Neal Scweiber: "Bill, Dallas Sucks."
Bill Haverchuck: … "You suck. Dallas Rules"
At about 9:50pm (CT) on Thursday during game 2 of the NBA finals it looked like we were in the midst of a coronation or what some may have called “The Celebration” part 2. Then something changed… The Heat forgot how to run offense, play tough defense and the Mavs started getting stops, not turning the ball over and hitting clutch shots. And the next thing you know the series was tied 1-1. While all of this was going down I was enjoying the basketball portion of the proceedings as a huge sports fan and self-proclaimed NBA geek. However, at the same time I was also feeling perturbed and at odds and somewhat villainous for what was to become of the aftermath of a Heat collapse or a Dallas’ failure once again down the stretch of another NBA finals game. So, I guess what I feared somewhat has inspired this post.
“Dirk is soft”
“See I told you LeBron is not as good as MJ”
“Just like in July the Heat celebrated prematurely and it cost them…”
The above quotes could be taken from any number of pieces I have seen throughout the playoffs and just like decaffeinated Colombian coffee crystals they make me “angry”. The way sports are analyzed, written, and spoken about in the mainstream is becoming formulaic, tired and old almost like an episode of “Family Guy”. And never more so has that been apparent to me during this years NBA playoffs. Sure I can still enjoy an episode of “Family Guy” and some mainstream sports analysis is still useful and insightful, but I feel like I have seen it all before and all it is is the same tired arguments/angles that have been played out a dozen times before at various points. Game 2 gave us this exact reaction whether it was when the Heat were coasting through the first 3 quarters and Dirk Nowitzski was suddenly becoming soft again or “ I told you he can’t play through pain with that finger” never mind the fact Dirk was shooting the exact same as he did in game 1 with a healthy finger. Then the Mavs came back so all that Dirk stuff was replaced and filled-in by: “I can’t believe the Heat would the nerve to celebrate a big lead during the 4th quarter and that is why they blew it because they took their eyes of the prize” so on and so forth. Now, I am not going knock anybody if that is their angle and that is truly what they believe, but I am just tired of it.
“See I told you LeBron is not as good as MJ”
“Just like in July the Heat celebrated prematurely and it cost them…”
The above quotes could be taken from any number of pieces I have seen throughout the playoffs and just like decaffeinated Colombian coffee crystals they make me “angry”. The way sports are analyzed, written, and spoken about in the mainstream is becoming formulaic, tired and old almost like an episode of “Family Guy”. And never more so has that been apparent to me during this years NBA playoffs. Sure I can still enjoy an episode of “Family Guy” and some mainstream sports analysis is still useful and insightful, but I feel like I have seen it all before and all it is is the same tired arguments/angles that have been played out a dozen times before at various points. Game 2 gave us this exact reaction whether it was when the Heat were coasting through the first 3 quarters and Dirk Nowitzski was suddenly becoming soft again or “ I told you he can’t play through pain with that finger” never mind the fact Dirk was shooting the exact same as he did in game 1 with a healthy finger. Then the Mavs came back so all that Dirk stuff was replaced and filled-in by: “I can’t believe the Heat would the nerve to celebrate a big lead during the 4th quarter and that is why they blew it because they took their eyes of the prize” so on and so forth. Now, I am not going knock anybody if that is their angle and that is truly what they believe, but I am just tired of it.
It is to the point where I just want to watch the game and enjoy it for what it is; also at the same time respecting the things these guys do during those couple of hours while the game is being played. Not for who these athletes are on the court with their antics (yeah I can still be annoyed a little by that) or off the court. In reality the way sports are covered makes this concept very difficulty. Now I still might have an opinion time to time on some of the off the field tomfoolery that these athletes find themselves in; although, I am really as I get older trying to divorce myself from the concept that their off the field personalities should have an impact on how I watch and enjoy sports. For the most part these athletes in my opinion are not very interesting people in general, but they just happen to do very interesting things on a field/court for a living. I really do not find Derrick Rose to be that fascinating of an individual, but I do find that he is incredibly captivating for the 82 plus games he plays on the basketball court. And this is a hard notion to break since most of the coverage of these guys tends to include this sort off the court narrative and what kind of personality do they have type of element. I would rather like/dislike an athlete for how I subjectively feel about their game not so much their personality away from the game. Now I understand that people are going to like and dislike certain players for their on field actions and I am okay with that and to a certain degree would say that is where my argument has some flaws and some room for debate. I guess in a long winded way what I am trying to say is that I am trying to make a more conscious effort as a sports geek to look at the more freakish things of what these athletes can do on the court then worry about what they are like away from it.
Speaking of tired/recycled opinions… I still may not be comfortable with how this Heat thing all came together last July, but it was astonishing to watch the Heat play for the first three quarters the other night. I am pretty sure they way they played the other night during those quarters is pretty much what everybody feared around the league what would happen if this team was able to get out in transition and showcase their talents. Highlight dunk after highlight dunk and it was pretty incredible to watch that display take place not to mention how this Heat team has defended throughout the playoffs. I can respect greatness and if they can sustain playing like they did for the first three quarters for an entire game then they deserve to win and in fact should win and to a point I will be impressed by it but it in no means will I have approval for it. At the same time while all of those theatrics are taking place you have a team in Dallas that is just as equally solid in the way they move the ball to open shooters and seemingly have this will to never give in. It was a perfect game between two really good teams. I would have been happy (moreso Dallas) with either team winning especially when they play like that.
Stray observations and thoughts on game 3:
- The Brendan Haywood injury could have a huge impact on the Mavs because that would shorten their rotation down to 7 and make their frontline very thin. Although, it would mean we would probably see more minutes from “Dad” (Brian Cardinal).
- I am really interested to see what type of start the Heat get off to tonight especially on the road if the Dallas crowd can get into the game.
- LBJ and D-Wade have made a living off shooting and making low percentage outside jump shots throughout the playoffs. That finally caught up with them in game 3 when they could not find the broad side of a barn late and had some terrible possessions. The Heat so far have shot more 3 pointers than foul shots and I would expect that to change tonight.
- Can we get a respectable National Anthem performance?? Michael McDonald and 10 year-old was not a good start in Miami. Although, it was better than having Jimmy Buffett
Till next time... Enjoy game 3
