Congrats to Dirk, Cuban and the Mavs
Jun 13, 2011, 4:31 AM | Updated: 5:00 am
When the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat went to the locker room for halftime of Game 6 of the NBA Finals Dirk Nowitzki had three points on 1 of 12 shooting.
The Mavs were able to find other ways to score (Arizona alum Jason Terry) and had a 53-51 lead despite the awful offensive half by Nowitzki.
As great shooters, players, leaders, champions and MVPs do, Nowitzki forgot about the first 24 minutes and came out for the next 24 minutes on a mission to take his team to the their first ever championship.
With Nowitzki leading down the stretch, the Mavs won the game (105-95), series (4-2) and title.
Job. Well. Done.
I’m happy for Nowitzki. It was exciting to see him on this level again. We all know the career Nowitzki has had, but when players like him get to show their talents at the sport’s highest level everyone (casual fans) gets to appreciate what they likely haven’t seen (or at least much of it).
Nowitzki finished the night with 21 points and 11 rebounds in nearly 39 minutes of play — 10 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
While the Heat were too busy standing around on offense and trying to figure out who should be taking the shots, giving up offensive rebounds, and driving into the lane out of control, the Mavs knew exactly what they were doing and played to win the game.
The Mavs were the best complete team. Over the course of the game — and the entire series — it showed.
Congrats Dirk.
Have to be happy for Mark Cuban too
Love or hate Mark Cuban (it has to be one or the other), as a fan of sports you have to respect the way he runs the Dallas Mavericks from a business point of view.
Cuban spends money, makes changes, looks out for his employees (players) and acts like the maniac fans that fill his arena.
As a fan how could you not want one of you running your team. Dallas is lucky. Most fans don’t have owners willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Congrats Cuban.
—–
TY’s Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I learned Bill Simmons is as skeptical about his new site, Grantland.com, as I am. It was interesting to read about his thoughts. As with everything, time will tell.
Tweet of the week…
DALLAS MAVERICKS TAKE THEIR TALENTS TO SOUTH BEACH, LEAVE WITH NBA CHAMPIONSHIP. Hed on Cleveland.com: http://bit.ly/lHfM3u
I saw posts from two different friends tonight. Both live in Arizona now. One a Dallas Maverick fan originally from Dallas. The other a Cleveland Cavalier fan from Cleveland. I’m seriously not sure which one is happier about the outcome of the NBA Finals.
Suggestion of the week…
Take a listen to Steve Breaston’s poem about the NFL Lockout. Great stuff.