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The best team?
June 30, 2006The best team doesn't always win sporting events. I guess the best team on that day does.
I never played one minute of organized soccer as a kid. But that hasn't kept me from enjoying the sport as a writer, a dad and even watching some World Cup.
But I don't like penalty kicks deciding a match. I think it's just a coin toss basically. The team that was better "on the pitch" really has no better or worse chance of winning.
Hockey keeps playing till there is a goal scored. I'm not sure why soccer can't, at least at this level.
But the best team doesn't always win in other sports, too. Do we really think George Mason is better than that pro team called the Connecticut Huskies last March?
Were the Steelers really better than the Colts in 2005-06? Were the Heat really better than the Pistons, Spurs or Mavericks?
I answer no to all those questions, but it's a results business. So they were better when they had to be and that's all most will remember.
Germans will remember this as a victory. Not as a poor way to break a tie.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 5:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Game 3
June 21, 2006The Mavericks had some chances to win on Tuesday night and force a Game 7.
But their real chance to become NBA champions was lost in Miami. If they hold a 13-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 3, then the only thing this week in Dallas would have been a parade.
But Miami showed a lot of heart and poise. They came back from 10-point deficts in three of the last four games.
The Heat did what was necessary to win their first title.
Dallas did enough to get very close, but couldn't deliver the knockout punch.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Who was that guy?
June 16, 2006I saw a No. 41 wearing a Dallas jersey last night on my TV screen. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Dirk Nowitzki.
I think it's possible the 7-foot German took a flight to take in some World Cup action in his home country.
I've seen Nowitzki in person. I've talked to Nowitzki. But this guy I saw on TV last night was different. He was missing open shots. He was taking bad shots. He was passing up good shots.
And he didn't play anything like the All-Star player Dallas can usually take for granted.
Maybe Dirk doesn't like Game 4s. He threw up a 3-of-13 clunker in Game 4 against the Suns. But this one was actually worse. Because for most of the night, Dallas had a chance if they just made open shots.
One possession told the story of the game, the Mavericks had four offensive rebounds, multiple open shots and came up empty.
I think the effort word is overrused after sporting events. I didn't see lack of effort, just poor shooting.
Nowitzki may not need a 50-point game to put Dallas back in control of this series. But it goes without saying, he better start making some open shots and working himself into an offensive rhythm.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
It's the little things
June 15, 2006The worst thing about losing a game you have won, like the Mavericks did on Tuesday in Game 3, is that it's all the little things.
A bad pass.
A missed free throw.
One blown assignment.
A coach going to the stall a couple minutes too early.
But it's the little things that win in sports at the highest level.
Dallas has quickness, but it's not day and night different than another NBA team.
Nobody matches Shaq's power, but Dallas is neutralizing it OK.
But the little things are why we practice from youth leagues on up. Great talent plus attention to the little things equals great accomplishments.
The team doing the most little things wins. And I hate boring cliches.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 12:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Heat had to have it
June 14, 2006Miami is back and breathing in the NBA Finals, but a lot of things had to go their way to do it.
One, Dwyane Wade had a 42-point game. His chances of doing that on Thursday aren't good.
Shaq made key free throws. We all know that's rare.
Dirk missed a clutch free throws. Even more rare.
Dan Crawford officiated.
Officiating didn't decide the game, but it helped the team that was behind. And Dallas is 1-11 in games called by Dan Crawford in the playoffs. That's a wierd stat.
From the Dallas point-of-view, it's a shame to waste a great game by Erick Dampier and a good shooting night from Josh Howard.
From Miami's perspective, it's about time Wade showed up as a superstar. The Mavs helped him by running at his jump shot and giving him driving lanes. Wade did his part with some brilliant finishes.
But it still took a Gary Payton jumper and Dirk missed free throw and missed call on Udonis Haslem's steal from Dirk. The stars won't align like that every night for Miami, which needs to win both Thursday and Sunday to have a chance to win this series.
The best line I saw on the wire Tuesday night was from the Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko "It’s amazing how fast a stranglehold can turn into a gag."
That gag by Dallas gave the Heat some life and the NBA some more network TV money.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Birthday parties
June 13, 2006My little girl turned 6 yesterday.
We didn't have the biggest party for her, but kind of a day-long celebration with things she enjoyed.
Breakfast, gifts, a trip to ChuckECheese and some ice cream at home to top it off.
Life is probably pretty good when you're 6.
And the calendar probably moves pretty slow.
For her daddy, it doesn't seem that long ago that we were picking out a name and getting a room ready for a baby.
Now, I better not blink or she'll be a teenager.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Surely, Miami will win one
The Heat can't be as bad as they were in Dallas, right?
They trail 2-0 and Dallas has been mediocre to poor on offense. Dirk hasn't had a good game yet by his lofty standards.
I assume the NBA Finals can't be this bad of a mismatch. So the safe bet tonight would be Miami.
There's been no visual evidence to back that up, but it makes sense.
The Lakers in 04 were down 2-0 to the Spurs and came back to win four straight.
Shaq and Gary Payton were on that team, too.
I don't see them winning four straight, but they should be able to pull a game or two out.
