Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: Dirk Overcomes Flu, Leads Dallas' Comeback Win To Even Series

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Dirk Nowitzki Gets The Headlines, But Tyson Chandler Carried The Mavericks In Game 4

Dirk Nowitzki played Game 4 with a fever in the tripe digits, but without Tyson Chandler anchoring the Mavericks defense and owning the offensive boards, Dirk's efforts would have been in vain.

It's a little bit less dramatic to give the credit to someone like Chandler (instead of Dirk), but sometimes it's just this simple--as valuable as Nowitzki's been all playoffs long, Tyson Chandler has been a difference maker just as often. Tuesday was just the most convincing example yet.

With Dirk ailing and Brendan Haywood still injured, Chandler said afterward, "I told Coach, 'You have to get me back out there, I will play 48 (minutes) if I need to.'" Turns out, he only played 43. To put that number in perspective, Chandler only played 34 minutes in Game 1. For a big man, that's a pretty serious increase. And not only did he survive, he anchored the Mavs on both ends, and his team thrived.

He had 13 points, and 16 rebounds, including NINE offensive boards. To put that number in perspective, no other player had more than five offensive rebounds, and Miami only grabbed 15 as a team. But especially during the second half, Chandler just kept batting rebounds back out to Dallas shooters. Extending possessions, giving the Mavericks more open looks, and slowly bleeding Miami of any chance to break the game open.

On defense, Chandler did what he's done all series. He set the tone in the lane, roamed under the hoop as part of Dallas' zone defense, and most important, he was able to be a convincing obstacle in front of LeBron James coming off pick-and-rolls. It's not just a fluke that LeBron had the worst game of his playoffs against Chandler. To date, Tyson Chandler's the best big man the Heat have faced. And he just keeps coming through.

I said earlier today that it makes no sense that a team like the Mavericks is somehow tied with the Miami Heat, but that's totally true. There are two explanations. 1. Miami's not as dominant when LeBron James is struggling, and 2. Tyson Chandler's been a terror on both ends. Part of explaining no. 1 relates to no. 2, and it's the biggest reason Dallas won game no. 4.

When all this is said and done, whatever happens during the rest of these Finals, the story won't be about Tyson Chandler. Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James will always attract more headlines, and rightfully so. But don't forget about Tyson Chandler. Dirk's been great for years, after all. It's not necessarily coincidence that Dallas finally became dominant with Chandler in the middle.

And look at Game 4. Even without Dirk dominating, sometimes Chandler can even carry the load, himself. The Finals MVP always goes to whichever team wins the title. Even if Dallas wins, of course, Tyson Chandler won't win it. There's no way it goes to anybody but Dirk.

But as Chandler said Tuesday, "I'm going to give it all every second I'm out there." And if you're wondering why Dallas and Dirk still have such a great shot at all that hardware, look no further than the other Maverick laying it all on the line, and coming through in crunch time.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: Dallas' Victory Dominated By Poor Shooting By Both Teams

The Dallas Mavericks' 86-83 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals came in a intense, but ugly game. Both teams fought hard to go after every loose ball and rebound, giving the game a "playoff feel" if you're into cliches and such. The flipside is that there was some pretty awful shooting by both teams, especially from the outside.

Just how bad was it? The two teams combined to hit just 28 of their 88 jump shots, which is just under 32 percent. Worse, they combined to hit just 18 percent (six of 33) from beyond the three-point line. Here is that horrendous shooting in visual form, via CBS Sports:

That's Miami's shot chart, featuring all those Xs from behind the three-point line. But Dallas wasn't really much better.

The shooting was especially horrendous coming down the stretch in the fourth quarter. With 5:15 remaining in the game, Jason Terry hit a layup to give the Mavericks a 79-78 lead. The two teams then combined to miss 12 shots in a row over the next five minutes. Dirk Nowitzki's driving layup with 14 seconds left to give the Mavericks a three-point lead was actually the first made field goal for either team since Terry's layup. Both teams were playing great defense, but many of those 12 field-goal attempts were open shots that simply weren't converted.

