NBA Finals 2011: Heat vs. Mavericks Game-by-Game Predictions for Rest of Series

No matter what happens, this has been the most riveting NBA Finals in recent memory. In 2010, the Lakers and Celtics battled for seven games, but only two of those games were decided by six points or less.

This year, only Game 1 had larger winning margin than six points. Dallas has fought hard through injuries (Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler) and sickness (Dirk Nowitzki) and maintained against Miami's "Big Three."

The series sits tied at two games apiece, so now what? Are we looking at a seven game series for sure? Here is my prediction for the rest of the series.

Game 5

Amid all the criticism aimed LeBron James' way, he does not come out trying to force the issue. He continues to play distributor and Dwyane Wade continues to carve up the Mavs defense.

I can see Dirk possibly starting slow in this game; he hasn't had a poor showing in any of the previous four games, and he is too good offensively for it to last the entire game.

I also don't expect LeBron to play distributor for long in Game 4. I predict "The Beast" will be unleashed in Game 4. This could likely happen in the second and fourth quarters.

James is a team player first, but he is also a man with pride, and he hears the tweets and such about his disappearances. He also hears the chirps from Kevin Hart's evil twin, DeShawn Stevenson, a player who seems a little envious of his prep-to-pro brother James. This issue dates back to the mini-rivalry between the two players' former teams, the Cavaliers and Wizards.

I predict Game 5 will be the game that you see James and Wade combine for 62-plus points. The Heat will capture the first double digit victory of these Finals with what will likely be referred to as a statement victory.

Game 6

Back in South Beach, the confidence level of the Miami Heat will be sky high. The "whiteout" crowd will be in full swing, and I expect James and Wade to be aggressive, but Chris Bosh may struggle in this game.

Dirk will come out with guns a-blazin'. Sans the ridiculously bad defense played on him by Bosh at the end of Game 2, the Heat have defended Dirk as well as can be expected.

In a close out game, if Dirk is really going off, I wouldn't be surprised to see James on him for a few key possessions.

Game 4 was not very encouraging for Jason Kidd and his impact on the crucial remaining games in this NBA postseason. Kidd tallied zero points on 0-for-3 shooting from the field.

The Heat defense has completely taken him out of the Maverick attack. Jason Terry finally had a decent game in Game 4, but he was still only 6-for-15 from the field.

Dirk and the grit of the Mavericks will keep them close through three and a half quarters. In the fourth quarter, James and Wade will smell the trophy and take over the game.

Every game the Mavericks have won this series has been a game that Miami should have won, but they squandered the opportunity. Game 2 is a perfect example of that, and there were plenty of miscues in Game 4.

I strongly doubt you will see another nine-point performance from James. The Heat will win a very entertaining NBA Finals in six.