Posted on 06/12/2011 8:29:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
MIAMI— The end.
Of the hype. And the hope. Of instant gratification. And of vindication.
Year One of the Big Three ended with a thud Sunday night for the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.
There will be no capping of last July's premature celebration over the free-agency signings of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Instead, there will be reflection on nights such as Sunday, when a 105-95 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the NBA Finals brought down the curtain on the 2010-11 season.
And started a new waiting game, leaving plenty of questions in the wake of this meltdown.
It was a dreary ending, particularly for James, who again proved unable to match the moment. After making his first four shots when he appeared headed to a big night, he instead closed with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, seemingly paralyzed by the moment. It was a finish nearly as humbling as being swept out of the 2007 Finals by the San Antonio Spurs while a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
None of the Heat's Big Three, in fact, were very big, with Wade closing with 17 points and Bosh with 19.
Mavericks guard Jason Terry, though, was plenty big, keeping Dallas afloat through a 14-0 Heat second-quarter run with 19 first-half points. He closed with 27 on 11-of-16 shooting.
That allowed Dallas to persevere even on a night series Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki, hero of the Mavericks' Game 2 and Game 4 victories, shot 9 of 27 for 21 points.
It ended with Pat Riley watching in stunned silence from across the Heat bench, with the Heat allowing Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to celebrate in their building, with the Mavericks shockingly managing to buy nearly an entire section behind the Heat bench
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Maybe all the idiot commentators will stop comparing LBJ to MJ for a few weeks. Lebron is NOT THE GREATEST PLAYER EVER.
I am almost ashamed of how great I feel that LeLoser didn’t win this year.
This has been a great, great week. First Weiner and now Loser, can’t think of anything that could make it better.
I cannot stand Mark Cuban, but have to admit, he was classy in his after the game interview.
I am not a Mavs fan, not even a Dirk fan, but this was like David and Goliath and the right team came out the winner.
I'm enjoying tonight's win immensely. A championship trophy is long overdue for our town (the last was way back in June 1999 when the Stars won the Stanley Cup).
I'm praying that an article in "News/Activism" doesn't mar a good thing with a story about flash mobs of yutes and thugs going feral.
I am so thrilled to see those three punks go down in flames. I hope LeBron never wins a title. I hate Mark Cuban much, more, but I don’t care. I am so happy for Jason Kidd, who deserves this most of all.
Good point, Re Nortex. I pray Dallas is safe (Abilene native here). There’s no telling what might ensue, as you know...
http://www.dakotavoice.com/2011/06/america%e2%80%99s-civilian-national-anarchy-force/
Yes, I grant him that much. Mark Cuban has been quiet through the whole playoffs -- and that's a good thing when that vile creature doesn't open his big fat, drooling liberal mouth.
And, one more small plus for Cuban, he didn't use the trophy presentation to thank Obama as did Dan "Rooney Rule" after his Steelers won the Superbowl in 2009.
Heat has to many hot dogs and not enough coaching.
Congratulation’s Mavericks!!
Congratulation on your first NBA Championship Dallas Fans!
Signed, San Antonio Spurs, Four Time NBA Champions
In the first game they showed Dirk (naturalized citizen) with his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, LeBron didn’t. Series could not have ended better.
I'm far from a basketball expert. But I'd guess if they really cared to, and played together for more than a few weeks, they easily could.
By your argument, the world series champs aren't really world champions, because they haven't beaten the Japanese or the Cuban nationals. But if the World Series champs played the best Japan or any Latin country had to offer, how do you suppose that would turn out?
The way the Mavs handled my Lakers lead me to suspect they were going to win it all. I can’t say much good about Cuban but I do love the way the Mavericks play the game. Strong D, get the ball up the court for easy hoops, move the ball in the half court set, and great team shooting.
Of course winning one is the easy part. Two in a row is the real trick.
Congratulation on your first NBA Championship Dallas Fans!
Signed, San Antonio Spurs, Four Time NBA Champions
Cuban, when asked what this meant to him, deferred to Dirk and Jason K. and stepped away to let them to get the mike.
He handled tonight with class I think.
Cuban went way up in my book by having Carter get the trophy.
I remember how bad it was during the Jim Cleamons and Quinn Buckner years, when they drew about 5,000 per game at Reunion.
At 2 AM in the morning.
Cuban, when asked what this meant to him, deferred to Dirk and Jason K. and stepped away to let them to get the mike.
He handled tonight with class I think.
Since liberalism is a mental disease and is presumably treatable, there is some faint hope that Mark Cuban will disavow his reprehensible actions of the past and straighten out. He should be very thankful for the opportunities America has offered him and become a patriot.
My sentiments exactly.
Great game! Popcorn all over the house in celebration. They pulled away beautifully from what looked like a really close game. Roh! Roh! Roh!
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