In the end, the Mavericks outlasted the Heat. Given the horrible shooting by both teams, outlasted is the right word to use.

Be sure to follow our 2011 NBA Finals hub for full championship series coverage. For more the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.    

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Heat Vs. Mavericks: LeBron James Facing Foul Trouble For First Time Ever

LeBron James famously avoids having fouls called on him like Europeans avoided dead rats in the Dark Ages. For his career, James averages 40 minutes per game. He averages just two fouls a game. It's a ridiculously low figure some attribute to excessive respect for the referees and others use to show LeBron's unique defensive prowess. (For the record, Michael Jordan averaged 2.6 fouls per game during an age when physicality was definitely tolerated more.)

But that's all changed in the Miami Heat's NBA Finals series against the Dallas Mavericks. In Miami's Game 4 loss, LeBron picked up four fouls. It was the third time LeBron finished with four or more fouls in the series. In 79 regular season games, he hit the four-foul mark just eight times.

Now James isn't exactly getting into foul trouble; his fourth and final foul in Game 4 was with 6.7 seconds left and the Heat trailed and needed the ball back. But those situations happen in season, too, and it's a marvel a guy who averaged two fouls a game in the regular season is averaging a shade under four -- he had 15 through four games -- in the Finals. Either the referees are giving James far less benefit of the doubt, or the Mavericks are consciously attacking James ... which seems unlikely, given how few points James has given up defensively.

It'll be interesting to watch LeBron's foul totals as we move forward, and also to see whether the Heat begin to make a stink about it.

For more on James' lackluster Game 4, visit Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Dirk Nowitzki Excels In Mavericks' Win Over Heat Despite Being Sick In Game 4

Dirk Nowitzki didn't have the best game of his NBA Playoffs run in the Dallas Mavericks' 86-83 Game 4 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday. But he did score 21 points, 10 during a fourth quarter that saw the Mavericks go on a 17-4 run to erase a nine-point deficit. He also added 11 rebounds, and was certainly the biggest factor for Dallas in the win. But the amazing part is that he did it all while sick, running a fever of 101 degrees.

We didn't find out Dirk was sick until halftime, with the Mavericks trailing 47-45 and Nowitzki having eight points on 5-10 shooting and just one rebound. He excelled in the second half (13 points, most on free throws, plus 10 rebounds), playing all but two minutes. His performance not only helped Dallas even the NBA Finals at 2-2, but it inspired his teammates. From Eddie Sefko in the Dallas Morning News:

Mavericks officials were calling Nowitzki’s play — 21 points and 11 rebounds in 39 minutes — heroic. After the game, he could barely speak without coughing or sniffling.

"This is the Finals," Nowitzki said. "You’re going to leave it out there."

NBA lore is well-stocked with legends of players succeeding in the most difficult circumstances; the name "Willis Reed" calls up a very specific limp to the court, and "Flu Game" is a two-word essay on toughness all of its own. Dirk enters that pantheon -- maybe on a lower rung -- after Game 4.

For more on Nowitzki and the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

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LeBron James Flop Rivals Manu Ginobili's Championship Best

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Heat Vs. Mavericks: LeBron James Continues To Be Outplayed By Dirk Nowitzki In Fourth Quarter

LeBron James' disappearing act in the Miami Heat's Game 4 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals has received plenty of attention. James scored in single digits for the first time since 2007, and to make matters worse, it came after a 48-hour news cycle in which many people defended his play. It was the first game in this series in which he truly played poorly. 

However, it's not the first game in this series where he played poorly in the fourth quarter. James has scored just nine points in the fourth quarter in the entire series, a staggeringly low number. By contrast, Dirk Nowitzki has scored 44 points in the fourth quarter in this series. 

