The South Beach Diet: An NBA Finals Diary

Welcome to Game 3 of the NBA Finals, live from American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. If Miami hopes to get back into this series, it has to come tonight. A couple notable moments from the pregame.

-I was listening to Raja Bell on Gamenight on ESPN Radio and as much as he irritates me, he made some very good points. One thing he mentioned how the Heat should focus on moving Shaq around the paint instead of simply dumping the ball off to him from the wing. He also mentioned that Dwayne Wade needs to shoot some jumpers to keep defenders honest and make it easier to get to the basket. If only he retired and took Stephen A. Smith's job

-The white shirts. Need I say more.

-Mike Breen shoots it down to Lisa Salters, who asks Dwayne Wade, "What's going on with you?" Clearly, anyone can be a sideline reporter in this business.

-During the opening montage before announcing the Miami Heat starting lineup, they show a picture of Shaq after the phrase "honor." Kind of hypocritical at this point, don't you think.

-I've gotten so fed up with "Running Down a Dream" that I muted the TV and played the old NBA on NBC song from my I-Tunes. It brought back so many memories from the great NBC era of the NBA. I was watching part of the NBA Finals marathon on ESPN Classic last weekend and longed for the days of Marv Albert, Matt Goukas, Snapper Jones, and the rest of the gang.

Anyway, it's time to get it on. I've got the Heat by 10 tonight, and the brother says "Book it!" on a big game from Shaq. Miami has to improve their spacing to be effective, so if they do that, the energy of the crowd will carry them through tonight for the win.

9:20: On the first possesion, the Dallas double team is late thanks to better spacing, and Shaq puts in the short jumper. See how much of a difference good spacing makes?

9:24: It it my lifelong dream to have a free-throw shooting contest with everyone on the Miami Heat, because I know I could beat at least half of them.

9:26: Early on, it's looking like my bro's prediction is coming true. Shaq is being more active, both offensively and defensively. Shaq and Wade have accounted for all 11 of the Heat points, and the Mavericks are not slashing to the rim effectively.

9:34: I still don't understand why you ever foul a jump shooter. After two four-point plays in Game 2, we see yet another foul on a jump shot by Dwayne Wade of all people. And you can almost sense that Jerry Stackhouse is going to keep Dallas in this game the entire quarter.

9:37: Outside linebacker Devin Harris takes down fullback Shaquille O'Neal right in front of the goaline. Shaq promptly hits both free throws and the all-white crowd goes wild.

9:40: Miami is playing really well right now, but they're starting to get into a running game with the Mavericks. After Udonis Haslem slammed it down following a wild layup by Antoine Walker, the Mavericks push the ball and get an easy slam by Erick Dampier after Jason Terry strips Shaq on the rebound. Miami has been very good in the halfcourt so far, so there really is no reason to start pushing the tempo, especially with the Terry-Harris-Stackhouse backcourt in the game.

9:44: Totally unrelated, but I completely forgot to mention how J.J. Redick got busted for driving under the influence. It doesn't sound like much, but when I heard the news while at work, it definetly made my day. Of course, this is the same guy who was caught smoking marijuana during his freshman year, so maybe Redick isn't the same clean sailor that the media paints him to be. (Image via The Big Picture)

9:50: After the first quarter, it's 29-21 Miami. Wade and Shaq alone have scored just as many points as Dallas. We're seeing way too much one-on-one play from the Mavericks, and while I understand that Dallas is a team that beats you off the dribble, they are most effective when they are driving and kicking. It also doesn't help that Dirk has only one point so far.

9:54: Right now, the Mavericks are being outplayed in every facet of the game. The Heat are shooting well, rebounding well, playing good defense, and scoring in the open floor. Dallas has to clamp down defensively, get some rebounds, and run with the ball. That's a hell of a lot of things to fix.

9:57: This has the feel of a college basketball game. From the all-white crowd to Dallas' quick zone/man switches to the open-floor game, I'm happy to see college basketball's influence on the NBA game.

9:59: "Leave it to Gary Payton to get a stupid tech," -the bro. Seriously, a really stupid tech on Payton. Dallas is playing like crap, but they're only down 7 now.

10:00: And now only 4.

10:01: And now only 2.


10:02: "Neil! Neil! Hey, it's Mini Me. Are there any anchor jobs open? I've got the microphone. Maybe you can put in a word? No. Okay cool, just call me."

10:07: In an event that transcends mankind, Hubie Brown has just questioned an official's call. The date: 10:07 PM on June 13, 2006. This may be the last time you ever hear that.

