Dallas Scores One

Chalk one down for my team in this Finals. Despite Dirk Nowitzki's poor shooting in this game, the Dallas Mavs can not loose this one. Factor in the following:

• Miami's awful FT shootting exemplified by Shaquille O'Neal (Wade did not help either)
• Dallas balanced scoring attack. You got Stack and Terry at guards and Howard and Nowitzki at the front court. Now that's a handful. (Ask the Grizzlies, Suns and the mighty Spurs)
  
• Dallas well-round defense. They have above average (if not good) defenders that can cover both Wade (Daniels and Howard) and Shaq (Diop and Dampier).
• Miami's lack of offensive fire-power. Outside Wade (and probably Shaq), I just can't see any consistent scorer in their line-up. Payton is a shadow of Payton circa 96. Antoine Walker just floats around and the rest are not worth mentioning.
• You can say the coaching had an effect in this one. Avery Johnson seems to be more flexible and adjusted to every situation the team faced. Riley seems to be an old-school tactician with fixed rotation and a fixed game plan. His approach may not be as advisable in todays NBA.

Now if can Dallas can duplicate this come Monday (which I think they can), I'll be 2 games away from my P500.00 (See here how.). Just enougn to buy a bootleg 2006 DVD NBA Finals Box Set with the title: DDSS: Dallas' Dirk Sweeps Shaq!