It's not an apples-to-apples comparison, to be fair. James has been ceding fourth-quarter scoring responsibility to Dwyane Wade in this series, a luxury Nowitzki does not have. Nowitzki simply has to score for Dallas to even have a chance to win, so he is going to get more touches and points. But the margin between the two players should not be as lopsided as 44-9, no matter the circumstances.

James is certainly capable of lifting his game in crunch time, as the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls can attest. He just has to find a way to get it done if the Heat are to win this series.

Be sure to follow our 2011 NBA Finals hub for full championship series coverage. For more on James and the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on Nowitzki and the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.    

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J.J. Barea Gambit Results Mixed In Mavericks' Game 4 Win Over Heat

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle made a rather big adjustment for Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals, trailing the Miami Heat 2-1: he changed his starting lineup. Dallas' starting five has been rather fluid since the team lost Caron Butler in January; it seems almost every combination wings has gotten a chance to shine. But the Mavericks had success all postseason with a Jason Kidd-DeShawn Stevenson backcourt. For Game 4, Carlisle replaced Stevenson, a defender, with reserve J.J. Barea, a scoring guard roughly an inch or so taller than Nate Robinson. In the same stroke, Carlisle elevated Brian Cardinal over Peja Stojakovic in the rotation.

How'd it work out? Barea continued to struggle; he came into the game shooting 5-23 in the Finals, and hit just three of nine shots in 22 minutes in Game 4. The Mavericks were outscored by seven points in Barea's minutes, all of which came with Dirk Nowitzki also on the floor. But Stevenson actually flourished in a bench role, at least in the second quarter.

In the second, Stevenson scored 11 points on 3-4 shooting; he hit three three-pointers and two free throws, and helped Dallas stay in a dogfight with Miami. He couldn't keep it going for his long fourth quarter appearance -- he played all 12 minutes, most of them next to Kidd -- as he shot 0-3 in the final frame and his primary assignment, Dwyane Wade, pushed Miami to a near-win. But on the whole, Stevenson did better playing in the second and fourth quarters almost exclusively, countering the ill effects of more Barea.

As for Cardinal: in seven minutes, he did about as much as Peja has done in this series, which is to say he basically did nothing.

For more on the Mavericks' adjustments going forward, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

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VIDEO: Dwyane Wade Leads Sparse Highlights From Mavericks' Game 4 Win Over Heat

The Dallas Mavericks' Game 4 win over the Miami Heat was among the most muddy, defensive battles of the NBA Playoffs to date. The two teams combined to shoot 11-34 in the fourth quarter (32 percent), and just 41 percent for the game. But the Mavericks came ahead with an 86-83 win after a long comeback led by Dirk Nowitzki's 10 fourth-quarter points.

But Dwyane Wade (32 points) and LeBron James (a game-high seven assists) had the best highlight of the game, a brilliant halfcourt alley-oop that saw Wade hang in the air like vulture before hammering home the pass. That play topped NBA TV's Top Five plays of Game 4.

Be sure to follow our 2011 NBA Finals hub for full championship series coverage. For more on Wade and the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: Tyson Chandler Huge On Offensive Glass, But Miami Exploits Dallas' Own Rebounding Issues

Tyson Chandler had a lovely Game 4 for the Dallas Mavericks, picking up 13 points and 16 rebounds in the win over the Miami Heat. Nine of those rebounds came on the offensive end, giving Chandler 16 over the past two games. (That's a lot.) But Miami actually won the glass battle; the Heat picked up 15 offensive rebounds in 44 opportunities, while Dallas had 12 in 41.

Miami does it differently. While Chandler had all but three of the Mavericks' offensive boards, no Heat player had more than five; Joel Anthony picked up five in 28 minutes, Dwyane Wade had four and LeBron James grabbed three. That's another area Miami is more dangerous than you think: Wade and James rebound rather well for their positions. Chris Bosh is a strong defensive rebounder, typically, but Chandler was able to get inside and cause havoc.

