Mavs comeback to defeat Blazers 111-101

He's still Dirk Nowitzki.....

After Trailing for the entire second half, Dirty Dirk Nowitzki drained a cold blooded three to tie the game at 96 all. It was after Damian Lillard missed the last second go ahead shot that propelled the Dallas Mavericks to outscore the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime 15-5 and come through with a 111-101 victory.  

Dallas native LaMarcus Aldridge put on his usual clinic when he visits his home town, shooting 50% from the field and dropping a 25 point, 14 rebound stat line. Dirk, Chandler Parsons, and Monta Ellis ended with 20+ each, and CP25 took over in the waning minutes to come through when the Mavs needed him the most. The Mavericks have won three of four without G Rajon Rondo, including the game when he was injured.  Mavs coach Rick Carlisle stated that this was a game they had to get due to the 22-point lead his team gave up at the hands of Steph Curry and company this past Wednesday.

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Rose, Butler Lead Bulls to Road Win In Dallas, 102-98.

Suddenly, things are looking better in Bulls Nation. Chicago had just defeated the Spurs, the defending NBA champions at home and traveled to Dallas to take on Rajon Rondo and Dirk Nowitzki.

Chicago played with energy, desire and minus the 21 turnovers, had a very good game on the road in defeating the Mavericks 102-98. Chicago is now 29-16 and returns home to play the Miami Heat on Sunday.

Derrick Rose scored 20 points but his biggest play of the game was snaring a loose ball in the closing seconds to gain possession and the Bulls held on. Pau Gasol was fouled with .1 second left and made both FT's, and the Bulls won a close game that they had led by 11 points.

Rose scored 20 points, most of which came in the first half.  Jimmy Butler also had 20, 10 coming in the third quarter.    Pau Gasol had 13 points and 16 boards, Taj Gibson played great in the low post bagging 15 ponts and 7 rebounds  .And, Tony Snell, had 10 points and made two big treys. Kirk Hinirich chipped in with 8 points.

Joakim Noah returned to the lineup and played well. He had good energy, and made some great passes. He had 7 rebounds and 6 points in 23 minutes.

Chicago shot 49% and made 9 of 16 three point shots. Rose was 3-5 from long-distance.  The baskets he made were long and high arching.

It appears that the recent team-meeting the players and coaches of the Bulls had has fallen on attentive ears.  The team now realizes its time to play. "It means we can beat any team when we put on mind to it," said Butler.  Last night they played one of the better teams in the Western Conference on the road with a future Hall of Fame player in Nowitzki.

Dirk had 24 to lead the Mavs. Chandler Parsons had 19 and Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 12 boards.

The Bulls held Rajon Rondo to 6 points and he was on the bench in the final minutes of the game.

The Bulls had a 47-30 rebounding advantage and that was one of the key reasons, the Bulls won.
Rose came up with the lose ball and fired it to Hinrich who passed it to Gasol in the final second.

The Bulls played without F Mike Dunleavy who missed his 12th game. He could return to the starting lineup soon.

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Bulls Fall in Double OT To Mavs 132-129, AT Home

Taking on the 13-4 Dallas Mavericks would be a tough task.  After all, the Mavs has a future Hall of Famer in Dirk Nowitzki.  But no one expected Monta Ellis to score 38 points, including 3 free-throws with 1.2 ticks on the clock.  Ellis made those and sent the game into OT.

Derrick Rose extended it when he hit a trey at the buzzer to send it to a 2nd OT.  The Mavs got a key basket by Ellis and prevailed, 132-129 in the 2nd OT.

It was a tough game at the United Center.  The first since the Bulls ended their 15 day, 7 game road trip.

Pau Gasol had another stellar night, scoring 29 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 23 points. Mike Dunleavy had 20 points and Rose added 18 points, the last 3, sending the Bulls into a 2nd OT.

Nowitzki heated up as the game went along and scored 22 points, but it was Ellis' night. 

"Every time we needed a big shot or a big play, he made it," said Rick Carlisle, Mavs coach.  

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5 Players With Most to Prove: Western Conference

The NBA Playoffs are finally upon us, and there are some teams and players with something to prove. Younger players making their much anticipated first appearances in the postseason and even some veterans that still have something to prove in their stored careers. There are plenty of viable picks that could be made, but here are my top five players and teams that have something to prove in the postseason in the Western Conference.

Stephen Curry, Point Guard, Golden State Warriors: Curry has quickly become one of the top point guards in the NBA, combining a lethal jump shot with high basketball IQ to turn him into a trusted floor leader. With this come heightened expectations.

Jeff Chiu/AP Photo

Curry is the leader of one of the more up-and-down teams this season in the Warriors. Injuries plagued them throughout the year, as starting big men David Lee and Andrew Bogut both missed time throughout the season. That complicated things for the Warriors, who are thin up front when Lee and Bogut are healthy. Lee is going to be available for the playoffs, but Bogut will already miss some time with an injured rib.

The onus will then fall upon Curry to carry this team in the postseason. Being the face of the franchise, the loss will be placed on his shoulders more than any other player. A loss in the first round could also equal the end of Mark Jackson’s tenure as head coach of the team.

It will take a strong effort from Curry to keep that from happening. He will have to bring his A game against a Los Angeles Clippers team that has plenty to prove themselves.

Dirk Nowitzki, Power Forward, Dallas Mavericks: How could a player who already has an NBA championship and MVP trophy be under pressure to perform in the postseason you ask?

Jonathan Bachman/AP Photo 

Nowitzki, along with the Mavericks, had been written off by plenty of people. After blowing up their championship team and hoping to build through free agency by adding Deron Williams and Dwight Howard, they came up with nothing in the first year and missed the playoffs in 2013. This season they were able to spend a little of that money, and out of it came quite possibly the most dangerous eight seed in NBA history.

The additions of Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon have helped jump start the team, but everything with the Mavericks starts and ends with Nowitzki. They will go as far as he will take them.

