Coming into the 2011 NBA Finals, one of the advantages the Dallas Mavericks were supposed to have over the Miami Heat was in their bench play. Jason Terry and J.J. Barea were both playing extremely well in the playoffs, and we all know that Miami isn't exactly the deepest team in the league. But that trend did not hold true in Game 1, as the Mavericks' bench was thoroughly outplayed.
In particular, they couldn't shoot straight. Terry, Barea and sharpshooting small forward Peja Stojakovic were all abysmal, shooting a combined 4-21 from the field. There are plenty of reasons for this happening. The Heat treated Barea as more of a threat that any other team Dallas has faced, sending a lot of pressure his way even if it meant rotating off Dirk Nowitzki for a brief stretch. Terry was also shut down by LeBron James in the fourth quarter, a move few anticipated Miami making. But also, the three players missed a lot of open looks that they have been making throughout the playoffs.
It was a shame for Dallas because their starters played well, outscoring the combination of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris bosh 67-65. This was where Dallas' bench advantage was supposed to show. Instead, Terry, Barea and Stojakovic played horribly and the Mavericks lost a winnable game.
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