Chandler's ability to keep up the pressure on Miami's defensive rebounding unit will be a key going forward; points have been so tough to come by in this series that any little breathing room is huge. Even in victory, Dallas' offensive efficiency was just 104 on Tuesday. Without those key offensive rebounds, it would have been lower, and the Heat would have had a great chance to win. You've got to exploit weaknesses at this level of competition, and it's clear Miami has trouble boxing out Chandler.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: LeBron James Struggles, Miami Falters In Fourth Quarter

Following Game 3 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James drew heat for "shrinking" in the spotlight and slinking away when his team needed him most, despite the Miami Heat pulling away for the fourth quarter win on Sunday. But instead of answering the critics and reminding the American public why he may just be the greatest active player in the game, LeBron had a forgettable night on Tuesday, making just three of 11 shots and scoring eight points on the night.

As Michael Smith notes, LeBron James accomplished a feat he hasn't in almost four and a half years on Tuesday night, and it wasn't a good one.

Folks, we really just witnessed history. That was the first time since Jan. 5, 2007 that LeBron James was held below double-digits.

Yes, LeBron does quite a few things that don't show up in the stat sheet, especially on the defensive end. But on Tuesday night, the Heat needed something down the stretch in the fourth quarter as the offense sputter. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had carried the team to that point, but both players sputtered, though Wade had an impressive series late with a block on one end and a lay-up on the other. LeBron was invisible, and did a better job blending into the background than he did taking over and showing assertiveness on the other end.

James' final line: 44 minutes, eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists, 3-11 FG, 2-4 free throw. It's a nice all-around line, per say, but not what anyone has come to expect from LeBron. And it showed it showed in the Heat's performance, especially down the stretch.

It doesn't mean LeBron is dead, a non-factor or not a leader, but make no mistake about it, he had a bad game. And because he had a bad game, the criticism, reasonable or not, will reach deafening levels until the Heat take the court again on Thursday in Game 4.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks: Is LeBron James Playing Too Many Minutes?

LeBron James struggled in the Miami Heat's Game 4 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, scoring just eight points on 3-11 shooting. It was the first time since 2007 he was held to single-digits in scoring; while the move to Miami was partly meant to lighten his offensive load, putting up a Jason Kidd line in the NBA Finals wasn't exactly the plan.

Beyond the stat sheet, LeBron seemed to be less active than in the first three games of the championship series, and didn't make his presence felt in the fourth quarter. That begs a question: was LeBron just lazy, or is he legitimately exhausted from playing too many minutes?

LeBron rested for two minutes and 17 seconds in Game 4; over the series, he's sat for a total of 16 minutes and 10 seconds, playing an average of about 44 minutes a game. He's played more than 45 minutes in eight of the Heat's last 14 games. He hasn't played this many minutes in a season -- regular and postseason combined -- since the Cavaliers' Finals run four years ago. Could the strain of almost never resting be wearing on James?

For what it's worth, LeBron did complain of a lack of rest during the regular season, when Erik Spoelstra often leaned on him to play more than 40 minutes a night. James finished No. 6 in the NBA in total minutes in the regular season and is No. 1 in playoff minutes by a huge margin (836 to No. 2 Chris Bosh's 756). Exhaustion will hardly be an excuse for critics, though, especially considering Michael Jordan's legend and the fact that Dirk Nowitzki played (and exceeded) despite the flu on Tuesday.

For more LeBron reaction, visit Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Rick Carlisle, Jason Whitlock Have Hilarious Press Conference Encounter

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Heat Vs. Mavericks Score, Game 4: Dallas Clawing Back Thanks To Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry

The Dallas Mavericks found themselves in a hole heading into the fourth quarter, but Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry are slowly bringing their team back into the picture. After the Miami Heat stretched their four-point lead to open the frame, they poured it on, inching away from the Mavericks and putting Dallas' championship hopes on life support. But thanks to two quick made buckets from Terry and Nowitzki springing to life, the Mavs are alive, and we've got a game in Dallas.