Chris Paul, Point Guard, Los Angeles Clippers: Paul is regarded by almost everyone as a top tier point guard and superstar in this league. But if you say the same thing about Carmelo Anthony, you are met with scrutiny. In all reality, the two aren’t very different. The biggest knock against Anthony is his playoff success, or lack thereof. Paul, for whatever reason, has been able to hide his lack of playoff success, but it is about time he puts it together.

Clippers.com

Paul will be making his sixth appearance in the playoffs, and has only previously advanced the first round twice, losing both times in the second round. Anthony has made it past the first time just as many times, and has a Western Conference finals appearance under his belt, so why Paul isn’t subject to the same criticism raises some questions.

Paul has a chance to quell all of those problems this season. The Clippers are set up well in the Western Conference, getting quite possibly the easiest first round match up against of anyone against a depleted Warriors team. It also helps that this is quite possibly the best team Paul has been with, from a teammates and coaching staff stand point.

If he is going to make it happen, this is the season as Blake Griffin is blossoming and Doc Rivers has gotten the most out of DeAndre Jordan in the process.

Dwight Howard, Center, Houston Rockets: Howard has caused quite a stir the past two offseasons, first forcing his way out of Orlando to the Los Angeles Lakers and then leaving the Lakers this past offseason to join the Rockets. He has gotten everything he has wanted, so it is time for him to show up.

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Howard is arguably the best center in the NBA, but it is mostly by default. There just isn’t much center talent in par with Howard right now, but his reign could soon be coming to an end. There are some younger big men, such as DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond that will soon be knocking on Howard’s door as the top big men in the NBA. But unlike those two, Howard has a chance to showcase his talent and cement himself as the top center in the NBA.

He handpicked where he wanted to play once again so it is time for him to reciprocate and show up. Howard was dealing with an ankle injury heading into the playoffs, but if he was as good as some people hype him up to be he will show up when it counts the most. Howard will be under the microscope, as the Rockets didn’t miss much of a beat when he was dealing with his ankle injury, as James Harden more easily roams free when there isn’t a center clogging the middle.

If the Howard from 2008-2009 NBA Playoffs shows up, the Rockets will be as difficult as any team to eliminate from the playoffs.

Kevin Durant, Small Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder: When Russell Westbrook went down with injury this season, Durant stepped his game up to unheard of levels. He scored without abandon, ripping off 12 straight games of 30+ scoring and 25+ points in 42 straight.

Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo

His scoring was through the roof, but he also became a good facilitator, averaging 5.5 assists per game. With stats like that, it is very likely that Durant will be the MVP this season. In potentially being named MVP, Durant has added a ton of expectations upon himself. For example, leading his team past the second round no matter who is around him. This season he proved that he could lead a team without his sidekick in Westbrook, so with him in the lineup the Thunder should be unstoppable.

The path to a title is brutal for the Thunder though, as the Memphis Grizzlies are made for the post season with their grind it out, beat’em up style of play. It would not get much easier, as the Western Conference is loaded from top to bottom.

Durant now is on another level of stardom, as he is argued by many as being a better player than LeBron James right now, who he will theoretically taking the MVP trophy away from. The expectations were high for Durant already, but would be sky high with an MVP award. Anything short of an NBA Final appearance will be considered a failure by many.

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Nets Pull Out Overtime Victory in Dallas

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 23rd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 107 Mavericks 104

The Brooklyn Nets were able to turn their momentum that they have been riding at the Barclays Center into a huge road win against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night. The overtime win has given the Nets a (37-31) record on the season, but with the Toronto Raptors coming back to beat the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday afternoon they are still 1.5 games behind them in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Marcus Thornton

Coming off the bench for the Nets was the difference maker in the comeback victory; as Marcus Thornton continues to make the trade that Billy King did at the trade deadline a great one for the Nets. Thornton didn’t lead the Nets in scoring, but was their most efficient scorer in 24 minutes of play, as he scored 20 points on seven for 11 shooting, which included him going four of seven from behind the three-point line. Thornton also did a great job helping out on the glass, as he tied for the team-lead in rebounds for the game with seven.

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Positives:

Scoring was a real struggle for the Nets on Sunday in the win, especially in the starting lineup, but Joe Johnson was able to come through with a good game shooting from the field. Johnson led the Nets with 22 points on eight for 16 shooting in 37 minutes of play. Johnson came up big in the clutch for the Nets, as he had the game tying lay-up with less than 10 seconds to go, and then in overtime scored six of his 22 points to help lock up the win.

On defense the Nets really stepped up against one of the better offensive teams the NBA has to offer, which included them really shutting down the future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki was held to easily one of his worst games of the season, as he scored just 10 points on a surprisingly bad two for 12 shooting. Nowitzki wasn’t alone in the Mavericks shooting woes, as their bench really struggled as well. Two former Nets in Devin Harris and Vince Carter both shot the ball poorly against their former team off the bench. Harris went four of 15 from the field with just 11 points, and Carter shot four of 13 from the field with 12 points.

Negatives:

The Nets small lineup was noticeable against the Mavericks with their two starting seven footers in Nowitzki and Samuel Dalembert, as Dalembert was able to produce a big double-double and was a major factor on the defensive end. He finished with 12 points on four for five shooting to go along with 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots. This was defiantly a game where the Kevin Garnett injury hurt the Nets, and why they need him back.

Shooting Guard Monta Ellis was the main gun for the Mavericks on Sunday night with basically everyone else on the team struggling. Ellis finished with a game-high 31 points on 11 for 24 shooting. In overtime Ellis hit two three-pointers, which along with some Nets missed free throws gave Ellis a chance to tie it u if he was able to make three straight, but he couldn’t pull off buzzer beater.

