IN THE SPOTLIGHT | Heat guard Dwyane Wade
Wade has raised his game in the playoffs, averaging a team-best 26.2 points. The fifth pick in the 2003 draft and former Marquette star has done so despite being hampered by the flu. After spending time in a hospital before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals last Friday, he was limited to a 2006 playoff-low 14 points in the Heat’s series-ending 95-78 victory over Detroit. The layoff should help, not to mention the two days off between Game 1 and Game 2 of the Finals. Wade missed practices this week with a sinus infection, but coach Pat Riley said he should be ready to go tonight.
“Feeling better,” Wade said Wednesday. “Finally trying to get this virus out of me. It’s something that I’ve got to deal with.”
LeBron James, Darko Milicic, Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh were drafted ahead of Wade in 2003, but Wade will be the first from that mostly illustrious draft group to play a marquee role in the NBA Finals.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT | Mavericks coach Avery Johnson
In his first full season as the Mavericks’ head coach, Johnson has led the franchise to its first NBA Finals. On the opposing bench is legendary coach Pat Riley of the Heat, who will be making his ninth NBA Finals coaching appearance. Johnson, a former Nuggets guard and the league’s reigning coach of the year, won an NBA championship playing for San Antonio in 1999. He has been praised throughout the playoffs for his coaching adjustments but faces the toughest challenge of his young coaching career.
“At the end of the day, all we’re interested in is getting four wins first,” Johnson said. “I don’t think it’s me coaching against him as much as it is the Mavericks and the Heat.”
Riley was named one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history in 1996, won four NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and also led New York to the NBA Finals. On Johnson’s staff is veteran Del Harris, the league’s 1995 coach of the year who has 14 years of NBA head coaching experience.
STORY LINE
This Heat team is much different than the one Dallas defeated in two regular-season games. Miami was ridiculed by the national media during the regular season for offseason changes that included adding Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Jason Williams and James Posey. But the team slowly jelled around Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal and is now playing its best basketball of the season. O’Neal, who has averaged 20.1 points and 9.6 rebounds in the playoffs, is well rested and gives Miami an edge in the middle. For Dallas to win, Dirk Nowitzki has to continue to play at an unstoppable level and the Mavericks have to run. Also, Dallas’ Josh Howard needs to play stellar defense against Wade, centers Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop have to at least slow O’Neal, and Jason Terry and another teammate must step up offensively. In the end, that will be too big of a task for the Mavs.
REGULAR SEASON
The Mavericks won both meetings. Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and Jason Terry added 16 as the Mavs beat the Heat, 112-76, to record their 13th consecutive victory on Feb. 9 in Dallas. Nowitzki scored 23 points, including a pair of clutch 3-pointers late, in the Mavs’ 103-90 victory Nov. 25 in Miami. Josh Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds. Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal missed the game with an injury. The Heat lost season series to New Jersey and Detroit before knocking them off in the playoffs.
FINALS HISTORY
First appearance for both teams.
PREDICTION
Heat in six.
