NBA Finals...

This is a column I wrote a couple weeks back, concerning the NBA Finals. Its significance? I actually made a correct prediction... Amazing...



The NBA Finals are currently underway, with game two of the series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat set for tonight. The series is compelling for a number of reasons, with one of the most prominent being that it is the first NBA Finals appearance for either franchise (believe it or not, the Mavericks of Popeye Jones' heyday never made it to the sport's biggest stage).
With match-ups in mind, I will dissect the battles at each position on the floor to ultimately discover who will be NBA Champions when the series is over.
Point guard - Jason Terry and Devin Harris vs. Jason Williams and Gary Payton
If the battle relied on name recognition only, the Heat would trump the Mavericks. Unfortunately for Miami, Jason Williams (no, not the one who played for the Bulls and wrecked his motorcycle, and not the one who played for the Nets and was accused of shooting a limo driver) has always been known more for style than substance, and Payton is now a 37-year-old version of the player with hall of fame credentials who seemed to be running on his last legs two years ago.
For the Mavericks, Terry stepped up big in the opening game of the series, leading the Mavericks with 32 points. Meanwhile, Harris, the second-year player from Wisconsin, showed his value earlier in the playoffs racking up four-straight 15-plus point games against the San Antonio spurs.
Advantage- Mavericks
Shooting guard - Jerry Stackhouse and Adrian Griffin vs. Dwyane Wade and anyone
With apologies to the Mavericks, this argument ends with the mere mention of the former Marquette star Wade. He may be in just his third NBA season, but Wade has already drawn comparisons to six-time Finals MVP Michael Jordan. It's difficult to place any player in Jordan's league, but Wade has seemingly taken the title of Heat MVP from Shaquille O'Neal.
Advantage- Heat
Small forward - Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels vs. Antoine Walker and James Posey
Third-year player Howard averaged over 15 points per game this season, while Daniels has seen limited minutes. For the Heat, Walker has shot 34-percent from behind the arc in the playoffs, and Posey provides the team energy off the bench.
Advantage- None
Power forward - Dirk Nowitzki and Keith Van Horn vs. Udonis Haslem and Walker
Another argument that ends quickly. Despite the seemingly crippling notion of an NBA star being a fan of David Hasselhoff, Nowitzki has built a strong "Nowitzki for MVP" case throughout the playoffs by scoring under 20 points in just two of the Mavericks' 18 games. He has also made Milwaukee Bucks fans further rue the day the franchise traded his rights for the rights to Robert "Tractor" Traylor.
Advantage - Mavericks
Center - DeSagana Diop and Erick Dampier vs. Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning
O'Neal may be aging and not near the dominant force he once was, but he is still one of the top centers in the league, and too much for former lottery-busts Diop and Dampier. Mourning further tilts the scale in Miami's direction, adding scoring and a defensive presence off the bench.
Advantage- Heat
Examination of the positions on the floor leads to a stalemate, so who will win the 2006 NBA Finals? Miami in six games.
Why?
Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban has become as identifiable as many of his players because of his quotes and antics. He has been fined numerous times by the NBA, and commissioner David Stern might resign before handing him the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
And honestly, if the Mavericks couldn't win with Popeye, who can they win with?