Next up for the Nets will be the second half of a back to back against the red hot Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

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W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks March 23rd, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 23rd, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading down to Texas to face off against the Dallas Mavericks, as the Nets look to keep their winning streak alive. The Nets after a win against the Celtics hold a record of (36-31) on the season, which puts them 1.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

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Match-Up of the Game: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Paul Pierce

Tonight Paul Pierce will have his hands full in Dallas going against Dirk Nowitzki, as tonight will be a challenge for the Nets small lineup. Nowitzki is having a very good season, leading the Mavericks in points per game with 21.5 points. He is one of the best shooters the league has ever seen for being a seven-footer, as he is shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three-point range. A big key for the Pierce will also be avoiding foul trouble against Nowitzki, as he shoots 91% from the line, and is very good at getting there. One positive for the disadvantage for Pierce on the defense end will be him on the offense end if the Mavericks decide to keep Nowitzki on Pierce. In the victory against the Mavericks in Brooklyn, the Nets did a good job on Nowitzki holding him to 18 points on a 33% shooting night.

- KG Update

Nets Center Kevin Garnett will be out yet again against Dallas due to back spasms, which will be his 12th straight missed game. Garnett has already been ruled out for the Nets three-game road trip, so the earliest the Nets may have Garnett back would be March 28th against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nets have been playing well without Garnett, with Mason Plumlee stepping up in his absence, but the Nets would obviously love to get him back soon.

- Kidd’s Return to Dallas

Jason Kidd will be making his first trip to Dallas as a head coach on Sunday night, the place where he was drafted, and the place where he won his only NBA title in 2011. Kidd will now be coaching against some of his former teammates that he won the title with in 2011, as Nowitzki and Shawn Marion are still on the team.

- Road Woes

In March the Nets hold a (9-2) record, but those two losses were both away from the Barclays Center. In March the Nets are (2-2) on the road with losses to the Wizards and Celtics, but were able to defeat the Heat. The Atlantic Division is right in the Nets sight, so this three-game road trip will be big for a Nets team that for most of the season hasn’t been very good on the road.

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Knicks Downed At Buzzer by Dirk Nowitzki Jumper

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Monday, February 24th, 2014

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks

Post Game Recap

Grass is green, the sky is blue and the Knicks suffered yet another disappointing loss. Tonight the Knicks suffered the tough loss at the hands of the Mavericks by the score of 110-108 by the way of Dirk Nowitzki buzzer beater. The Knicks fought back and came up short like they have so many times this season, wasting yet another outstanding performance from their leading man Carmelo Anthony. As the losses continue to pile up, the reality is beginning to set in that the playoffs will be out of reach. With the loss tonight the Knicks record drops to 21-36 and six games out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Player of the Game: Carmelo Anthony

EPA/Jason Szenes Corbis OUT

For a player who has a reputation of being a gunner and nothing else, Anthony has disproved that all season. He has continued to put up the monster scoring numbers but he is the only Knick player you can honestly say has shown up night in and night out during this forgettable season. Tonight Anthony did it again, pouring in 44 points on 14-29 from the field (7-12 3pt, 9-9 FT) as he was on fire all night. He kept the Knicks in the game single handedly multiple times throughout the night as the offensive side of the ball looked to be the only place anyone looked interested in playing. Anthony added nine rebounds, four assists and one block to round out his stat line for the night. It has been nice watching Anthony throughout the season as he has proven time and time again he is one of the best players in the NBA and with every passing loss not only do the Knicks playoff hopes diminish the likelihood of Anthony staying seems to go with them.

-Positives

The Knicks shooting percentages were through the roof all night. Overall they shot 52.6 percent from the field and an impressive 14-33 from the three point line, good for 42.4 percent. They assisted on 23 of their 40 made baskets as the Knicks offense clicked whenever they were able to hold onto the ball.

Stan Hondastan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

The Knicks were able to hold Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks leading scorer, relatively in check. Nowitzki hurt them in the end with a buzzer beater to win the game but outside of that he struggled for the most part. Nowitzki didn’t score for the previous 18 minutes before the buzzer beater and ended with only 15 points on the night, below the 21.8 he is averaging on the season. Nowitzki shot 6-13 from the field overall, struggling with his jump shot as he missed all three of his three point attempts.

Cole Aldrich has seen as little playing time as anyone on the Knicks this season but tonight he was pressed into duty with Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire and Jeremy Tyler all getting into foul trouble. Aldrich responded well with his eight minutes, as the finished with a +12, grabbing three rebounds and making his only shot attempt. Aldrich responded as well as you could have hoped with what was asked of him out of nowhere tonight.

-Negatives

Stoudemire drew the start tonight alongside Anthony and Chandler and it was not pretty. The three are a poor mix together as Stoudemire and Chandler looked lost on multiple occasions on both ends of the court. Chandler and Stoudemire get in each other’s way more than help each other because they are both comfortable in the same areas on the court. Neither player put up bad stats, as Stoudemire finished with nine points, two rebounds and one block while Chandler had 12 points, 12 rebounds, one steal and two blocks. The problem was the Knicks just weren’t very good when either player was on the court; Stoudemire finished -8 and Chandler finished -14.

The Knicks offense was not running as smoothly as it could have because of the pressure the Mavericks put on them. The Mavericks force 15.3 turnovers per game, sixth best on the NBA and they showed why tonight. The Knicks finished with 21 team turnovers on the night, resulting in 25 points for the Mavericks. On the other hand the Knicks were only able to force 10 Mavericks turnovers and scored 17 points off of them.

Stan Hondastan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

At this point in his career Vince Carter knows as well as anyone he is not the high flyer he once was. He is more than content in his role as a secondary player that can still knock down a jump shot. Someone forget to pass the memo along to the Knicks, who left Carter open throughout the night. Carter went off, scoring a season-high 23 points on 8-17 shooting, making 7-12 from behind the arc.

The Knicks didn’t defend the three-point line or anywhere while the Mavericks played offense for that matter. The Mavericks shot 47.7 percent on the night and 41.7 from the three point line. The Knicks were unable to get a stop whenever they needed it most, as the Mavericks were able to get a basket whenever they needed. The Knicks also struggled to stop Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon, as they scored 22 and 20 points respectively, knocking down 7-14 combined from the three point line.

