Game Two Blues

The end of the 2nd quarter has not been kind to the Miami Heat in this series. In Game One it was a 10 point run at the end of the 2nd quarter that eliminated the Heat's early lead and gave the Mavs a 2 point margin at intermission. Last night it was 10 points by Jerry Stackhouse in the last two minutes (including a rare 4-point play) together with a technical free throw by Dirk Nowitzki which turned a four point game into a fifteen point game that was never really close again. The Heat made a brave run in the 4th quarter to get within spitting distance, but they could never quite overcome the overwhelming deficit created by Stackhouse's blazing hot 79 second blitz.

Of course, the Heat were also hurt by the shoulder injury to defensive enforcer Udonis "Clemenza" Haslem, while the smothering Dallas defense on Shaq and Dwayne put the entire Miami offense out of rhythm. Wade's impressive line of 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot was earned the hard way, and was accompanied by 4 turnovers and 4 personal fouls. Jason Williams added 11 points and 4 assists to the Heat totals, while Antoine Walker improved his shooting percentage to 50% (8-16 for 20 points) and Alonzo Mourning contributed another 11 on 4 for 4 shooting with 4 rebounds and a blocked shot in 20 minutes of play. But Gary Payton continued to struggle: 2 points in 28 minutes on 1-4 shooting, with 4 assists, 2 steals and a rebound. Dallas, on the other hand, set the tone on the defensive end, controlled tempo, moved the ball well, made the extra pass, and enjoyed good balanced scoring as a result: 26 for Nowitzki, 19 for Stackhouse, 18 for Jason Terry, and 15 for Josh Howard, plus 6 for Erick Dampier and 5 for Keith Van Horn.

I'm not saying the series is over, but the Heat are in a hole now heading home for three straight games. The 2-3-2 format of the Finals is great for a lower-seeded team that can break through in one of those first two games on the road, but in some ways makes it tougher for a team in Miami's position, who are half-way to elimination and really need to win three in a row now at home to preserve any real chance at a championship. Then again, you've gotta win 'em one game at a time. Cliches don't become cliches by accident you know.

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Meanwhile, left my own game early last night to be able to watch Game Two from opening tip to ending buzzer. This whole past week I've felt a little awkward on the floor anyway -- stiff, sore, slow and sluggish -- not exactly the best "game shape" of my life. And I'm wondering how much of the Heat's struggles reflect some of this same "veteran" sluggishness -- tired bodies at the end of a long season leaving even experienced, disciplined players a little less than 100%.. But at the end of the day, champions play through this fatigue and transcend it, while everyone else by definition comes up a little short. If the Heat are going to hold serve at home in Miami, they are going to have to play both smarter AND harder. Then need to becomes the ones who shut the Mavericks down.