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Someone needed to start this thread. Can the Mavs stop Shaq, who has been their nemesis for years?

I say yes, but not without some troubles.

Mavs in 7.

Mavs in 5

If I'm Avery Johnson, I'm more worried about Wade at this point. Shaq will get his points, etc., but he'll run out of gas late in games. Wade is just a freak.

this series is a total toss up in my mind. Shaq is going to be much more motivated than he was in the regular season and even early in the playoffs. He has promised a championship in Miami, and this is a golden chance to keep his promise and cement his legacy beyond Kobe and LA. I also dont think the Mavs will be able to keep Wade away from the rim.

Offsetting that, the Mavs do have the homecourt which could be huge in the 2-3-2 format. If the Mavs take care of business at home in the first two games, i can't see Miami winning the series because they would basically be forced to win 3 in a row at home. On the other hand, if Miami gets a split in Dallas, Shaq might smell blood and end it in 5 or 6. Should be interesting and great to watch.

Shaq gets tired. We could use Mbenga for a few fouls on Shaq. Oh well.
Mavs in 6.

Mavs in 5. The whole team is pumped (obviously) and the Heat have no answer for his Nowitzness. Shaq is just a giant beast, nothing the Mavs can't handle.

smu diamond m wrote:Mavs in 5. The whole team is pumped (obviously) and the Heat have no answer for his Nowitzness. Shaq is just a giant beast, nothing the Mavs can't handle.

Nothing the Mavs can't handle? Oh wait I forgot, Dallas has the self proclaimed second best center in the NBA- Eric Dampier. Shaq likes to rip on Damp bc of that comment and I think that he will own any center Dallas throws at him. Although I must agree that I don't see anyone on the Heat that will slow Dirk.

Should be a good series. Heat take 1 of 2 from the Mavs to open the series, 2 of 3 at home, then finish Dallas off in game 6 or 7 to win the championship.

Let's see, Mavs vs. Miami since Shaq's arrival

11-Nov-2004 : W 113 - 93
01-Feb-2005: W 109 - 104
25-Nov-2005: W 103 - 90
09-Feb-06: W 112 - 76

No, they have no answer ot Shaq or Wade.

Mavs in 5, if not the sweep. Just sucks that the hometown fans won't get to see the Championship Trophy presented at home.

The Heat are big and rather slow; the Mavs are smaller and fast. I think the Mavs will be able to wear out Shaq; Wade's another matter.

The Mavs in 6.

MustangIcon wrote:

smu diamond m wrote:Mavs in 5. The whole team is pumped (obviously) and the Heat have no answer for his Nowitzness. Shaq is just a giant beast, nothing the Mavs can't handle.

Nothing the Mavs can't handle? Oh wait I forgot, Dallas has the self proclaimed second best center in the NBA- Eric Dampier. Shaq likes to rip on Damp bc of that comment and I think that he will own any center Dallas throws at him. Although I must agree that I don't see anyone on the Heat that will slow Dirk.

Should be a good series. Heat take 1 of 2 from the Mavs to open the series, 2 of 3 at home, then finish Dallas off in game 6 or 7 to win the championship.

LonghornFan beat me to it, but check our record against the Heat.

Heat in 5. Wade is the real deal.

1. The Heat have a different head coach and only 4 players still on the roster from their first 2 losses shown in this example(Shaq, Wade, Haslem and Doleac). Also I am not even sure if Avery was the Dallas coach in those games, can't recall.

2. If you even try to pretend that this Heat team we are seeing in the playoffs is the same as the one the Mavs smoked in February then you are being an ultimate homer. They overhauled the roster and spent a good majority of the year adjusting. They had a god awful record vs all the elite teams this season, not just the Mavs.

3. Shaq regular season vs Shaq playoffs is a no comparison. He notoriously loafs through most the season, finally deciding to get his lazy rear going in the playoffs.

I am accepting of your opinion that the Mavs will win the series (I actually also think the Heat must split in Dallas or the Mavs close this out in 6), just skeptical of your reasoning being based on irrelevant historical records between the teams and the fact that the team is "pumped (obviously)".

Miami is like a weaker version of the Spurs. Shaq will be just like Duncan, only making points dunking over Damp instead of drawing a million fouls. They do not have the firepower SA had, nor do they have the D. We should win in 5, but the league will make sure it goes to 6 or 7.

MustangIcon wrote:1. The Heat have a different head coach and only 4 players still on the roster from their first 2 losses shown in this example(Shaq, Wade, Haslem and Doleac). Also I am not even sure if Avery was the Dallas coach in those games, can't recall.

2. If you even try to pretend that this Heat team we are seeing in the playoffs is the same as the one the Mavs smoked in February then you are being an ultimate homer. They overhauled the roster and spent a good majority of the year adjusting. They had a god awful record vs all the elite teams this season, not just the Mavs.

3. Shaq regular season vs Shaq playoffs is a no comparison. He notoriously loafs through most the season, finally deciding to get his lazy rear going in the playoffs.

I am accepting of your opinion that the Mavs will win the series (I actually also think the Heat must split in Dallas or the Mavs close this out in 6), just skeptical of your reasoning being based on irrelevant historical records between the teams and the fact that the team is "pumped (obviously)".

I'll give you that the Heat are playing differently -- they made it to the finals -- I just think the Mavs have a lot more momentum going into the series.

I hate the 2-3-2 arrangement. In my mind, I think it just about negates home court advantage.

My 2 cents are give Shaq his 25 -30 points, focus on keeping Wade from going nuts and hack a Shaq down the stretch. We must win the first 2. If we do this, we win in 6.............