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Knicks Drop Mavericks for Winning Road Trip

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, January 5^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks

Post Game Recap

The Knicks were able to surprise many people by winning in Dallas Sunday night, giving them a 2-1 finish to the Texas Triangle road trip. It was a pretty decisive victory for the Knicks, who won the game 92-80. They were able to overcome some demons in the process as they had lost 14 of their previous 16 games in Dallas. It was a total team effort from the Knicks tonight as they picked each other up to make the plane ride back to New York much more pleasant. It will be interesting to see if the Knicks can ride the momentum from this successful road trip and put together a winning streak to get them back into the Atlantic Division race.

-Player of the Game: Kenyon Martin

Sharon Ellman

Coming into the game Martin was a game-time decision because of an ankle injury. When it was announced that Tyson Chandler would not be able to return after only four minutes with an upper respiratory infection, Martin got a big increase in minutes and responded well.

Martin stepped up for his teammates, playing 29 minutes off the bench even with the hobbled ankle. He scored a season-high 14 points on 7-8 shooting, grabbed six rebounds, handed out two assists and added one block to the normal intimidating defense he provides. “I knew Tyson wasn’t feeling the best. I might pay for it tomorrow but I’ll take the win anytime,” Martin said following the game. That type of will to win and dedication to the team is something the Knicks have seemed to lack at times this season. It is refreshing to see Martin putting it all on the line for the team to get this thing turned around.

-Match Up of the Game Review: Andrea Bargnani vs. Dirk Nowitzki

The Knicks were able to neutralize Nowitzki pretty well throughout the night. He scored only 18 points, well below his normal average against the Knicks, on 6-11 shooting. Where he surprisingly struggled was at the foul line, where he went 5-9; he entered the game shooting 92 percent from the charity stripe. He grabbed nine rebounds and added an assist and steal as well. Bargnani had a solid, total game for the Knicks Sunday. He scored 13 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and grabbed six rebounds in only 26 minutes of play.  The Knicks ability, thanks in part to Bargnani, to keep the damage Nowitzki did to a minimum was a big help in getting the victory.

-Positives

Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks offense was efficient and crisp throughout the night. They shot 48.7 percent from the field making 37-76 shots from the field (5-13 3pt). The ball movement was on point, as the Knicks assisted on 20 of the 37 makes. Everyone stepped up and played a part tonight as well as Anthony scored only four points after the first quarter. The Knicks had four other players, Bargnani, Amar’e Stoudemire, Martin and Tim Hardaway Jr., score in double figures to join Anthony. The bench was especially strong, outscoring the Mavericks bench 47-24.

Iman Shumpert did not have the gaudy stat line he had in the first two games on the road trip but he iced the game away for the Knicks down the stretch. He made a nice reverse lay-up with 1:37 in the fourth quarter and knocked down a three pointer on the Knicks next possession. He also added two free throws with 48 seconds remaining, giving him seven of his nine points in a 49 second span. He also added six rebounds and three steals to his stat line.

Even without Chandler the final 44 minutes of the game the Knicks defense and rebounding was outstanding throughout the night. The Mavericks were held to 41 percent shooting (32-78) and an unsightly 23.1 percent (6-26) from the three point line. In addition to slowing down Nowitzki they were able to hold Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon in check as the two combined for only 25 points, nine assists and five turnovers. All the more impressive as the Mavericks entered the game as one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA. The Knicks were able to finish those defensive possessions as they rebounded well, out rebounding the Mavericks 47-34. The Knicks were able to gang rebound, as six different players had six or more rebounds; Bargnani, Anthony, Shumpert, Stoudemire, Martin and J.R. Smith.

-Negatives

The third quarter was once again a problem for the Knicks. You wouldn’t know it looking at the final score but the Mavericks were in the game until the final minutes. The Knicks let a 19 point lead diminish to as little as six points but were able to pull it out thanks to Shumpert’s heroics. The problem for the Knicks was on the offensive end, as they scored only 15 points in the quarter in large part because of Anthony’s struggles.

Chandler’s injury is something this team cannot afford. They are finally looking to get things together and to lose Chandler would be a massive blow. Martin filled in admirably tonight but it is unreasonable to ask him to be able to provide that kind of production game in and game out. Hopefully Chandler is ready to go by Tuesday or you will see a lot of Martin and Stoudemire at center and may also see Jeremy Tyler and Cole Aldrich in more than just cameos. 

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks; January 5th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Sunday, January 5^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks

Pre-Game News and Notes

The Knicks will look to salvage the last game of the Texas Triangle road trip Sunday in Dallas. If not for poor decision making Friday night against the Rockets the Knicks would be going for a sweep. The Mavericks, just like the Knicks, are coming off a tough loss Friday night and will look to bounce back tonight with a strong performance to get their home stand back on track. Here are some things to watch for tonight when they tip-off.

-Players News and Notes

For the Knicks Raymond Felton is continuing to travel with the team but is unlikely to suit up. Felton is more likely to suit up Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons. Pablo Prigioni still has no timetable for his return and Metta World Peace will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Kenyon Martin will be a game-time call because of the ankle injury that held him out of Friday night’s game.

For the Mavericks, Devin Harris is nearing a return but has no chance of playing tonight. He is aiming for a mid-January return to even start practicing. Dirk Nowitzki was a game-time decision Friday night but was able to suit up and play so he should be out on the court again tonight.

-Can Carmelo Get Healthy?

Anthony missed three games last week because of an ankle injury but returned Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs. Anthony made it through the game without any problems until the waning seconds when he was kicked by Manu Ginobili. Anthony toughed it out and played against the Rockets Friday but grimaced multiple times throughout the game.

Anthony dealing with any lingering ankle injuries will hamper not only his performance but the team’s as well. Anthony has shown a willingness to pass the ball recently and he needs to continue doing that but if he is injured he may be too concerned with staying healthy than doing what is right for the team on the court.

-Shumpert Has Turned the Corner

Iman Shumpert has been outstanding in the two games of the New Year and has looked to finally turn a corner for the season. Shumpert struggled at the end of December, shooting 6-42 at one point but has really got it going in the last two games. In the two games against the Spurs and Rockets, Shumpert has scored 53 points and shot 12-14 from the three point line; in the 12 games prior Shumpert managed to score only 42 points.

