Miami Says How You Like Me Now? Dirk Takes OKC's Candy

Hi to the HATERS.  The Miami Heat, with the Me Against the World attitude (R.I.P. Tupac Shakur) gets one game closer to what LeBron James would call "dessert," since the 76ers was breakfast & Celtics were lunch.  I'm wondering if the Bulls are making a good dinner, with all the necessary nutrients for the hungry Big 3.  With Chris Bosh looking to play in his 1st NBA Finals, LeBron looking for his 1st Championship & Dwyane Wade wanting a 2nd.  In the Western Conference Finals the young, inexperienced and now heart broken Oklahoma City Thunder were astonished by the prowess of the 7 foot German shooting guard, The White Mamba, the great Dirk Nowitzki (No-vit-ski).  For those who don't know how to pronounce it.  I actually was heavyhearted watching the press conference after the game when Kevin Durant showed the defeat on his face like he was forfeiting.  After a comeback in that manner, when the Thunder thought they were moving on with the series tied; it was like an older brother taking candy away from a lil' brother.

I was sure the OKC Thunder was going to tie the series with a 15 point lead with 5:05 left in the 4th, oh how I was mistaken.  When the game started Kevin Durant went a perfect 5 of 5 from the field starting the game red hot.  At that moment I glanced over & said to my wife, "they (Thunder) are too HOT, they'll eventually cool down & at the wrong time."  But DAMN, I didn't think it would be a melt down instead of a cool down.  They made mistakes at the most inopportune time, at the 5 minute mark in the 4th, & against Dirk & his Snipers (Jason Terry & Jason Kidd; Peja Stojakovic took the night off.)  Dirk scored 40 points with 14 coming in the 4th & overtime, once again he was unstoppable. While Kevin Durant was stoppable as Shawn Marion knows very well as he held Durant to 29 & had a big block on his last second heave for a game winner.  The experience of the Mavericks just was more valuable to them then OKC's explosive talent & youth.  The wiley veterans know these situations & know how to react by getting the ball to the open man or there best player in Dirk.  The unfortunate fact is the comeback of the Mavs overshadowed a decent performance by Russell Westbrook who resembled an actual NBA point guard but in a losing effort.  The series now at 3-1 advantage Mavs goes back to Dallas where The White Mamba & his Snipers can close out the young stars of the OKC Thunder.  I predicted that Dallas would take the series in 6 games but it now looks like it'll be 5 with the expressions of the Thunder players, an expression of defeat.

I saw a smirk on Pat Riley's face late in Game 4 tonight as he watched like a proud father watching his sons reach their potential.  The Miami Heat showed that the team chemistry is at it's best while doing it in the Eastern Conference Finals.  It was more than the Big 3, Erik Spoelstra's secret weapons came off the bench in the form of Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, & Mike Miller, yes Mike.  Mike Miller scored 12 points knocking down 2 big three's and scored 9 in the 4th Qtr. & had 9 rebounds with Chalmers hitting a big shot & going to the rack as Haslem rebounded & took a brilliant charge from Joakim Noah changing the tide.  On the other side of the ball Derrick Rose was once again bottlenecked the majority of the night by the wall the Heat defense built in the paint early in the game.  However, Rose showed why he is MVP with 2 magnificent dunks which are currently in ESPN Sportcenters Top Ten plays of the night.  One while rising over the 6 foot 9 inch Joel Anthony & "YINGing" on his head but Rose was held to only 23 points going 8-27 from the field with the great D of Miami only giving him 7 foul shots.  And LeBron voluteered to check Rose, MVP on MVP & LeBron was in Rose's shorts (not literally) in OT with his length & quickness.  Luol Deng & Carlos Boozer both had 20 points but they were not from shots that changed momentum or discouraged the Heat.  The Heat never looked worried or panicked at any time in Game 4 knowing the "Closer" a.ka. LeBron James was at the helm.  Where he now has proven he works best, in the 4th Qtr. closing out, & in this case it was overtime.  LeBron finished with 35 points 6 rebounds, 6 assist & 13 of 13 from the foul line.While Chris Bosh put his stamp on the game with 22 points & going 10 of 11 from the foul line as Dwyane Wade struggled & disappeared throughout the game & magically appeared in OT with massive defense; a steal & a timely athletic block on Derrick Rose.  It is the first time this season the Bulls lost 3 in a row & bad timing would be an under statement.

Well I'm not Nostradamus or the California preacher Harold Camping, who can't get the "End of the World" prediction right but my predictions as far as amount of games seem a bit skewed.  I have the Miami Heat winning in 7 games but at this point that is very doubtful & I got to renig and go 6 games with Bulls winning at home next & the Heat finishing the series in South Beach.  Oh, how I would like to be there tonight, party-on South Beach!!!

The NBA Playoffs has been more than exciting up to this point & my predictions are holding up, Dallas Mavs vs. Miami Heat in the Finals now is very likely.  I'm looking forward to that match-up eventhough I can't count out OKC Thunder & Chi-town Bulls but I'm going to have to say it.... "Maybe next year."

Game 5 Oklahoma City Thunder @ Dallas Mavericks 9pm ET on ESPN
Game 5 Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls 8:30pm ET on TNT