With just over four minutes to go, Dallas has the lead again, 80-78. Nowitzki and Terry have score four points apiece during the fourth quarter run as Dallas has clamped down on the defensive end, forcing five turnovers and completely locking down the Heat. Miami has just seven points in the first seven and a half minutes of the quarter, and has struggled to keep up with Dallas' quick passing on the other end of the floor.

It's crunch-time in Dallas and we're on our way to a wild finish in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4 Score: Miami Makes Run, Leads Heading Into Fourth Quarter

The Miami Heat finished the third quarter with a flurry just as it appeared the Dallas Mavericks were poised to seize control of Game 4 of the NBA Finals to take a 69-65 lead into the final five minutes. It's still the Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade show for the Heat as the two have combined for 47 points, with third wheel LeBron James adding just eight points on the game. But even without James contributing in a scoring role, the Heat have been strong, and are poised to take a strong hold on a series with a Game 4 win.

For Dallas, Shawn Marion has carried the load, though he has plenty of help from his friend. Marion has a team-high 16 points, but three other Mavericks are in double-figures. Dirk Nowitzki and DeShawn Stevenson each have 11 points, with Tyson Chandler adding 10. Chandler also has a team-high 10 rebounds.

With one quarter to go in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks need to find some of that comeback magic, else the series may slip away in a hurry.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks Score: LeBron James Silent As Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade Carry Miami

LeBron James is having a quiet night during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but the Miami Heat are hanging with the Dallas Mavericks, thanks to strong performances from Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. In the third quarter, LeBron has just four points on 1-6 shooting, but has five assists, five rebounds and two steals. Wade and Bosh, on the other hand, have 20 and 22 points, respectively.

Dallas, on the other hand, has been a bit more balance, with Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and DeShawn Stevenson all in double-figures. Marion has a team-high 14 points, followed by Stevenson with 12 and Nowitzki with 10. Tyson Chandler has a team-high 10 rebounds, with Nowitzki adding five of his own. Nowitzki also missed his first free throw of the NBA Finals in the third quarter, snapping a streak of 39-straight made from the charity stripe.

With just under four minutes to go in the third quarter, the Mavericks lead the Heat, 64-61

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks Score, Game 4: Chris Bosh Scoring, Dirk Nowitzki Average, LeBron James Invisible

The Miami Heat are playing a great defensive game and Chris Bosh is dominating on the offensive end. Dirk Nowitzki is being contained, while LeBron James is invisible. It's been a very bizarre game to say the least, and the Miami Heat lead the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 47-45 at halftime.

Joel Anthony has been great on the boards and on defense, while Mario Chalmers' passing has been important thus far. For Dallas, most of the scoring is being done by DeShawn Stevenson and Jason Terry. Bosh has been good and Wade has been good enough, but it's been a game very much defined by the role players so far.

It's an interesting contrast to the first three games, in which the big names have been the big stories. It's a very close game headed into the second quarter, so James and Nowitzki still have plenty of time to heat up and become the story of Game 4, but neither appears to be on their game right now,. 

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks Score, Game 4: Mario Chalmers And DeShawn Stevenson Taking Over, Except Seriously

Believe it or not, the best players on the floor in the second quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals have been DeShawn Stevenson and Mario Chalmers. It's been a seriously sloppy game at both ends, with neither team shooting well and both teams committing silly fouls, but these two role players have done some notable things thus far. Stevenson has a couple of three pointers, while Chalmers has a couple of nice assists. Yes, these are the most important things that are happening.

