Who are you rooting for in the playoffs?

[Paper Face]

LOVED this series. I'm not a big Lebron hater, but I must say I was happy to see a true team win instead of a hype squad. The Mavs were relentless and tough from the minute the series began. Dirk's bad first half didn't matter because the rest of the team came to play and they had his back. JJ Barea, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion & Jason Kidd deserve much respect for the backbones and stones they put on display in this series.

The Heat treated the last few minutes of the game as if their Manifest Destiny had malfunctioned. No fouls to extend the end of the game, no real desire. Just palpable fear about having to answer for this defeat. That says a lot about the level of hubris that's involved with their team.

[carrottop12]

What I like most is that this may delay the desire for players to create "super teams." As exciting as it was at the beginning of the year for these guys, and for as much attention as they garnered, they are really facing a ton of scrutiny for not winning a ring.

Not that I want a lock out, but until basketball starts up again, LeBron, Wade and Bosh are all going to have to answer for their short comings over and over in the media, and in that case the longer the better.

Losing in the playoffs is one thing but having everyone put the blame on you must be a really crappy thing to deal with. Hopefully the D-Will's, Dwight's, and CP3's of the world realize that instead of trying to create a super team in order to try to compete with LeBron and co, it's better to avoid the criticism, knowing you can still win a ring with a team like the Mavs.

[DelaneyRudd]

I think this series will make the trade value of Nash quite high. The Suns are built on old has beens like the Mavs but they don't have the little guys to make it work. No Dirk, but also no JJ or Brian Cardinal.

[Reckless]

when does heat coach get fired? tomorrow?

will jerry come out of retirement to coach heat?

[Sparky6string]

Perspective is a funny thing. At the beginning of the year I didnt think the Heat would win it but I thought they might go to the show anyway. I thought they'd be lucky to do that too- they needed a team behind them. At the beginning of the year if you asked me if they could win with a bench comprised of Eddie House, Juwan Howard, Udonnis Haslem, and Mike Miller I would have said no way.

Getting caught up in the frenzy, reading the articles of sports writers (that essentially agreed with me at the beginning of the season then changed horses somewhere along the way), it turned the season into either a sure thing for LeBron or a total bust for him if he failed. I still feel the Heat did well.

But the Mavs quietly owned this season. Jason Terry coming up big redeeming himself, Dirk now in the discussions of all time greats, and rightly so. The series was very close and exciting and the Mavs deserved it.

Seasons like this interest me - where a dynasty type team is no longer in the running and two teams that have either never won it or haven't in quite some time go at it for the championship.

Go Team!!

[StocktonShorts]

Seasons like this interest me - where a dynasty type team is no longer in the running and two teams that have either never won it or haven't in quite some time go at it for the championship.

Miami won the title in 2006. That doesn't seem like "quite some time" ago.

[Sparky6string]

Seasons like this interest me - where a dynasty type team is no longer in the running and two teams that have either never won it or haven't in quite some time go at it for the championship.

Miami won the title in 2006. That doesn't seem like "quite some time" ago.

That's a little fussy.

[HammerDunk]

For all the questions about his heart and place on the team, at least Bosh actually cared that they lost. At least he showed some emotion. At least he acted like it was a big deal to get there and lose, possibly realizing he may never make it back. For as much as he is regarded as a soft big man, I thought he played more consistently well than any of the other guys on their team. He didn't shy away from the shots when he was passed the ball. I'm pretty sure he scored more 4th quarter points than Lebron. Lebron has absolutely no heart. Sad stuff for a guy with so much talent and ability.

I also never noticed that he uses his headband to cover up his ugly balding hair, that is really ugly looking...

[StocktonShorts]

The good news for LeBron is that it no longer looks like he was tanking last year in the playoffs against Boston. Turns out he really does suck that bad in crunchtime.

[Paper Face]

I also never noticed that he uses his headband to cover up his ugly balding hair, that is really ugly looking...

Still not as appalling as Deron's comb forward.