10:09: Shades of the San Antonio series as Devin Harris accelerates down the floor and gets the And 1 to bring the Mavericks within 1 point. They're playing better defense and rebounding the ball. Do that, and their offense will start to come around.

10:14: So remember when everyone was saying that Miami had no answer for Dirk. Well, I'd say that Udonis Haslem has done a fantastic job defending the big German in this series. If only they defended the rest of the team better...

10:18: Keith Van Horn wasts a spectacular three-point play by Jason Terry by tipping in the ball. I'm shocked that wasn't called an offensive interference, but nonetheless, a three-point play would have really gotten the Mavs going. [EDIT] Nevermind. A missed call as it was Alonzo Mourning who tipped the ball. The refs screwed that one up.

10:23: Dirk is the expert of the "push off the defender on the lob" play. He might as well patent it.

10:26: You know how we really know this game feels like a college basketball game? Pat Riley of all people has switched to playing a zone with Shaq out of the game.

10:29: This last possesion is imperitave for the Mavericks, and they don't score. After Dallas hung around all quarter, a late burst by the Heat pushes the lead to 9.

Some first half thoughts.

-The Heat have done a very good job of putting the ball in Dwayne Wade's hands and spacing the floor. When Wade and Shaq are controlling the ball, good things happen for the Heat. The role players have more space to do their thing, and the two stars are scoring plenty. There's really no way Miami could have played a better half. They just need to be careful to slow the game down to a half-court crawl. There were a number of times when Miami unnecessarily sped the game up, and while they got some easy layups, they left themselves vulnerable to a counter-attack.

As for Dallas, the stat that really jumps out at me is the rebounding. Dallas is getting outrebounded 30-16, and the Heat already have 7 offensive rebounds. For Dallas to play their fast style, they really need to rebound the ball, make quick outlets, and get easy baskets. If they're not rebounding, the last two things can never happen.

Dwayne Wade has had a fantastic first half, but it's not the 21 points, but rather the 9 rebounds that really jumps out at me. He's been all over the court today. Dallas has to do a better job of finding Wade when he's moving without the basketball. It's hard to stop Wade when the ball is in his hands, but it's even harder to stop him if you can't find him when he doesn't have the basketball.

Dallas can play so much better, and I bet Avery Johnson is telling his team that. Yet they're still down 9 and they've weathered the Heat's best punch.

Be back after halftime!

10:51: Josh Howard is on track to score 20 points, and we know Dallas' record when Howard scores 20 or more. Pat Riley calls a quick timeout as we can tell right away that Dallas is committed to pushing the ball in the second half.

10:54: For the second time in his life, Hubie Brown criticizes an official's call. Shaq was blatantly inside the circle on a charge.

10:57: Just like that, Dallas has cut the lead down to 1. The Mavs are playing the type of defense they played in Games 1 and 2, and they are capitalizing on Miami's turnovers. And after a Terry floater, Dallas has taken the lead. Finally, we're seeing the Mavericks drive and kick for open shots on offense.

11:02: I love it! A switch to a zone off a dead ball by the Mavericks leads to a rushed Antoine Walker runner. It's like I'm watching Gary Williams coach during Maryland's heyday.

11:04: If Dallas wants to speed this game up, they also have to use their speed and athleticism to defend the break as well as run it. You can't let Antoine Walker slip by 2 defenders on the wing for the easy layup. Avery Johnson realizes this and calls the timeout. Just as Dallas started to take control, Miami responded.

11:09: I keep wanting to say "bad shot" every single time Jason Terry pulls up for a jumper in transition, and it goes in every time. But right after Dallas takes the lead, Dwayne Wade makes one of those "oh my God" moves down the lane and gets the hoop and the foul.

11:11: The age-old problem for the Heat has been turnovers, and they've really been killing them recently. On the bright side, Udonis Haslem has looked fantastic on the offensive glass today for the Heat. But suddenly, we're seeing the Mavericks in control of this game, and Josh Howard is very close to 20 points.

11:14: There's a really new IPOD commercial out which would have looked great if it was 1973. I really wish we got to see the IPOD Jerk it Out commercial more often than we ever did.

11:17: You can really start to sense that the Mavericks offense is cooking and the Heat are having trouble keeping up. With Dwayne Wade picking up his fourth foul, the Heat have to be very careful to not let this game slip away. Dallas is penetrating, kicking, and getting much easier shots.

11:20: This is starting to look like the first two games. Even when the Heat switch to an active trapping zone, Devin Harris is still able to break Miami down and set up an easy layup for Erick Dampier. Miami needs to stay within 6 points by the end of the quarter to have a chance in this game.

