Quote Originally Posted by OUfanAP12:
It didn't work on Dallas in the regular season, but since I know that argument doesnt work, I won't even bring that up.
And understand...the Chicago Miami great defensive battle was diluted by the fact that no one other than LBJ, Bosh, Wade, and DRose can put a ball in a basket.
Although miami has played the "2 best defenses" out there, they haven't played ANYONE with size. Noah sucks. If Dallas has anything on the defensive side thats better than all those teams combined, its interior defense. Marion is good on D, and Stevenson is good on D. Dallas has the best team chemistry in the league and their players are just better than Chicagos (That part is indesputible). You better believe that translates on defense.
Quite a lot of overwrought hyperbole in your statements OUfan.
The 2 regular season matchups are irrelevant. No one should talk about them.
Did you perhaps consider the main reason the "superstars" scored the majority of points in the taut Chicago-Miami series was because of the stellar team defense played by both squads? It is difficult to score when essentially every possession is mightily contested. Contrastingly, defense was remarkably absent for long stretches in much of the OKC/Dallas series, especially in Game 5. I can't recall how many uncontested dunks and layups were allowed by both teams because of poor help defense, bad rotations and laziness getting back on D. It was atrocious at times--these lapses were rarely seen in the Bulls/Heat series.
I wholeheartedly disagree with your notion of offensive dilution in the Heat/Bulls series. Boozer, Deng, Gibson, Mike Miller, Korver are all above average players who could make any NBA squad and most certainly "can put the ball in the basket". They all had their moments of scoring in the series, but were simply, more often than not, casualties in a war between the 2 best defenses in basketball.
I certainly don't think Dallas' defense will be up to the level of the Celtics' or Bulls. Outside of Chandler, who really has great individual defensive presence or size? No one really. Certainly not Nowitzki. Kidd? Peja? Terry? Barea? Haywood? Marion is decent, but not as good as you portray him to be. Stevenson was manhandled by James when he was with the Wiz(remember the Soulja Boy reference?) You can argue their team D is good, but I certainly don't think many people would put the Dallas team D in the same class as Chicago or Boston.
Dallas is facing by far the best defense they will see in these playoffs. LBJ is the best defender on the court. Wade, Anthony and Haslem are quite good as well. More importantly, the Heat's team defense has become tenacious and progressively more capable with the return of Haslem and a healthy Miller. The Mavericks are entering a battle that they may not be suitably armed for.
It will be fun to watch.
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