NBA Finals 2011: 5 Biggest Questions as Series Heads to Dallas
In what was arguably the most impressive comeback of not only the 2011 NBA playoffs, but potentially NBA Finals history, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks were able to overcome an 88-73 deficit with 7:14 remaining in the fourth quarter in Game 2.
The Mavericks would put together a 22-5 run to close out the ball game, playing tough defense and making the most of offensive opportunities. Led by a nine-point fourth quarter by Nowitzki, the Mavericks showed they were not a team to take lightly.
The Miami Heat played the best basketball of the series for three and a half quarters of play. It was highlight reel after highlight reel, as Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were scoring and moving the ball as well as they have all postseason.
With the series tied 1-1 and shifting to Dallas, these are five big questions that linger about this 2011 NBA Finals.
Is Shawn Marion the Key to a Dallas Mavericks Championship?
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Shawn Marion has proved to be one of the main pieces to the puzzle in this 2011 playoffs run by the Dallas Mavericks.
As of late, Marion has been all the more productive for the Mavs. In the last three wins, Marion has shot 25-of-43, while putting up nearly 21 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
It seems like Marion has shifted back to his Phoenix Suns days.
Looking beyond the numbers, Marion has simply played efficient offense and made hustle plays on the glass when the Mavericks needed it most. When the Mavs look like a team struggling to get into a rhythm on both ends, time and time again Marion seems to get things going to keep the team in ball games.
Shawn Marion is certainly not the only deciding factor in the series and not necessarily the most important, yet without question his step-up play as of late has helped the Mavs contend late in games.
Is the Miami Heat Doomed Without LeBron James?
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Despite the jaw-dropping stat-lines that Dwyane Wade continues to produce in ball games, the Miami Heat offense continues to go through LeBron James.
Make no mistake, in no way is going through LeBron James a game-plan that needs to be changed. James has stepped up effectively in late game situations this postseasons multiple times.
Against both the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, James made it a habit to close out games, scoring the ball consistently. In the Game 5 against the Celtics, James would score 10 points in a 16-0 run to close out the series.
In the final game against the Bulls, LeBron would be LeBron yet again, scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter in coming back against the Bulls to close out the game and series.
In Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals, James was without a field goal in the final seven minutes. If James gets going late, the Mavericks chances could diminish dramatically.
Can the Dallas Mavericks Continue to Be “The Comeback Kids?"
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If the Dallas Mavericks expect to win an NBA championship, coming back after trailing by double-digits is not a habit the Mavs want to fall into.
If a basketball game was won after each quarter, the Miami Heat won three of the four quarters last night. The difference was that the Mavericks were resilient and would overcome the deficit in the last seven minutes of the game.
The Mavs have been a team to watch this postseason when it comes to making comebacks. In the previous round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Mavericks overcame a 15-point Thunder lead with six remaining in route to victory.
The Miami Heat is a team that is as efficient as any playoff team on their own floor, as the Game 2 loss was the team’s first all postseason. Giving up double-digit leads in Miami, as well as at home, can’t help the Mavs chances in this series.
Does Bench Play for Both Teams Decide the Series?
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There has undoubtedly been a plethora of talent and highlight-reel plays from the starters in this series. Yet it has ultimately been the bench play that has decided both games this series.
In the Game 1 Miami Heat victory, the Heat bench would outscore the Mavericks bench 27-17. The Mavericks bench shot four-of-22, while the Heat bench shot eight-of-22 and got to the line seven times.
Game 2 was a complete reversal of the first game of the series. The Mavericks held the edge in play outside of the starting five, as the Mavericks bench would outscore the Heat bench 23-11. Led by 16 points from Jason Terry, the Mavericks bench seemed to help keep the team in the game when the starters looked sluggish.
Going into Dallas, it will be key for the players coming off the bench to produce effectively in their minutes, most especially for the Heat playing three consecutive road games.
Will the Heat Fall Back on Old Habits?
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Since the Game 2 loss, there has been a plethora of talk and criticism surrounding the Miami Heat players and head coach Erik Spoelstra for looking like the team of earlier this season.
Early on in the regular season, the Heat had been a team known for their habits of losing to the elite teams in the league and giving up leads late in games. This postseason, the Heat have turned that habit around, coming back several times to seize victory, as well as closing games effectively in the fourth quarters of games.
Will the Heat fall back on old habits? Perhaps.
It could be said that this moment might be too big for a younger, inexperienced ball club like the Miami Heat. Make no mistake about it, the Heat will be ready to go in Game 3.
Whether they will close out games or not is soon to be seen, but they team that has outplayed the Mavs seven of eight quarters will be back and ready to go.
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