Who's To Blame: Coach or Ref?

Mark Cuban is at the center of the court at the end of the crucial game 5. Long after all players have left the court, he stayed at midcourt, at scorer's table for about full 10 minutes. He's disgusted at the officiating. He felt the game could have been theirs had the officials called it fair. Sure he has some beef in claiming that. I felt too that Wade pushed off a bit to score over Griffin. I felt too that Dirk Nowitzki's foul that sent Wade to the game winning FTs is a ticky-tack foul. Whereas, Dirk too was held, grabbed, pushed by his defenders all throughout the game (or even the series). The time-out slapped against Howard, that we do not know if he really called that or not. But one thing is for sure, Wade, the DramaKing of the finals, got a favorable call or two.

Just a couple of games back (when Dallas was up 2-0), the basketball world was writing Riley off (including me) but now look who's ahead. Even the experts polled at ESPN, several went to Avery Johnson as to who'll they choose in an all important game. Well, game 6 is a complete definition of an all-important game for Dallas. Let's see if the experts are truly experts.

I remember, last years play-offs, Avery was out-couched in a losing series too. He's had some breakdown last year against the Phoenix Suns. Well, losing three straight after getting a 2-0 lead is a breakdown too. The games 3 and 5 could easily be Ws had Avery brought his a-game. I mean, Wades is close to invincible in the 2nd half (or in these past 3 games), why, I mean, why in the world, he did not send an early DOUBLE TEAM. Just pass the halfcourt line, blitz Wade with a double team, let him past the ball and let other players (Haslem, Payton and even Shaq) beat them. One point loss could have been a game won had Avery Johnson decided to double team Wade in a couple of possessions. Just to give him some other look and just to let him think a little rather than him blowing by Devin Harris or Howard or Griffin.

After Mark Cuban stopped blaming the refs at midcourt, maybe he should start blaming someone too inside the Dallas' locker room.