Miami
(52-30) at Dallas (60-22)
Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:00:00 PM EDT
at American Airlines Center
Dallas are 4.5 point favorites. The total
for this game has been set at 193.
Storyline:
Two newcomers to the NBA
finals, guaranteeing the league a new
champion. Mourning and Payton get another
chance to finally win a ring, and O'Neal
and Heat coach Pat Riley can collect another
one.
Key matchup
I: Diop & Dampier vs. O'Neal.
The Mavs' duo has more size and bulk than
any of the centers O'Neal faced in the Eastern
Conference playoffs. Diop rebounded and
defended well in the West finals, but that
was against an undersized Phoenix team.
Containing the three-time finals MVP, who
is shooting 61 percent in the postseason,
will be a much different story.
Key matchup
II: Howard vs. Wade. Howard may not
start on Miami's leading scorer, but he'll
get plenty of chances to defend him. He
has the size and athleticism to play Wade,
who is averaging 26.2 points on 51 percent
shooting in the postseason. But the Mavs
need more than defense from Howard: They
are 25-0 when he scores 20 or more points
this season.
Little-known
fact: Miami beat Dallas 16 straight
times from 1992-99.
Prediction:
Heat in seven.
MySportsbook.com
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Posted
by Ciaran Monday
