Hooped Up

The game turned out not to be about LeBron James and now or never or engaged or detached or passive or aggressive.

The game turned out to be about the Dallas Mavericks turning into the Dallas Mavericks, finally, with crisp ball movement, deadly shooting, solid defence and a true team game that’s now given them momentary control of the NBA Finals.

With a barrage of three-pointers from the most unlikely of sources, the Mavs shot themselves into a 112-103 win over James and the Miami Heat here Thursday night, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series before 20,433 delirious American Airlines Center fans.
Toronto Star

Read More »

It started painfully for Chris Bosh, this trip back to his hometown for the most important days of his professional career. It ended with the biggest shot of his life.

After struggling through a poor shooting night and an injury to his left eye, Bosh swished a 16-footer with 39.6 seconds to play to give the Heat its go-ahead points in an 88-86 victory at American Airlines Center in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The Heat now leads the series 2-1 and once again holds home-court advantage after losing it in fantastic fashion Thursday. “We felt this was a must win,” said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who led his team with 29 points and 11 rebounds.
Miami Herald

Read More »

Dirk Nowitzki didn’t get this far to have his dream shattered by an injured finger.

So when the Dallas Mavericks play Game 2 of the NBA Finals tonight at 8 against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena, Nowitzki will try not to let the torn ligament in his left middle finger affect him. He will try to play on as if nothing is wrong — even though something is wrong.

“I don’t think it’s going to be necessarily bothering me on the shot,” Nowitzki said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “It’s not like you do anything crazy with it. It’s going to be other stuff — dribbling, passing, catching, swiping down — stuff like that. I think it will be OK.”

Nowitzki injured his finger when he tried to swipe the ball away from Chris Bosh.
Montreal Gazette

Read More »

Detroit Pistons head coach John Kuester will not be returning for the 2011-12 season, according to sources. Although there has been no official word from the Pistons, sources say it is expected that president Joe Dumars and his staff will be returning.

Hired in 2009 to be the franchise’s 27th head coach, Kuester has posted a 57-107 mark in his two years in Detroit.

Kuester’s time with the Pistons has been marked by several personality clashes, most notably with Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince and Tracy McGrady.
ESPN

Read More »

For years, the Dallas Mavericks have been burdened with a rap of being unable to prosper from success. Playoffs brought angst and early departures, but Wednesday night delivered the second trip to the N.B.A. finals in franchise history.

As Dirk Nowitzki raised both arms in relief as much as in triumph, the Mavericks purged at least part of their underachieving past. Nowitzki had made a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1 minute 14 seconds remaining, the decisive shot that eliminated the stubborn Oklahoma City Thunder, 100-96, and lifted the Mavericks to a 4-1 victory in the Western Conference finals.
NY Times

Read More »

For the Miami Heat, the math is simple: When the Big 2 combine for 50-plus points, the Heat is 6-1 in the playoffs. It’s no secret the Miami Heat is heavily reliant on its dynamic duo of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

After a sluggish first half Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls, expectation grew inside AmericanAirlines Arena that the pair would find their rhythm and take over Game 4. It took awhile and it wasn’t dazzling.

But Wade and James were effective when it counted in a 101-93 overtime victory that gave Miami a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
Miami Herald

Read More »

Dirk Nowitzki put the Dallas Mavericks on his back late in regulation and forced overtime in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

There, Jason Kidd hit a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute and the Mavericks stole a 112-105 decision for a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nowitzki scored 12 of his game-high 40 points during a regulation-ending 17-2 flurry, stunning the home crowd and putting the Mavs on the brink of their first NBA Finals appearance since 2006. They can close out the series at home on Wednesday.
Toronto Sun

Read More »

Kevin Durant scored 24 points and James Harden added 23, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 106-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, knotting the Western Conference finals at one game each.

Durant was as tough to guard as ever, but the real difference was Harden and the bench coming up big, especially down the stretch.
The bearded, left-handed guard had a four-point play in the final seconds of the third quarter that put Oklahoma City up by one. Then he and fellow reserves Eric Maynor, Nick Collison and Daequan Cook teamed with Durant to outplay Dallas’ crew of closers in the final period.
Oklahoman

Read More »