With Shumpert scoring and his confidence raising the Knicks look like a totally different team. When your shooting guard position is giving you no production it is hard to win games. Shumpert has begun playing extremely well and the Knicks have coincidentally played two of their best games of the season.

-Perimeter Defense

The Knicks guards will once again have their hands full on the defensive end of the court. The Mavericks have a dangerous backcourt in Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis. Calderon is one of the better floor generals in the NBA and has solved a lot of the problems the Mavericks have had in recent seasons at the point guard position. Ellis has been an outstanding signing by the Mavericks as well. He has added another scoring threat to a team void of any consistent scoring outside of Nowitzki and also another playmaker. Ellis actually leads the team in assists per game at 5.9.

It will be interesting to see who the Knicks match up with. Beno Udrih and Calderon are expected to be matched up together; both players are revolving doors so each team should be able to get into their offense relatively easily. Shumpert should draw Ellis, which will be an exciting matching to watch. This will be like guarding Harden for Shumpert as Ellis is a play making scorer, he just settles for more jump shots than Harden does. Toure’ Murry will also see time again as the backup guard and should be able to make things difficult for any of the guards the Mavericks deploy.

-Matchup of the Game: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Andrea Bargnani

Dirk Nowitzki is arguably the best international basketball player to grace an NBA court. When he was drafted, Bargnani was looked at as the next Nowitzki, just more polished and further advanced upon coming into the league. Tonight they will meet again but with a lot lower expectations.

Nowitzki is putting together yet another solid season, averaging 21.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Nowitzki is having a renaissance of sorts this season with the addition of Ellis, who is taking some of the scoring load off Nowitzki’s shoulders. In his career Nowitzki has played very well against the Knicks, averaging 24.8 points per game against the Knicks; he averages more points per game against only three more teams.

The man who will most likely be tasked with slowing down Nowitzki is Bargnani. Bargnani has shown surprisingly strong one-on-one defense but not many big many he is matched up with have the offensive skill set of Nowitzki. Bargnani will have his hands full on defense but has a chance to make life difficult for Nowitzki as well.

Bargnani has struggled recently with his shot, sapping his confidence at points in the game. But Bargnani has shown throughout the season he can have an outstanding offensive game without any signs of it. Hopefully for the Knicks tonight is one of those games as any scoring from Bargnani will be a boost in the last game of the road trip. If he can augment the scoring Anthony and Shumpert have been doing on the trip it will help a lot.

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The King and I: Lebron James

"The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.  Just see"  

Dan Gilbert

I'd felt it from the start, the feeling that something wasn't right, I felt as if I had to defend what I deemed as the best player of the Miami Heat triad that was drafted in 2003.  The media wanted me to believe one thing but my heart, my basketball IQ forced me to believe something different.  Eight long years and 1 championship later I still feel exactly the same way.......Dwyane Wade is a better player than "King" James!  That's not to say that The "King" is a bad player, I would never say that but to date The "King" has lacked something that Wade has, Kobe has and MJ had and it was evident again in last season's NBA finals when it reared its ugly head and prevented the Miami Heat from winning their second championship.  I'll admit that during Lebron's career I've had a love/hate relationship with him and since he's joined the Miami Heat I've remained silent on all things Lebron James; that is until today.

During the 2008 NBA season, I heard rumblings that the Miami Heat were going to begin to develop young players, not acquire any bad contracts and prepare for the summer of 2010 when they could make a huge
splash in free agency, the Heat had a plan and relayed that plan to their fans.  Coincidentally during the summer of 2008, as the Redeem Team were battling their way towards a Gold Medal at the Summer Olympics, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh discussed the idea of all three playing for the same team.  Doing so in Toronto was unrealistic, Cleveland just couldn't afford it so that left the Heat as the only option, many teams had the cap room to sign two of the three but only the Heat could sign all three.  It was that knowledge that allowed me to tell all that would listen that the Miami Heat would win the NBA Championship during the 2010/11 season.

The Decision!

While watching the All-Star game at Cowboys stadium, a friendly battle between Eastern Conference teammates Dwyane Wade and Lebron James began to form and the two were vying for the games MVP award.  It was an incredible array of artistry as the two played a game of what you can do, I can do better but at the same time fought for the united goal of defeating the Western Conference in the world's most amazing stadium, a cathedral of sorts to celebrate all that's grandiose.  In the end, Dwyane Wade came out victorious adding the games MVP trophy to his NBA Finals MVP and NBA championship ring collection.  On that night I was so proud of Wade because he had just showed the world that yes he was on the same level as James and in the eyes of some even better. 

During the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs a few months after the All-Star game, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were defeated by the Boston Celtics and that night it was evident that no one was going to see James in a Cavs jersey again.  As he took his jersey off and walked through the tunnel with his head down, it was symbolic, an unconscious declaration of the end.  After years of hearing that the King was going to land in New York, soon the media began to pick up on something that I had know for years, the Miami Heat were going to make Lebron James their number one target in free agency.  Once the announcement was made that The Decision was going to be televised, I knew one of two things would happen, James would have a change of heart and he would announce that he was going to remain with the Cavs or that he was going to join the Miami Heat.

The week prior to The Decision, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade all had meetings with various teams due to the fact that all three were free agents and there was a two day stretch where reports indicated that Dwyane Wade was close to signing with the Chicago Bulls, his hometown team and the biggest threat to derail the Heat's master plan but Miami still had its trump card.....prestige.  Two days before The Decision, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh announced that they were both signing with the Heat.....two down and one to go was the expectation and as The Decision drew closer, the world seemed to stop and then the day arrived.  There I was in the store that I managed with ESPN playing on the TV's all day following every bit of coverage that I could before the 9 pm start of The Decision and as the hours became minutes, I grew more and more nervous because I knew that The Decision could have shaped the Miami Heat for years to come.  Once 9 pm arrived, the doors were locked and I sat on the counter to hear the announcement.  As soon as Lebron James appeared it was evident on his face that he was heart broken about what he was going to say and after 30 minutes of useless conversation between Lebron James and Jim Grey, it happened......

