It's about time

NEW JERSEY – Fans of the international game will point out that Dallas’ win over Miami in the NBA Finals had the trappings of what is widely known as the FIBA system.

In the just-concluded Finals, the Mavericks thrived on five players working together as a unit, trusting and supporting each other to make the big shot. It’s no coincidence that coach Rick Carlisle’s roster listed internationalists Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, Ian Mahinmi of France, J. J. Barea of Puerto Rico and Serbia’s Peja Stojakovic.

Carlisle could’ve milked Nowitzki’s talents by making him go one-on-one in drives to the hole or post up for a mistmatch or square up for a triple. At 7-1, the German creates mismatches at any position he plays – and his versatility allows him to play multiple roles.

Instead, Carlisle developed an approach of equal opportunity. He kept the ball moving with the promise that anyone who breaks loose from the defense will get the pass and the shot. In Game 6 of the NBA Finals clincher last Sunday night (yesterday morning, Manila), Nowitzki had a slow start – three points in the first half – but because of Carlisle’s system, others got the opportunity to step up in his absence. 

A perfect example was when Brian Cardinal whipped a pass to Nowitzki outside for a wide open three to make it 71-65 with five minutes to go after Miami trimmed the deficit to three. Another example was when Dallas got multiple possessions in the fourth period.

In defense, the “family” approach was the same. Carlisle occasionally used a match-up zone to confuse the Heat. Adjusting defensive formations requires superior communication. Everyone must be on the same page. A lack of understanding of what to do often leads to leaks and breakdowns.

With Miami, the philosophy is different. The presence of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh is a strong argument for coach Erik Spoelstra to just rely on talent, athleticism and intimidation to get the job done. But Carlisle proved in the recent Finals, that teamwork is the answer, nothing else.

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Now, NBA experts are calling for a realignment of forces at Miami, if not a revamp. It’s understandable why the experts are pushing the panic button and clamoring for drastic changes. The Heat was favored to win the title and fell flat on its face. Losing to Dallas in six was totally unexpected since Miami wasn’t only beefed up by the Big Three but also held the homecourt advantage. Someone suggested moving Orlando center Dwight Howard into the picture next season, sacrificing Bosh. But tweaking the lineup won’t bring the team to the Promised Land unless James and Wade undergo a dramatic mental transformation.

The defeat to Dallas showed James’ inability to cope with pressure under fire. That’s a mental problem, not a physical problem. His performance in the fourth quarter of close games left a bad taste in the mouth. For a player with royal lineage, James didn’t look too kingly in bowing to his subjects. In Game 4, he went zero in the last 12 minutes. And in Games 2, 3 and 5, James shot only two points. All those games were close – Games 2 and 3 were decided by two points, Game 4 by three and Game 5 by nine (the score was tied with 3:23 left).

James was shaky in the final minutes of Game 6 even if Miami hosted. The Heat was under the gun because a win meant the series was over. With Dallas up by 10, James attempted an off-balance shot from quartercourt. Alas, the ball bounced off the window and completely missed the rim.

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When the team depends on a royal few, its options are naturally limited. It’s not like the Mavs where Nowitzki enjoys sharing the limelight with Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler and even Brian Cardinal. 

The victory was particularly sweet for Nowitzki and Terry who played on the Mavs squad that was ambushed by Miami in the 2006 Finals. But it had to be exceptionally sweetest for Kidd who won his first ring after two failed bids in the Finals. Kidd, 38, is no spring chicken anymore although he said he has two or three more good years to go.

New York Post writer Mike Vaccaro said a player like Kidd should have a championship “for the game’s sake, if not his own.” He added, “If you saw Kidd play, if you watched him when he was young and capable of anything, then you surely know that Nowitzki isn’t the only Maverick who deserves the sentimental vote (for Finals MVP).”

Nowitzki did his best impersonation of Michael Jordan by playing Game 4 with a 101-degree fever and coming through with 21 points. If Jordan had his Jordanaires, Nowitzki has his Dirk-or-die teammates. 

Carlisle proved that a title isn’t won by three superstars but by five players who understand, trust and appreciate each other on the floor. It took Dallas five years to bury the ghost of the 2006 Finals debacle. Now, the Mavs are Kings, with due respect to his excellency James.