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Dirk Nowitzki look like no one informed them that this is Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It would be surprising to see them fail to up their games in the second half, but this has been a bit of a disappointment so far. Halfway through the second quarter, the Miami Heat lead the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 34-29, despite their very poor shooting from the field.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks Score, Game 4: Miami Shooting Poorly, Jason Terry Scoring

The Big Three haven't looked terribly dangerous, while Dirk Nowitzki hasn't scored since his three basket blitz in the opening three minutes of the game. It was a first quarter categorized by poor shooting and inconsistent performances, and the game between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks is tied up at a score of 21-21.

Miami is shooting just 29 percent from the field, but they've avoided falling behind Dallas thanks to some offensive rebounds and some turnovers by the Mavs. Jason Terry is currently the game's leading scorer with seven points, scoring them in his six minutes of playing time off the bench.

None of the game's stars are playing particularly well, so it would be unfair to pick out any particular player and say that they need to play better. For the sake of the general viewing public and entertainment value, all of the big stars need to play better. The defense in the first quarter was good, but the game has been a little bit more about poor offense than great defense.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavs, Game 4 Score: Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh Battling In Dallas

Dirk Nowitzki started Game 4 with each of the Dallas Mavericks first two field goals and another shortly after, which Chris Bosh countered by scoring all six of the Miami Heat's first points. After six minutes, we're all tied up 8-8.

Miami's owning the boards, with 11 rebounds already, though most of those have been recaptures of their own bricks. Dwyane Wade is one-for-five, with the Heat shooting about 25 percent from the floor overall.

Dallas has also turned the ball over three times -- all three by Jason Kidd. One was a hurl out of bounds on a fast break opportunity that could've put the Mavs up by several scores and forced a Miami time out.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks Score, Game 4: Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh Playing Well Early

It's been a great start for the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki, who are looking solid to start Game 4 against the Miami Heat. They're looking great defensively - Jason Kidd has a block on Chris Bosh - and Nowitzki scored scored six points in the opening three minutes of the game, all six coming on impressive looking jump shots.

J.J. Barea is, in fact, in the starting lineup for the Mavericks and it's hard to argue with the early results. He has one great basket in particular, a layup in traffic. Jason Kidd is guarding LeBron James, and the Heat haven't done anything to exploit that matchup. The Heat are shooting forward thus far, but they do have a few offensive rebounds, thanks to their starting size advantage.

Nowitzki and Bosh are the leading scorers for Miami and Dallas, each scoring six points so far. It's tied up at a score of 8-8 halfway through the first quarter.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4 TV Schedule, Tip-Off Time And More

After losing Game 3 to go down 2-1 in the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks are seriously in need of a home win tonight against the Miami Heat. The game tips off just after 9 pm ET, and it can be seen on TV on ABC across the country. Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and I presume new Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson will be calling the night.

Ahead of the game, SB Nation's Dallas Mavericks blog Mavs Moneyball has a long list of things that need to be improved for the Mavs to have a chance to win. Among them is the shooting percentage of Dirk Nowitzki's supporting cast.

That obviously is easier said than done but Kidd, Barea and Terry are a combined 26-80 (32.50%) from the field and 7-26 (26.92%) in the 4th Quarter. Kidd hits 41.28% of his treys, so I would put the major blame on Terry and Barea here. Especially Barea (5-23) hasn't had any impact so far. And like Stojakovic he just has to score to be efficient. The AST/TOV-Ratio is 1.00 with him on the floor. That's scary. Ball movement has been the Mavericks strength and against a challenging Miami defense this is even more important. The Offensive Efficiency is 92.70 with him and the team got outscored by 13. As long as he doesn't provide more scoring he should get no more then the backup minutes at the point.

There's also some preview content over at Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Dallas. We'll be here all night with running coverage of Game 4, so don't move that mouse.

For live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.

• about 2 years ago
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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4 Adjustments: Stop Forcing Transition, Don't Double Wing Posts

The Dallas Mavericks almost erased another double-digit lead in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to come away with the win. But after a made Chris Bosh jumper and a Dirk Nowitzki turnover and miss, the Mavericks now find themselves down 2-1 in the series. If the Mavericks want to even things up and at least give themselves a chance to win this series, they are going to have to make a few different adjustments.

