NBA Playoffs 2011: Heat vs. Mavericks Game 1 Video Highlights

The final: Miami 92 Dallas 84

Game ball: Dwyane Wade (22 PTS, 10 REB, 6 ASS, 2 BLK, 9/19 FG, 2/4 3FG, 2/5 FT). While he started slow offensively, shooting just 3-for-10 in the first half, he finished strong going 6-for-9 the rest of the way while also adding two monster blocks. His defense in crunch time has been scary good.

Stat: Miami’s bench outscored the much hyped Dallas bench 27 to 17. Mario Chalmers (12 PTS, 3/7 3FG) and Mike Miller (6 PTS, 2/4 3FG) led the way.

Quote: ”We now move our focus to Game 2. If Dallas comes in, changes things, and wins, they won’t even remember game one.” –LeBron

Bizarro stat of the night: Both Dallas and Miami shot better from the three point line (DAL-41%, MIA-46%) than on twos (DAL-36%, MIA-36%).

Needs improvement: Mike Bibby was 0-for-4 from three last night, plummeting him to 23 percent from downtown in the playoffs. Will there be an Eddie House/James Jones sighting in the near future?

Notes:

—Miami’s defensive rotations last night were mind boggling. I’ve never seen a team cover so much ground defensively. Stuff like that excited me just as much as those vicious rim-rattling slams in the final minutes.

—While Dirk Nowitzki suffered a torn middle finger on his left hand, don’t look for it to affect his shooting in the least. As LeBron stated after the game, the non-shooting hand is simply a guide hand with no affect on the shot. Where it figures to possibly have an impact is on rebounds, catches, and when he dribbles left (his preference).

—Outstanding line from the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman on Twitter: “In the end, Mike Miller is Mr. Potato Head. If something falls off, you just simply put it back in the socket and he keeps playing.”  

—Up Next: Game 2 on Thursday night at American Airlines Arena (9 PM, ABC)