11:22: Wow. That's all I have to say to that third quarter. The Mavericks went from being down 9 to being up 9 in only 12 minutes. The Heat's leaky perimeter defense let them down all quarter. Dallas got way too many easy shots off penetration by the guards. If Miami wants to stay in this series, they need to clamp down and play with true desperation.

11:28: It's really shocking how Erick Dampier has outplayed Shaq in this series. He's had another fantastic game tonight. He's being active on the boards and has been in the right place off penetration by the Dallas guards. Even worse, Dwayne Wade has 5 fouls, but he will stay in the game.

11:30: After missing the shot on one end, Alonzo Mourning fails to get back on defense, leading to an easy bucket by Dirk off a pretty pass from Devin Harris. Miami is making way too many mental mistakes in this half.

11:32: For a veteran team coached by an experienced coach like Pat Riley, Miami looks remarkably downtrodden right now. They don't look like they have any fight left in them right now. Dallas' speed and quickness has completely taken the Heat out of their element here in the second half.

11:37: Another turnover, another easy shot for the Mavericks on the other end. We all forgot how Chicago made Miami's perimeter defense look bad. Dallas is a lot better than Chicago.

11:42: The only reason Miami is not down by 30 is Dwayne Wade. He's simply had a spectacular game tonight. At this point, Wade is the only guy on the team that is showing any heart and any fight.

11:44: Miami is doing a fine job of scoing, but scoring means nothing if they don't get stops. Finally, the get one stop and pull back to within 5. Avery Johnson calls timeout, much to Hubie's delight.

11:49: Finally, we're seeing some defense from Miami. And as Wade hits another shot, ABC flashes to a concerned Mark Cuban.

11:50: OFFENSIVE FOUL ON DIRK! Can Miami really win this thing??

11:51: I love Haslem's aggressivness, but I don't think Miami really wanted him to shoot one of the most important shots of the season. He should have moved the ball and allowed Wade to get one more crack at attacking the rim. Dirk hits 2 free throws to bring the lead back to 5.

11:52: Once again, Jason Williams should not be shooting that shot. Shaq gets away with a push-off and will miss two free throws, keeping the game at 5. Scratch that, Shaq will hit two free throws. Lead is down to three.

11:54: Jason Williams came up with some fantastic defense on Jason Terry to prevent him from penetrating. Stackhouse got a good shot, but he missed it. Wade hits the baseline jumper, and it's now a 1 point game.

11:55: HASLEM STEAL. What a huge play by Haslem, who has come up with some great hustle plays all game. Terry fouls him smartly, so these are two big free throws for Haslem. Bang. Bang. What an amazing comeback by Miami. They looked dead just a few minutes ago, but Dwayne Wade never quit, and the rest of the team eventually woke up.

11:58: Terry went one too many dribbles and turned an open jumper into a contested one. Heat rebound and a really dumb foul on the Mavs, putting James Posey on the line. One of 2. No timeout for Dallas, and Devin Harris knifs down the lane for the easy layup. Gutcheck time.

12:00: Dallas did everything on that possesion. They forced Dwayne Wade to pick up his dribble and cut off Jason Williams penetration. Gary Payton has had a terrible series, but he is a true champion and hit a dagger to put Miami up 2. You can sense that Payton wants a ring desperately and will do anything he can to get there.

12:02: The moment of truth. Harris-Terry-Howard-Stackhouse-Dirk lineup for Dallas.

12:03: Smart play to find Dirk and he gets fouled. He got position on Haslem and snuck his way into the basket. HE MISSED THE SECOND FREE THROW!!!!!!!!!!!

12:04: Dwayne Wade's 13th rebound was not only his most acrobatic, but it was definetly his most important. But he missed the second free throw and Dallas has one final chance to get this game into OT.

12:06: Dwayne Wade breaks up a sure alley-oup to preserve an incredible victory for the Miami Heat. Just an unbelievable play by Wade. Against every other player in the NBA, that ball is over their head, and Howard has an easy slam. But not against Dwayne Wade.

This is one of those games that can turn a series. Dallas had this game in the bag. All of the Miami players seemed resigned to their fate. The Heat were playing with no energy and every Miami player looked ready to go down 3-0. Every player but Dwayne Wade.

We have just witnessed one of the most incredible playoff performances in NBA history. With his team down 13 points and having already committed 5 fouls, Dwayne Wade simply willed the Miami Heat to a victory. 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 huge deflection. It may not have come in an elimination game, but Wade's performance has to rank up there with some of the greatest all-time individual efforts in NBA Finals history.

And with that, we have a new series.