NBA Finals 2011: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The 2011 NBA Finals fit the bill for a blockbuster summer movie. It was a fitting sequel to the 2006 finals. As with all summer blockbusters there was action, drama, and enthralling story lines.
Also, like many summer movies there was terrible acting, lack of character development, and plenty of confusing plots.
In honor of exciting championship, here is a good, bad, and ugly analysis of the finals.
Good: Dirk/Kidd/Lebron Fighting for Their First Ring
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This was the first finals since 2006 where the biggest superstars on both teams were looking for their first ring (minus Wade).
Kidd and Nowitzki both putting in their time and the monstrous pressure surrounding the Heat made for great finals story lines.
It made it even more fun to see Dirk and company pull a Rocky II and win the whole thing the second time around.
Bad: The Excessive Flopping
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I am surprised more criticism was not geared toward the seemling exponential growth of flopping in this year's playoffs. Granted, it is part of the game, but it seemed to be a presence on every other play.
What made it worse is that announcer Mark Jackson seemed to encourage the practice. The league needs to do something to make sure the game does not get any uglier.
Ugly: Announcing
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As talented as Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were in their previous positions as coach and player, their talent has not translated in to television commentary. There always seemed to be some underlying tension between Van Gundy and Jackson. I thought the former Knicks coach was annoying at times and his personality seemed to distract from the game, rather than enhance it.
Mark Jackson was boring at best and did not contribute much to the development of the game.
This team will probably be rearranged next year with Mark Jackson leaving to coach the Warriors.
A side note for the announcing team, I thought Doris Burke did a great job as a sideline reporter. She seemed to be the most professional of the group.
Good: The Emergence of Tyson Chandler
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Even though he probably won't go down as the most dominating center in finals history, it was fun to see Chandler develop in to an interior threat.
Look for him to get some big money in his next contract.
Bad: Flugate
5 of 14Wade and James' mocking of Dirk's fever was unprofessional and the kind of stupid news that takes away from the actual game.
Ugly: Mouth Gaurds
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Were the Mavs and Heat trying to quit smoking? It seemed like most of the players had an oral fixation with their mouth guard.
The constant playing with mouth protectors is gross, unhygenic, and needs to stop.
Good: The Close Games/Comebacks
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Three games were decided by three points or less and every game seemed to remain close. The last seven minutes of game two were some of the best basketball I have ever seen.
This type of basketball makes the finals the best basketball to watch.
Bad: LeBron James' Fourth Quarter Disapearance
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James seemed to fuel his own fire as someone who can not finish games. LeBron could not score at all during the final quarters.
This will continue to haunt LeBron (and the 24 hour sports news cycle) until next year's playoffs.
Ugly: Shawn Marion's Free Throws
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The Matrix's free throw form is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. However, he is averaging around 80 percent so I will give him a pass.
Good: Eric Spoelstra's Work Ethic
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Even though he has been criticized over the course of the season, Spoelstra's work ethic is extremely underrated. He literally worked up from the bottom to coach the team.
Due to the sky high expectations, Spoelstra will surely be bashed for his inability to win the big one.
Bad: The Constant News Cycle on LeBron James
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Even though his preseason antics and inability to live up to sky high expectations caused some deserved criticism, the news cycle will continue to be obsessed with LeBron until next year's finals.
The "best player to never win a ring" mantra will continue to haunt James.
This constant barraging needs to stop. He is twenty six years old. He has plenty of time ahead of him.
Good/Bad/Ugly: Brian Cardinal
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Even though Cardinal did not play that much you have to love the garbageman (or janitor) players.
Great: Mark Cuban
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I am excited for Cuban to finally take off his self imposed muzzle.
Terrible: The Looming Lockout
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With the finals over, the lockout will be on every one's mind. It's unfortunate that we might not see a challenge to the Mavs for a long while.
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