All in a weeks time the Miami Heat had acquired the NBA's best player and the league's greatest weapon but who was who.  The media began to instantly question whether or not if the two alpha's could coexist on the same team.  I promised myself that I wouldn't be blinded by the hype and that I would critique James fairly even though he was now a member of the Miami Heat, I didn't want anyone to feel as if I was defending him just because I'm a Heat fan.  I was caught in the middle of wanting him to do well, but not seem like a bandwagon fan to those who didn't know or understand my Heat pedigree.

There were many times last season when I began to sway, I became amazed by the change in the "King's" game, his attitude, I loved the real Lebron and I thought it was the real Lebron who'd been hiding behind the "King" for years.  I thought the King had been left in Cleveland and I was finally able to appreciate Lebron. My conviction grew stronger as the Heat powered themselves to the playoffs and advanced through the Sixers, Celtics, and Bulls with ease before facing the Mavericks in the NBA Finals.  After the Heat vanquished the Celtics, Lebron knelt to the court and had a moment, a moment of accomplishment, a passing of the torch as the Celtics had always stood in his way.  It should have been his signature moment, like Jordan over Ehlo, Hakeem Olajuwon ripping the soul out of David Robinson with the Dream Shake, and Kobe tossing a perfect ally oop pass to Shaq that spring boarded the Lakers past the Blazers in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals of 2000.  Lebron had his defining moment but he needed to complete the deal by defeating the Mavericks in the NBA Finals.  Ultimately Lebron's loss was the Heat's loss as the Heat fell to the Dallas Mavericks in six games, six games where Lebron James score only six points or less in during the fourth quarters of the final four games.  His failure stung due to the fact that he was brought in to help push the Heat back to the top.

During last season's NBA Finals I was in a state of shock, I knew why we were losing but I still couldn't believe it.  I knew why we were losing but I couldn't face it, this time was supposed to be different, he was supposed to have his defining moment but it wasn't to be.  It was one of the rare times in my life where I actually hated being right.  For the previous seven seasons I'd warned all the Cleveland fans that I knew that "King" James didn't have the heart, the fire to close the deal, to lead his team to an NBA championship and there I was watching The "King" again squander another chance to claim the ultimate prize but this time was different, it was my team that was being hurt, embarrassed.  The pressure was too much for The "King" to overcome and thus his legacy as a choke artist grew. 

Chance at Redemption?

Today the journey begins anew for Lebron James, The "King" was left watching the Mavericks celebrate their championship victory on the Heat's home floor.  I understand that there's no way that Lebron James could win another MVP award anytime soon but he has to play at that caliber, he must raise his game to another level and dominate the regular season in a way that he's never done but it can't end there.  James must "lead" the Miami Heat to an NBA title, Wade is the leader of the team, its heart and soul but it must be James who takes the lead role in the playoffs and beyond.  Then and only then will he have his redemption, his salvation.

Most sports fans are fickle and they will eventually grow to love Lebron James more than they did The "King" but he must deliver a championship to the Miami Heat before that healing process can begin.  This fan was ready to anoint him, but his epic collapse delayed the process.  As a long time Heat fan there are certain players who's let the team down over the years and to this day I refrain from using their names in an attempt to erase them from existence i.e. Jddie Eones.  Lebron James can change his entire career path by simply winning the ultimate prize and he doesn't have to look far to find the blueprint for success.  Dirk Nowitzki was considered to be a choke artist for years, most of his career and it only became magnified when the Dallas Mavericks were defeated in six games by the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA finals after having a 2-0 lead, home court advantage, and a 15 point lead with five minutes to go in game 3.  During the playoffs of the very next season, the number 1 seed Mavericks were punked out of the first round by the number 8 seed Warriors in spectacular fashion again exposing Dirk as a choke artist  Fate allowed Nowitzki to enjoy his path of redemption and now the only thing someone can call him is an NBA champion and he is perhaps the league's most marketable player at this time.

Lebron James can still enjoy the career renaissance that Nowitzki is enjoying at this time but James must leave the "King" where he was defeated, the NBA Finals of 2010.  "King" James is no longer needed in the life of Lebron James.  "King" James was the media marketing machine, the persona that made Lebron a mega star full of style but no substance.  Only Lebron can help Lebron, the Miami Heat can show him how but he has to first follow, then lead and leave the "King" behind.  The basketball Gods will test the will of Lebron James once more and this time he can't fail, no more visits by the "King" no more epic failures.  "King" James as we knew him must die and Lebron James must be born anew.  There are times when you can look into the soul of a man, know his inner thoughts, his fears and his weaknesses, I've seen those things in the "King" for the first 8 years are his career, I've stared them down, passed judgement on him.  I pray for the day to come that I look into the eyes of Lebron and see no fear, but see hunger, desire, heart.  One can question a man's game but you can never question his heart; I just hope that Dan Gilbert doesn't end up being right about the "King's" curse.  I leave you with a quote from perhaps one of the greatest champions to ever live.....Muhammad Ali.

"Champions aren't made in the gyms.  They are made something they have deep inside them: a desire, a dream, a vision."

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2010/11 NBA Champions: The Dallas Mavericks

There are times in life when words aren't needed whether if they are spoken or read.  At times words can and will get in the way.  In knowing that at times words aren't needed I will do my best to be as sincere as possible without spending much time with word play.  Simply put the Dallas Mavericks are the 2010/11 NBA Champions as they defeated the perceived Three Headed monsters of South Beach.  I would like to congratulate the true Dallas Mavericks fans who's fought hard side by side with their team the entire year.  Enjoy the feeling for it is one that you will never forget just as I haven't forgotten the joys of 2006.  This is your payback and you earned it.  To Mark Cuban, your silence was rewarded and now you see that you can be more effective in that silence.

To Dirk, Jason Kidd, and the rest of the Mavericks roster, it was your unyielding desire that led you to this title and I respect that 100%.  Nothing was given to you as you simply proved too strong for the Miami Heat to contend with game after game so again congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks players, the organization, and their true fans!