Offense: Stop Trying To Create Transition Chances

Dallas' turnover problems in Game 2 didn't really get talked about at length because of the fact that Dallas came back and the Miami Heat ended up playing "Hero Basketball" for the final seven minutes of the game. Most of these turnovers were a result of the Mavericks trying to force the issue and create transition opportunities. The Mavericks cut their turnovers in Game 3 (only turning it over 14 times), but the problem of forcing the basketball and trying to create transition opportunities out of nothing continued to be a problem for Dallas:

One of the tendency teams have when playing a tremendous halfcourt defense like Miami is to say something along the lines of "we need to get out and run, not let them set up their defense."  However, what makes Miami so special is that they are great at getting back and playing transition defense.  It is becoming more and more apparent that Dallas isn't comfortable running (look at Peja Stojakovic's "outlet pass" or J.J. Barea;s hesitance when trying to force a delayed transition opportunity) and trying to create opportunities.  This is what leads to turnovers, so instead of running their stuff (which has done a decent job of getting good looks), the Mavericks are throwing possessions away.

I'm not saying don't run, when the opportunities are there, you need to take advantage.  However, trying to create opportunities out of nothing just doesn't work against Miami.  Slow it down and run your offense.

Defense: Don't Double Wade/James Post Up Opportunities

In Game 3, the Heat scored 13 points on 12 post-up possessions, according to Synergy Sports Technology.  These post-up opportunities can be broken up into two categories, wing post-ups (possessions where Dwyane Wade or LeBron James got the ball on the block) and big post-ups (Chris Bosh and Joel Anthony).  The Heat were wildly successful when posting up their wings, scoring 11 points on just 6 possessions with only one possession not resulting in any points.  The biggest reason for Wade and James' success is that they were ready for and knew how to handle the double teams that Dallas sent just about every single time:

James got posted up two times (once at the start of the game and once at the start of the second half), and both times it looked like it was a set play designed to take advantage of Dallas' double team.  The ball would go to LeBron on the post, Joel Anthony would set a pindown on the weakside (once for Mike Bibby and once for Wade) and the result was an open three for Bibby and an open jumper for Bosh after the defense overplayed Wade on the pindown.

While the post-up chances for Wade came more in the flow of the game (compared to James' set plays), the Mavericks still sent doubles, and the Heat were still ready for these doubles:

On Wade post-ups, the Heat like to use James to enter the basketball. The Heat do this for two reasons. First, if Shawn Marion falls asleep and shades too far off of James, Wade can simply kick it out to James and let him attack (which is what happens on the first possession). Also, it takes away the double team from the man making the entry pass (no team is going to leave James to double the post), forcing the double to come from the weakside. That is what happens on the second play in the video above. The Mavericks double on the pass from the weakside and Wade does a good job of swinging it to the opposite side, and the result is an open jumper for Udonis Haslem.

The only time that Dallas was able to stop a wing post-up was when they allowed Wade's defender (Jason Kidd) to play him one on one, and then bringing help when Wade commits to his move to the rim:

What happens here is that no double comes and Tyson Chandler helps as Wade attacks the rim.  Wade is forced to double clutch, allowing Kidd to swipe at the basketball, knocking it loose.  

The Heat have done a good job of scouting, noticing that Dallas will send the double team just about every time, and their guys are prepared for it, ready to make the pass out.  You play Miami's wing posts one-on-one, you not only prevent the kickout, but you also switch things up, and that too can throw Miami off their game on the block.

• about 2 years ago
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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: J.J. Barea To Start Over DeShawn Stevenson, Brian Cardinal Liberated

J.J. Barea with start in place of DeShawn Stevenson for the Dallas Mavericks in its Game 3 battle against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, reports Alex Kennedy. In addition, Brian "Dad" Cardinal (not to be confused with former Maverick Anthony "Dad" Johnson) will be in front of Peja Stojakovic in the Mavs' rotation.

