Here I thought the Heat were finally going to turn it up and maybe manage to get back into the series, but after having lead for most of the game they once again have fallen behind and are facing a 9-point deficit after the third quarter. I just can’t comprehend how you can be in the NBA Finals and play with no desire, or sense of urgency. After losing game 2, the Miami Heat players seemed very confident that they would be able to make up the 2-0 deficit, and that their level of play would be much improved during the 3 games in South Beach. So much for that, because I really don’t see any improvement. This game looks to be over, and the Mavs will go up 3-0, unless a miracle happens and the Heat somehow pull this one out. No team in NBA history has ever come back from 0-3 to win the Finals, but it looks like the Miami Heat players didn’t get that memo.
Shaq is playing a lot better than he did in game 2, when he was outplayed by Erick Dampier of all people, but apparently not good enough. I don’t want to brag (or actually, I do), but I did predict that he would have a much harder time playing against Dampier and Diop then he did against Ben Wallace, who is the Defensive Player Of The Year. Shaq also referred to Erick Dampier as Ericka Dampier, which I must admit was funny, though now I’m sure he would like to take that back. In the old days Shaq was able to back it up when he made such comments, but those days seem to be over.
Some people thought that if the Heat won this series, that it would establish Shaquille O’Neal as the best center of all time, or at least put him in the top 3. He’s certainly in the top 10, but I don’t think he’s anywhere close to being the best ever. Don’t get me wrong, I love Shaq’s game, but I just think that he has too many weaknesses to be considered the best. He has had 15 years to improve his freethrow shooting, and it seems to me that it’s only gotten worse. Karl Malone, for example, was even worse than Shaq when he came in the league, and he managed to improve his shot and eventually became a 70% + shooter from the freethrow line. I’ve seen enough games over the years of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and the other greates on ESPN Classic, and NBA TV, so I think that I have a pretty good idea of how Shaq compares to them. I think that Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon is the best center to ever play the game. Olajuwon was a 7-footer, who had a complete game, which can’t be said for Shaq.
So I’m writing this as I’m watching the game, and it’s getting interesting now. The Heat have a 1-point lead with 1:03 remaining. About time that we finally see an exciting finish. Okay, so the miracle happened after all, and Miami won the game. But I’m still not impressed. All this means is that it won’t be a sweep. About time Miami showed some heart. We’ll see if they can carry that into game 5.