Thus far, Miami looks like they belong in the same class as first-round foe Memphis and not in the league with San Antonio or Phoenix.
The Eastern Conference takes a big hit if Miami falls again tonight.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
1-0, but long way to go
June 10, 2006Anything with the publicity of the NBA finals can fall into what I think of as a football mentality.
You know, a game on Sunday and then the winner is doing everything right and the loser is terrible and will never win again.
But in football there is a week between games and time to let everything sink in and get on to the next week of overreaction.
So what I gather out of the Dallas media is that because the Mavericks won with terrible games from Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard that this series will be easy. Either a 4-1 victory or a sweep.
I guess the other side is that Miami was trailing by just two in the fourth quarter despite not getting the ball to Shaq enough and missing most of their free throws.
I've seen a lot more of the Mavericks than I have the Heat. I know Dallas can play better, but I'm sure Miami can, too.
Unless there's a Dallas rout on Sunday night, I'm not ready to call this series over.
Small world: As I asked a question in a post-game press conference on Thursday night, I realized the guy who handed me the microphone was Les Dolberry from Holliday. Dolberry, who lives in Plano, was wearing a NBA Entertainment logo and helping staff the post-game proceedings. We used to play some pickup basketball together. Small world indeed.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 1:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Pre-game jitters
June 8, 2006I just did something new, attend a pre-gram press conference. Just on the off chance they'd say something that would relate to my post-game column tonight.
The everyday beat writers may have to go to these, but I can see how the coaches would consider them a chore. They have pretty much covered things over the past few days don't you think?
Avery Johnson wouldn't give up what his starting lineup is of course. He always hates the hints of his changes getting out too soon. Like when he inserted Devin Harris in Game 2 against the Spurs and it got out that Keith Van Horn was going to start in Game 2 against Phoenix.
Most media folks I spoke to think Johnson will go with Adrian Griffin instead of Harris tonight at guard and DeSagana Diop will continue to start at center over Erick Dampier.
One thing that has changed from the regular playoffs to the NBA Finals is the look of this arena underneath the floor level. The lunch room is no longer the lunch room. Walkway areas now may be used for extra photographers. My home away from home for seven nights over the past five weeks looks completely different.
Things should look familiar once the ball goes up. One familiar face I did run into was Bric Shelton of Wichita Falls TV-3 fame. He brightened up a few Cowboys camp features by trying to make them fun.
There are days that any job can be trying. But this should be fun tonight.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Mavs in 6!
June 7, 2006As the title says, I'm putting my pick right out there. For some reasons, you can keep reading.
Six Reasons the Mavs Win in 6:
1. Dirk Nowitzki. There is no easy matchup for him on any team, but I still think the best guys are athletic small-forward types. Udonis Haslem doesn't fit that mold and neither does Antoine Walker. If he's not double-teamed, Dirk will average 33 pts per game in the series.
2. Avery Johnson. The Little General has done a good job of making adjustments in each series.One reason is he has more to work with than most teams. Johnson has already won three playoff series in which he lost the first game (Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix). If the Heat can't win Game 1, they're really in trouble.
3. Point-guard play. The Mavericks don't have great traditional point guards. Neither Devin Harris or Jason Terry set up enough easy baskets for their teammates. But in this series they will prove to be too clever for Jason Williams and too quick for Gary Payton.
4. Josh Howard's coming-out party. When Josh keeps his emotions under control, he is an outstanding player. He'll forever be known as the last pick of the first round in 2003. He won't prove to be better than D. Wade in this series, but I expect he'll be good enough to beat Wade to a title. And Howard's second contract will be more than make up for his draft snub.
5. Worry-free travel. The Mavericks were one of the best road teams in the regular season and they are 6-3 away from Dallas in the playoffs. They won twice in Memphis, twice in San Antonio, including a Game 7, and twice in Phoenix. The Finals setup calls for three straight on the road, but it's unlikely Dallas will get swept in Miami. They might even win 2 of 3.
6. Shawn Bradley has retired! Erick Dampier and Gana Diop give the Mavs some beef to throw at Shaq. Shaq will at least double the Mavs centers in points, and D & D will double the Diesel in whistles from the officials. But their ability to contest Shaq a little bit will help the team defense elsewhere.
No more Wang Zhi Zhi or Erick Strickland gimmicks for Shaq to deal with. And no Shawn Bradley for Shaq to put on his poster.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Going to the NBA finals
June 5, 2006I've had the chance to cover many high school championship events in a variety of sports, including this year in soccer and tennis, but I've never had the privilege of reporting on a professional championship.
My boss has been to Super Bowls and covered the Cowboys, while the Rangers and Mavericks appeared destined to go without a World Series or NBA Finals appearance. And we don't cover the Dallas Stars in depth and I don't know enough about hockey to pull off pretending to be an expert.
But my championship-less streak will end Thursday with Game 1 of the NBA Finals. I don't like being in a position to root for a team, but I will root for my story. So I was glad to see the Mavericks close out the Suns on Saturday night.
I'll miss a vacation I had planned and a big disc golf tournament in Kansas City. But there'll be more of those. Covering the Mavericks in the finals could be a one-time experience. I'm looking forward to it.
Posted by Andy Newberry at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
