Mavericks Win First NBA Title, Nowitzki, MVP

The Dallas Maverick franchise is 31 years old. Now they are the NBA Champs. Mark Cuban purchased the team in 2000 and they have been in the hunt for the title ever since.

This is North Texas’ first major sports championship since the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999. In the last eight months, the Dallas region has hosted the World Series, the Super Bowl and now the NBA Finals. Dallas has become Mavericks ecstatic, as the whole state has developed a broad Texas grin.

“I am so proud of what we stood for,” said Mavericks’ coach Rick Carlisle. “We knew it was very important that we win this series. Because of what the game is about and what the game should stand for. And I am so proud to have been a small part of that.”
The Mavericks were outscored by the Heat in the second quarter 24–21, but still led at half time 53–51. This is the first time in any playoff series this year that the Mavericks have had to carry star player Dirk Nowitzki. There were flashes of the old Dirk in the fourth, but not enough to have shouldered the winning load alone. He was 11-16 from the field and 1-7 from 3-point-range, eventually scoring 21 game points.

It was Jason (JET) Terry that carried the club. Terry went 11-16 from the field and 3-7 at 3-pt range and 2-4 from the free-throw line. By the end of the game Terry had amassed 27 points, getting 19 in the first half. It wasn’t so much making the points as it was the flair with which they were made and the crucial and timely manner of their occurrence during the game. Several shots came back-to-back, only after Terry had stolen the ball.

Terry made his first shot coming off the bench with 4:52 left in the first quarter. A few seconds later he launched a successful 3-pointer, then sprinted up the court with his wings extended. At the end of the half Terry had shot 8-10 including a 3.

And Terry was not shy about his boastful predictions, opinions or forecast intentions. Terry said that LeBron James couldn’t cover him, implying his speed and quickness were just too much. He went on to say that Miami’s defense was not as good as Portland. Once in a post game interview after a Portland game, asked about his great three-point shooting, Terry stated that sometimes he just put the ball up and prayed. Hearing that comment Dirk just rolled his eyes, nearly falling off the stage near the podium.

Before the game, Terry said his job was to come off the bench and add some excitement to the game by making some shots.

After the game results had settled it, a more reflective Terry summed up his opinions. “We won the series by faith in God and faith in ourselves. My strength comes from God.”

The scoring wealth was shared by the entire Mavericks’ team. Guard JJ Barea scored 15 points, one being a down-town 3-pointer. His five timely assists helped to give Dallas the edge. The ole veteran guard Jason Kidd had 9 points and 8 assists. Center Tyson Chandler had 5 points, 5 assists, and 8 rebounds, but he greatly helped control the lane defensively, blocked out and made several nice stops. Maverick guard DeShawn Stevenson had 3-5 3-pointers.

About midway through the second quarter Maverick guard Stevenson and Heat players Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem received technical fouls because of a scuffle and a bump of Stevenson on Haslem. Chalmers was restrained by Miami coach Erik Spoelstra and the order was  quickly restored.

Miami’s LeBron James had a respectful 21 points, going 9-15 from the field and 2-5 3-pts. He had half a dozen rebounds and 4 assists. James came out and appeared to be focused and would have hot hands, but he seemed to lose concentration and his sizzle as the game progressed.

Chris Bosh had 18 points going 7-9 from the field and 5-7 free throws. But it was free throws that really hurt the Heat. They went 13-33 as Dallas was shooting 12-18.

Miami guard Wade had 17 points going 6-16 from the field, but did not make a single 3 in 4 attempts. He had 8 rebounds and 6 assists, but it was his lack of offense that hurt the Heat in their attempt to rev up their scoring.

LeBron James said he is not bothered by so many people happy to see him fail. “All the people that was rooting for me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before they woke up today. I’m going to continue to do the things I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that.”

Miami’s Udonis Haslem may have summed up the contest correctly when he stated this about the Mavericks, “It was their time!”

But the Mavericks’ fans down in Texas have a new Country-and-Western song titled, “Turn up the lights bright, the party has just begun.”