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The NBA Finals 2010/11: Dallas vs Miami

Perhaps two of the most dramatic conference finals endings ever happened over the course of two nights during this past week.  First it was the Dallas Mavericks who in the waining minutes of games 4 and 5 made the OKC Thunder look like school boys and then there were the star players for the Miami Heat Lebron James and Dwyane Wade, the team that was dubbed as the team who couldn't close when it mattered, who powered the Heat to a thunderous and definitive win over the Chicago Bulls in game five.  The team who couldn't close ended the game on an 18-3 run in the final 3 minutes that sucked the air out of the United Center and ended the championship dreams of the team who'd earned the best record in the league, had the Coach of the year, and who's star was the NBA MVP in Derrick Rose.  The Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat now prepare to do battle in the NBA Fnals and I would have it no other way but be warned of the perception that the media will force upon you. 

The elephant in the room is the fact that many, many, fans and basketball professionals will do whatever they can to say negative words about the Miami Heat while praising any Heat opponent as the greatest team ever.  It's happened all year and now it's slowly happening again as the media are making Dirk Nowitzki out to be the messiah and by comparing him to Larry Bird in what I can only describe as an attempt at the sympathy fan vote.  Dirk is a hell of a talent, a great player and yes throughout his career at times he has been virtually unstoppable but with that being said, the Mavericks have always found ways to lose; Larry Bird on the other hand has 3 NBA championships to his name.  Let me be very clear here, I'm not saying that Dirk isn't a great player because he is and if the Heat had a spot for him, I would gladly take him so my words aren't coming from a place a of hate as with so many folks who speak about the Heat.  Even as I type this, I just saw an ABC commercial advertising the NBA Finals and the tag line was the Big Three of Miami versus a team of veterans led by Dirk of the Mavericks.  Just be advised that the Miami Heat are just as loaded with hungry veterans as Dallas.  These teams are extremely similar in their make up but the Heat is much more deeper than the Big Three, deeper than most basketball "experts" give them credit for being.  At times you must use logic and not your heart, does one honestly think that winning a championship means more to Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Peja, or Dirk than it does Juwan Howard, Erick Dampier, Mike Bibby or Lebron James?  Winning a championship matters equally the same to all of those guys who have battled each other in the league for years.  As my regular readers know very well, yes I am a Miami Heat fan, a long time Miami Heat fan, since the days of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, PJ Brown, and yes even Jamal Mashburn.....that was painful to type.  The Miami Heat are entrenched in my soul, my heart and now I will give my honest assessment of the 2010/11 NBA Finals.

The trophy above, the Larry O'Brien trophy is was it's all about!  Yes these teams met in 2006 for the title with the Heat winning in a stunning comeback after being down 0-2 but that doesn't matter now, both of these teams are completely different yet they're both as hungry as ever.  Two stars, Dirk Nowitzki and Lebron James are looking to cement their legacy in the annals of time, Dwyane Wade is looking to add to his already Hall of Fame career, Chris Bosh, wanting to shed the label of soft once and for all, and then you have the veterans on both sides, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Peja, Shawn Marion doing battle with Erick Dampier, Juwan Howard, Mike Bibby, and Big Z to name a few who's only mission is to be able to look in a mirror and call themselves a champion at the biggest stage.  Again that trophy is what it's all about, the winner, four wins away from hoisting that trophy and exorcising past playoff demons once and for all.

Usually lost in the journey is the fact that it's just basketball, simplistic and beautiful, either you make shots or you don't and this series will have very interesting match ups.  For all of the true Mavericks fans in Texas and scattered aross the US, I love you and appreciate your passion and yes I know your pain.  Lets sit back and enjoy a great series.  To all of the fans who are picking the Mavericks to defeat the Heat just because you're Haters or because you don't like Lebron James for whatever reason my break down below will be for you.  If  you truly know the game then you will understand the truths below.

Argument 1.  Miami will not be able to defend Dirk.

That could be possible, but he can be slowed down and the key to this will be Chris Bosh.  Bosh has been playing great thus far in the playoffs and if he can make Dirk work on defense, his offense may be affected due to slight fatigue.  The Mavericks will counter the Bosh/Dirk match up by playing a lot of zone and also by at times using Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood to guard Bosh while Dirk becomes the floater due to lack of trust in him defensively.  If the later happens the Mavericks will have no protection at the rim leaving Wade and Lebron free to attack.....Advantage Heat.

Argument 2.  The Mavs bench is better than the Heat's.

That's a great argument that can be made, the Dallas bench is probably better than the Heat's bench but if you look at it from strictly a scoring standpoint the Big Three's production for Miami makes it possible for the Heat to have less scoring from its bench than Dallas.  In other words Dallas needs its bench more for scoring while Miami uses it's bench more for defense, rebounding and at times scoring.  With that being said if defense really wins championships then the advantage goes to the........Heat.

Argument 3.  The Mavs have Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd is a Hall of Fame player and even at his advanced age I would love to have him as a member of the Heat.  At this stage in his career is basically a jump shooter who plays good defense. The Heat has Mike Bibby who at this stage in his career is basically a jump shooter who has played good defense thus far in the playoffs.  Historically Bibby has converted a higher percentage of his 3 point shots than Jason Kidd has, Kidd has made more but he's played longer, Bibby has the higher percentage.......Advantage Heat.

I'm not saying that the Heat are invincible and that there's no way the Mavericks can win, all I am saying is that for the people who are choosing the Mavericks just for the hell of it, please pay attention to the match ups that are in front of you.  These teams are extremely similar when it comes to personal and desire and the smallest details could make the difference on whether you win on lose.  The Heat have lost only 6 games in the last 2 and a half months and they won't lose four now.  When one enters a gun fight would you rather have 1 big gun or 3?

