorer, he does have a defensive edge that he lends to the Heat's game and is averaging at least a couple blocks throughout the playoffs.

Anthony's height might be a problem when he is attempting to go up against the athletic and long Tyson Chandler.

Dallas Mavericks Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 23: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts in overtime while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena on May 23, 2011 in Oklaho

MPG: 38.9

PPG: 28.4

RPG: 7.5

APG: 2.7

BPG: 0.6

TOPG: 1.9

FG%: 51.7 percent

Plus/minus: 8.8

Dirk Nowitzki has been nothing less than phenomenal.

Phenomenal.

If there is anyone on the Mavericks that will decide this series, it will be Dirk Nowitzki.

The Heat do not really have a go to option to guard Nowitzki.  It is likely they will have a rotation of defenders much like the Thunder did, consisting mainly of Bosh, James, and Haslem.

Unless the Heat find a way to stop Nowitzki, he can be expected to continue his 28.4 PPG average.

Miami Heat Power Forward: Chris Bosh

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Chicago Bulls in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2011 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 103-82. NOTE TO US

MPG: 39.9

PPG: 18.6

RPG: 8.9

APG: 1.1

BPG: 1.1

TOPG: 1.8

FG%: 50.3 percentage

Plus/minus: 5.0

Chris Bosh has stepped up to fulfill his role as the third part of the "Big Three" this offseason.

In his top performance in Game 3 against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, he went for 34 points.

Although Nowitzki won't be too much of a threat for Bosh defensively, Bosh will have the duty of defending Nowitzki for a large portion of the series.

Bosh will have to continue to show that he really is a "tough" player and lockdown on Nowitzki defensively if the Heat are going to win the Finals.

Dallas Mavericks Small Forward: Shawn Marion

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 21: Shawn Marion #0 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts in the first quarter while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena on May 21, 2011 i

MPG: 31.7

PPG: 11.2

RPG: 6.3

APG: 2.1

BPG: 1.0

TOPG: 1.6

FG%: 46.1 percent

Plus/minus: 2.8

Shawn Marion will have the tough job of guarding LeBron James during the Finals.

When he wasn't busy planning for his reality TV show, he was doing a pretty good job guarding Kevin Durant in the Western Conference Finals.

Marion will have to be aggressive like he was in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, where he went 9-12 from the field and threw down a couple of blocks as well.

Miami Heat Small Forward: LeBron James

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat reacts against the Chicago Bulls in the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2011 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER:

MPG: 44.0

PPG: 26.0

RPG: 8.9

APG: 5.5

BPG: 1.5

TOPG: 3.6

FG%: 46.3 percent

Plus/minus: 4.3

"The King" is back to the finals with a vengeance.

LeBron is certainly hungry for a ring, as his move to Miami this season shows, and has been performing up to normal LeBron standards this offseason.

No doubt that LeBron has stellar teammates around him, but the world is looking to see if he can step up and prove in his first season that "The Big Three" are as good as everyone thinks they can be.

Dallas Mavericks Shooting Guard: Jason Terry

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 21: Jason Terry #31 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena on May 21, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Okla

MPG: 32.5

PPG: 17.3

RPG: 1.9

APG: 3.2

BPG: 0.2

TOPG: 2.0

FG%: 47.1 percent

Plus/minus: 8.3

Even though Jason Terry hasn't started for the Mavericks, he's averaged 32.5 minutes and had been a prolific scorer in his position in the playoffs

He has been a three point threat for the Mavericks, averaging 46 percent from behind the arch throughout the playoffs.

Terry's scoring will be a much needed compliment to Dirk Nowitzki's effort.

Miami Heat Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives against the Chicago Bulls in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2011 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ackn

MPG: 39.6

PPG: 23.7

RPG: 7.2

APG: 4.1

BPG: 1.3

TOPG: 3.3

FG%: 46.0 percent

Plus/minus: 3.5

Dwyane Wade caught the eye of the world when he averaged 34.7 PPG against the Mavericks in the 2006 Finals.

Can he manage to pull off the same amazing performance this year?

With James and Bosh on the team, it seems his Finals average might not be as high, but that doesn't mean to expect anything less than a great performance from Wade.

Dallas Mavericks Point Guard: Jason Kidd

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 21: Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at Oklahoma City Arena on May 21, 2011 in Oklahoma City,

MPG: 34.7

PPG: 9.9

RPG: 4.5

APG: 7.7

BPG: 0.3

TOPG: 2.3

FG%: 40.0 percent

Plus/minus: 6.2

Kidd's playoff performance has been quite satisfactory.

His experience and ball handling skills have led to a fairly rounded stat sheet.  His ability to average almost 10 points per game with almost eight assists per game gives the Mavericks the ball movement that helps relieve some of the pressure of Nowitzki.

Kidd shouldn't have too much trouble guarding Bibby, but Wade's speed might factor if he is assigned to him during any portion of the playoffs.

Miami Heat Point Guard: Mike Bibby

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: Mike Bibby #0 of the Miami Heat drives against the Chicago Bulls in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2011 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 103-82. NOTE TO USER

MPG: 28.6

PPG: 8.6

RPG: 2.4

APG: 3.3

BPG: 0.1

TOPG: 1.3

FG%: 43.1 percent

Plus/minus: 2.3

Bibby hasn't exactly lived up to the hopes of Heat fans and has had a fairly average playoff performance.

He has been averaging a 44 percent three-point percentage throughout the playoffs, showing that he still has the deep three point ability that he has always been known for.

Bibby will need to step up his defensive game and contain Kidd on the perimeter.