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Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Taneo: Dallas dreaming
By Paul J. Taneo
Free-for-all
Only Texans are saying the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA Finals. Unless you are a Phoenix Suns fan, who like those at the Boston Garden in Game 7 of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers 1982 Eastern Conference finals chanted “Beat LA!...Beat LA!...” after the 76ers creamed the Celtics.
It’s a pipe dream, of course, for the Mavericks to upset the Miami Heat in their best-of-seven NBA Finals series. That’s the way most see it, seeing Shaquille O’Neal’s mass and knowing his history of three NBA championships and being dazzled by a streak of lightning named Dwyane (note, y before the a) Wade.
The way the Heat pummeled the Pistons in their Eastern Conference series warms the heart of every bully. O’Neal was playing like the Shaq of old, circa LA Lakers, claiming the low post for his own. While Wade claimed just about every other inch of the court, including O’Neal’s stake at the shaded area with fearless drives and dunks. Think Shaq and Kobe 2001-2003.
But also think Larry Bird 1984 and 1986 when the Boston Celtics grabbed the NBA Finals with Bird winning MVP honors. This year, another tall and lanky white man named Dirk Nowitzki who could dribble, pass, shoot and rebound despite having that “can’t run, can’t jump” label, and like Bird before him, surrounded by a strong supporting cast, has led his team to the Finals.
Never count out the white dude in basketball. Brent Barry won the NBA Slam Dunk contest wearing under his jacket a shirt with “White Men Can Jump” printed on it like Superman’s red, white and blue tights.
Strangely, though, some believe Dallas will win the Finals four games to two. Having gone through an Indian pass in the second and third rounds of the West, Dallas has been hardened enough to take on the Beast of the East O’Neal and his crew.
To those who think the Mavs have as much chance as an ice cube in the Texan desert against Miami, there are two words for you: 112-76. And don’t forget, the Mavs have homecourt advantage (small comfort to No.1-seed Detroit Pistons) but playing before a vociferous home crowd has its benefits.
In an Associated Press story, the Mavericks have a 4-2 edge on position-to-position match-ups. AP sees the coach-to-coach match-up even.
Those are only numbers but this game is all about numbers, how many points you score, specifically how many more than your opponent to win. But still, numbers take a flying leap out of the window once the sneakers hit the hardcourt. Dallas also has a 2-0 edge (including that 36-point rout last Feb. 9 – uncannily, Game 1 of the Mavs-Heat series also falls on a nine, in RP, that is) on the Heat in their regular season head-to-head but this is the Finals, and both teams had gone through a lot since their last game four months ago to get here.
More through a lot (including a kidney transplant) than his teammates is Alonzo Mourning, who is more fortunate than NBA greats Elgin Baylor, John Stockton, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. Mourning still has a chance at an NBA Finals ring. His teammate Gary Payton played once in the Finals with the Seattle SuperSonics and is back. He could also get lucky.
But a Finals ring is not about validation it is about desire and heart and that little extra that gets you through the last second having scored more than the other team.
MATER ERRATUM. Homer D. Sayson’s mother Erlinda should put a hitman’s contract on me for giving Homer another mother. This writer inadvertently made Homer’s middle name as Dejano (my sister-in-law’s maiden name) instead of Dajao. I will live with that guilt the rest of my life. Fortunately, I can make amends immediately.
Ma’am Linda. This is my apology. Please accept it.
(paulotaneo@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 7, 2006 issue)
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