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The Collapse of the OKC Thunder

This was not in the script, a collapse of such magnitude was not supposed to happen to the Thunder, not this year.  All season I've heard from the so called experts  how the following teams had the best chance to come out of the West, The Lakers, Spurs, and Nuggets......the same thing you're thinking right now about Denver was the same thing I thought but some people who get paid a lot more than me to voice their opinion had Denver coming out of their first round series with OKC.  A few of them picked the Mavs but only a small segment.  I've watched the Thunder closely all season due to the fact that I was captivated by their epic 6 game series with the Lakers last post season.  I dubbed them the team of destiny, the team that would bleed new blood into the NBA as long as their management could keep them together.  After their heart breaking loss to the Lakers I felt as if the OKC Thunder had felt enough pain and that they would grow and that this season they would take that huge leap.  I ignored my critics as I tauted my team of Destiny to anyone who could listen and I had them facing the Miami Heat in the 10/11 NBA Finals.  Now it seems as if my team of Destiny has dug itself into a hole that it may be too young to dig out of.

Last evening, game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the Basketball Gods ruled that it was not the Thunder's time, not their destiny to defeat the Mavericks in a game that despite the greatness of Dirk, the Thunder dominated.  For those who didn't see the game, words can't explain the stunning events of last night but I will try with the help of hoopdata.com.  The collapse began in the most unlikely fashion, Russell Westbrook raised up for a three point shot which he missed, Thunder big man Nick Collision snatched the board swung around and passed the ball to Kevin Durant who drilled a three pointer to put the Thunder up 99-84 with 5 minutes to go......and then it happened.

Below is courtesy of Hoopdata.com

5:00 to go: Oklahoma City leads 99-84

4:48: Shawn Marion is fouled by James Harden and makes 2 FT's.

4:33: Dirk Nowitzki is fouled by James Harden after a Dallas defensive rebound. This is notable because it was the SIXTH FOUL ON HARDEN, and because Dallas was in the bonus. DUMB! John Hollinger of ESPN was on top of things with poor OKC foul choices in his fourth quarter tweets (which made up for him tweeting "I think we're done here" just before the rally started...jinx city!). Dirk only made one free throw, so it's 99-87.

4:20: Russell Westbrook misses a 17-foot jumper just 13 seconds into the shot clock. The whole arena still thinks this is going to be an OKC win (and I was preparing an entirely different lead!)

3:48: Russell Westbrook tries to drive through the Dallas trees, and loses the ball to Jason Kidd. He pulls Kidd down afterward...resulting in two free throws that Jason mKes. It's 99-89 OKC...and I'm thinking, "wouldn't it be something if OKC blows this game and I can point to those last two plays from Westbrook as the turning point?" Of course, it's Harden fouling out is the better turning point. In fact, Westbrook getting into trouble on offense is one of the dominos that started to fall because a key weapon was off the floor.

3:32: Kevin Durant misses a 22-footer 16 seconds into the shot clock. Durant seems to shy away from driving to the basket late in tight situations.

3:15: Dirk Nowitzki makes a 13-foot jumper...with the play-by-play listings not able to do justice to the acrobatics involved in Dirk's late scores. Dallas has cut it to 99-91 with 3:15 to go. And, it still seems unlikely that a full comeback is in the cards. Scott Brooks calls a timeout to remind his players that they haven't won yet.

2:49: Kevin Durant misses a 3-pointer late in the shot clock. Nick Collison gets the rebound. Russell Westbrook makes a free throw line jumper with 2:32 to go, and poses for the cameras like he's in a music video...rather than humbly remembering that he's hitting about 30% of his shots outside of 2 feet over the past few weeks.

2:21: Dirk Nowitzki hits a trey to make it 101-94

2:11: Jason Terry fouls Westbrook when Westbrook was a bit out of control bringing the ball up. But, Westbrook is great at drawing contact, so he may have been more in control than I was giving him credit for. Westbrook misses BOTH free throws, which was a shocker given how well he'd been hitting them in the playoffs.

2:00: Dirk Nowitzki makes a 14-foot jumper to make it 101-96, and it starts to dawn on Thunder nation that they're on the verge of a major choke job.

1:30: Russell Westbrook misses a 15-foot jumper. Obviously it was late in the shot clock. Harden isn't on the floor. Given what they've seen in the series, Dallas wants Westbrook taking that shot.

1:25: Dirk Nowitzki makes a 5-footer and it's 101-98 with 1:25 to go.

1:07: Kevin Durant gets picked by Shawn Marion...Jason Terry's subsequent layup attempt gets blocked by Thabo Sefolosha...Russell Westbrook misses a 16-foot jump shot...then fouls Shawn Marion right afterward in the backcourt. Marion makes one of two...meaning OKC gave Dallas four points on fouls a mile away from the basket during th is stretch. It's 101-99 Oklahoma City with 39 seconds left. All of those "Dirk makes" and "Westbrook misses" notations and the Thunder are still ahead...WITH THE BALL...with 39 seconds left.

0:20: Thabo Sefolosha misses a three-pointer, and Dallas gets the rebound.

0:06: Dirk is grabbed from behind by Nick Collison and gets two free throws. I could see why some OKC fans would be mad about this call. Collison definitely had his hands on Dirk and impeded his movement. We've all seen it NOT called late in close games. We've also seen it called often when the scoring star of the team with the ball is the guy getting grabbed. Dirk makes his free throws, and we're tied.

Kevin Durant has a very long trey attempt blocked by Shawn Marion, and we're going overtime.

Overtime saw Jason Kidd and Jason Terry help Dirk with the scoring (a trey from Kidd broke a 105-all tie with 40 seconds left). OKC got buckets from Sefolosha and Ibaka, but misses from Durant and Westbrook. Four late Mavs free throws extended the margin to 112-105

I was stunned at what I was seeing and no one person was to blame for what took place last night; it was a collective effort at failure highlighted by an ungodly performance by Dirk down the stretch as he finished the game with 40 points scored.  It was the first time in 15 years that a team collapsed in such a manner and also the first team since 1986 to lose a playoff game with a rebounding advantage of +22.  The Thunder, my team of Destiny now find themselves in a 1-3 series deficit and a 94% chance of losing said series.  With that said the Thunder have a 6% chance of completing the Destiny that I have bestowed onto them but it is not my will, it's the will of the Basketball Gods and no one knows the depth of their decision making.  The NBA, where an Epic performance and an Epic fail can happen.....in the same game!  

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