NBA: "Where there's a will there's a WADE"

"Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill"- Muhammad Ali

Promises are meant to be kept: 2006 NBA Champions - "Miami Heat"

Two teams that were built for the playoffs but the paths taken to build these teams completely different.

The Dallas Mavericks were assembled through the draft and strategic additions of key free agents to complement their lineup. There was a good balance of youth and veterans on this team. Newly appointed head coach Avery Johnson implemented a defensive coaching method and added this to the philosophies already in place set by the departed Don Nelson. Mark Cuban is part of the new breed of NBA owners who are more active in the daily happenings of the team and he has been their biggest fan as they have slowly put together a team that is going to compete for years to come.
Miami used more of the "Yankees" approach to building a championship team. Getting a player like Dwayne Wade through the draft and then just buying the rest of the players. When Pat Riley joined the Heat he made a promise to the fans and when Shaq came on board that promise was seconded by him. They vowed to bring the Cup to Miami and the rest just fell in place. It helps having Shaq on the roster as every player in the league wants a chance to play with the Diesel. With Shaq and Wade at the helm, the team was comprised of players who wanted a shot at winning a ring even if it meant having a reduced role on the team and/or receiving smaller paychecks. I don't see any kind of Dynasty happening here with the way this team was put together but stranger things have happened.

The NBA playoffs this year were an absolute thrill. Game 7's galore and the matchup in the Finals promised to build on an already historical playoffs. Game 6 came around and it was apparent... This was not the Shaquille O'Neil show, not the Dirk Nowitzki show it was the Dwayne wade show as he broke down defenses and moved around the court with such smoothness that it made believers of the non believers. Dallas had Miami with their back against the wall as they were less than a quarter away from going up 3-0 and then it all came crumbling. Dirk Nowitzki is a great player but he was not aggressive enough towards the end of games they way he showed he could be - a la game 7 against the Spurs. Dwayne Wade had a supporting cast with a ton of experience and when the pressure was on they came through - a la Gary Payton in game 3 and game 5. As Wade showed his fearless attitude and will to win through the series mumblings began around the NBA world that he may be the next coming of your "Airness" but Wade was humbled and just played on. Shaq played second fiddle but his presence is felt without him touching the ball and all this led to a historical collapse by the Dallas Mavericks. The Miami heat led by Dwayne Wade had brought the cup to Miami as they won their first NBA championship in franchise history.

There was a big mark (pun intended) put on the finals this year in regard to officiating but I am going to avoid blaming the outcome of this series on the Zebra's with the whistles. There is no love lost between outspoken owner of the Mavs, Mark Cuban and NBA commissioner David Stern. Cuban was fined repeatedly this playoffs (each time he matches a fine with a donation to charity) but it wasn't just him calling foul. I don't really want to get into this much as its been talked out on many websites and blogs... But I do hope this situation is fixed to some extent come next year and we can appreciate the game on the court rather than having the focus be on the Suits in their box seats.

I called this outcome in my Finals prediction (read)
Zack Cooper isn't too thrilled with the way the team was put together... (read)
Henry Abbott over at True Hoop live blogged game 6 (read)
The Coach looks at what lies ahead for the Heat players (read)


In the words of Dave Chappelle, "It's a celebration BITCHES!!" (Pat Riley = Instant TV Classic)