2011 NBA Playoffs: Ranking the 5 Biggest Matchups of the NBA Finals
No Lakers? No Spurs? No problem! For just the second time since 1998 and the first time since 2006, the NBA's Western Conference will be represented by someone other than the Lakers or Spurs.
Five years later, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks will be seeking revenge against a Miami Heat team that defeated them in the 2006 NBA Finals.
Only this time around, 2006 Finals MVP Dwyane Wade won't have to do it on his own...LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Wade over the offseason with one goal in mind: an NBA championship.
And here they are, just like they said they would be, squaring off against a man on a mission in Nowitzki, and a group of veterans perfectly pieced together to form the deepest team in the NBA.
Now, let's take a look at the five biggest matchups of the NBA Finals.
5. Mavericks Bench vs the Heat Bench
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Led by the 2010 Sixth Man of the Year award winner Jason Terry, the Mavericks bench has dominated their opponents throughout the playoffs. Terry is the Mavericks second leading scorer in the playoffs, averaging 17.3 points per game.
Peja Stojakovic has seemingly turned back the clock to 2001 by hitting nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts and averaging just under two makes per game.
Lastly, the 6'0", 175 lb Puerto Rican spark plug, J.J. Barea, has averaged over 13 points per game over the last six playoff contests.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have welcomed back their 6'8", 235 lb power forward Udonis Haslem with open arms. Haslem scored 13 points in a crucial Game 2 road win over the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Haslem isn't the only bench player to return from injury while paying immediate dividends. 6'8" swingman Mike Miller missed the first half of the season and is just now starting to hit his stride. Miller averaged 25 minutes of playing time over the Heat's last two contests and combined for 19 points and 15 rebounds, as the Heat eliminated the Chicago Bulls.
Advantage: Dallas
4. Mavericks Fan Base vs Heat Fan Base
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While the Miami Heat fan base has been incredible all season due to the birth of the "Big Three", the Mavericks fans have been doing it for years. Led by their No. 1 fan, owner Mark Cuban, the Mavericks fans are thirsty for revenge from their loss to the Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals.
Now in its 31st year, the Mavericks franchise gets a second opportunity to bring home the first NBA title to the city of Dallas.
Meanwhile, although Miami isn't exactly known for being a sports town, you have to give the Heat fans credit as they have helped turn the American Airlines Arena into a sold out show nearly every night.
Considering they were mostly no-shows last year prior to the arrival of LeBron James and Chris Bosh, the Heat fan base deserves some recognition as a legitimate sports crowd.
Advantage: Dallas
3. Rick Carlisle vs Erik Spoelstra
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Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle (no, that is not Jim Carrey) has been spectacular in leading the Mavericks to wins in 10 of their last 11 playoff games. Carlisle was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2002 and led the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004.
Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra is the second youngest head coach in the NBA (40) behind Monty Williams (39) of the New Orleans Hornets. He has led the Heat to playoff appearances in all three seasons as head coach and was an assistant coach on the 2006 championship team.
Advantage: Dallas
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2. Mavericks Offense vs Heat Defense
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The Mavericks enter the Finals as the second highest scoring team in the playoffs at just under 100 points per game (99.7). They match up against a Miami Heat team ranked second in defense, allowing just 88.3 points per game in these playoffs.
In my opinion, this is the key matchup to the series. Will offense or defense prevail?
If recent NBA Finals history is an accurate indicator, the defense could very well come out on top. The Lakers gave up an average of 76 points in Games 6 and 7 en route to their 16th NBA championship last season, look for the Heat to implement a similar defensive strategy this year.
Advantage: Miami
1. Dirk vs LeBron
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By far and away the two best players in this year's playoffs, only one will be crowned champion for the first time.
Dirk has been sensational, averaging 28.4 points on 51.7 percent shooting, to go along with 7.5 rebounds per contest. He's also shooting a ridiculous 51.6 percent from three-point land to go along with a 92.9 percent free throw shooting percentage. Needless to say, he is literally making everything.
LeBron meanwhile is averaging 26.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists; he is quite simply the best all around player in the world. So when it's all said and done, who comes out on top?
Call it a hunch, but I think the basketball gods owe Dirk one from 2006 after some very questionable officiating led to a Dwyane Wade parade to the free throw line. In a 101-100 overtime win in Game 5 in Miami, Wade went 21-25 from the free throw line...as did the entire Dallas Mavericks team.
Advantage: Dallas (with a little help from above)
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