The shake-up is a bit stunning, as Stevenson is the only Maverick who has had any bit of success guarding Dwyane Wade in the NBA Finals. Jason Kidd will move over to check Wade, who is averaging 29 points per game on 56 percent shooting in the series. While Rick Carlisle has played Barea substantial minutes when Wade is in the game, it hasn't exactly worked. You saw Wade's numbers. He's scorching Kidd.

Barea's offense has been abysmal in the Finals; he's shot just 5-23 from the floor (21.7 percent) and has five assists in 51 minutes. Carlisle may be betting that Barea could punish Heat starting point guard Mike Bibby or make Wade work harder than the offensively-limited Stevenson can.

The Cardinal ascension is just odd; the wily veteran known affectionately as The Custodian for his penchant for dirty work at the expense of skilled plays will likely look to keep Miami off-balance and provide help defense at the rim. But Corey Brewer is reputed as a decent defender at the small forward, and languishes on the bench. (He has zero seconds of action in the Finals.) He's an option Carlisle seems oddly opposed against trying.

For more on the Mavs, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: Brendan Haywood Injury Makes Big Man Game-Time Decision

If the Dallas Mavericks are going to come back in the 2011 NBA Finals, it appears increasingly likely that they will need to do so against the Miami Heat without one of their sturdiest big men, Brendan Haywood.

Haywood, who missed Game 3 with a hip injury, is now a game-time decision for Game 4 in Dallas on Tuesday night, according to Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. Haywood played double digit minutes as Dallas' backup center in all but two of the Mavericks' playoff games until Game 3, and is averaging 3.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

But while Haywood's statistical contributions don't seem like much, his imposing seven-foot frame helps Dallas' interior defense significantly. Without Haywood, the Mavericks may have to turn to little-used Ian Mahinmi again, and his Game 3 performance left a lot to be desired: in just eight minutes, Mahinmi managed to commit five fouls and score just two points, both on free throws. Oh, and he allowed LeBron James to throw down one hellacious dunk.

Be sure to see our 2011 NBA Finals hub for full series coverage. For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

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Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 4: Dallas Needs Another Dirk Nowitzki Comeback

Dirk Nowitzki has written a textbook on comebacks throughout the NBA Playoffs, but for the first time the Dallas Mavericks need a series comeback in the 2011 NBA Finals. The Mavericks, after splitting two in South Beach, fell in Game 3 against the Miami Heat on Sunday, putting Dallas in a precarious position. One more Miami win in Big D in the next two games would give the Heat two chances to close out the championship at home.

In other words, Dallas can survive losing one of the three games scheduled in Texas, but it can't drop two and reasonably hope to survive. That makes Game 4 on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET, ABC) critical, obviously. All Finals games are critical -- it's the Finals, after all! -- but this is where the series hinges on dogfight or desperation.

The Heat defense proved too much to handle for every Maverick but Dirk in Game 3; Nowitzki had a marvelous second half, but got little offensive help and missed a potential game-typing jumper in the closing seconds to hand Miami the win. On the other end, Dallas has played solid defense itself, but has no long-term solution for Dwyane Wade, who has been a killer. DeShawn Stevenson is the preferred defender on Wade, but he's a minus offensively against normal teams, let alone Miami. That leaves Jason Terry, J.J. Barea or Jason Kidd on Wade. Good luck.

Chris Bosh hit the Game 3 winner for Miami despite a poked eye; he said Monday he feels OK and his vision hasn't been affected. Brendan Haywood, however, may miss action due to a hip injury. That malady opened the door for seldom-used Frenchman Ian Mahinmi, who suffered the indignity of being crushed by LeBron James on a dunk.

Be sure to see our 2011 NBA Finals hub for full series coverage. For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For more on the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.