Yes, it begins tonight. The 2011 NBA Finals will be intriguing, as will be the characters which make the Finals what they are. For all the hate and the negativity that the Miami Heat received all year, you have to think that behind closed doors they’re snickering at many. For all those who thought it wouldn’t work, for those who thought there was no way three great players of that magnitude could come together and play as a team, I hope you all are now seeing the error in your ways. And for those who did think it could work, but still hated on the way Lebron left Cleveland, his “Decision” fiasco and the Miami pre-season pep rally, it’s time to get over it. The numbers, production and achievement for many, are the proof in the pudding. Miami, for now, has seemed to make fools of all the non-believers. I wouldn’t be surprised if they printed NBA Championship T-Shirts with the phrase “I TOLD YOU SO” on the back. If you ask me, it would be fitting.

When speaking of the Dallas Mavericks, one  must admit, this is a dangerous team.  The key catalyst may be the the revenge factor?  The question becomes, how much energy can this revenge thing supply?  These Mavericks had a championship ring snatched right from under their nose back in 2006.  Now they have a chance to make it right. Mark Cuban maybe one of the most beloved and hated owners in sports. You have to love his passion, you have to love his hands on approach in how he works and travels with the team. But don’t you hate his arrogance?  His almost “I’m smarter and richer than you” attitude which gives him the appearaance that he is entitled to success.  Then you have Pat Riley with the quiet confidence of 5 championship rings as a coach, one as an owner, and the slick back hair to seal the deal.  But this is all simply the buildup.  Let’s get to the real meat of the situation.  Let’s break it all down.

STAR POWER……This one is easy. You have to give this one to the Miami Heat. Once Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces to become Voltron, I penciled them in for the NBA Finals. I don’t want to hear this baloney about they aren’t a team and there aren’t enough basketballs to go around. It’s crap. Give me three superstar players any day in the NBA over a great team. With that said, nobody in the playoffs is playing better than Dirk Nowitzski. All the years of being labeled soft, all the years of being unable to get his team over the hump can all be erased if he can get past Miami and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy this year. With that said, it’s going to take much more than Dirk to get it done.

GUARD PLAY….Calling who gets the edge here is a little more tricky. When you talk about the perimeter obviously for Miami D-Wade comes to mind. Right now he’s a little banged up and hasn’t had a great playoff run. But everyone knows that D-Wade maybe the best slasher in the game and can explode any given day.  Sometimes Lebron abandons the small forward position and plays the point so I guess we can say he’s a guard too. On the other side for the Mavs, I just don’t know how Jason Kidd is still doing it. He’s a veteran and is now shooting the ball at about 35% clip from downtown, a dramatic improvement from his early years in the league.  Jason “The Jet” Terry is as an explosive scorer off the bench than you can get in this league. J.J. Barea maybe the key. He is listed at 6-0, which is highly unlikely, but he is fearless taking the ball to the rim and nobody on the Miami Heat can guard him.  The Mavs’ Deshwan Stevenson also does a great job guarding Dwayne Wade. Dallas gets the edge here.

IN THE PAINT…..This has been the weak spot all year for Miami.  But with Udonis Haslem now being back the gap is a little smaller here in the matchup with Dallas.  Obviously you have Lebron and Bosh on the frontline but Haslem brings the toughness that was missed much of the season.  He is a banger that gets the dirty work done and you need a guy like that in the NBA Finals.  But Dallas with Dirk and his unconventional style of play for a seven footer, Shawn Marion aka “The Matrix” and the ultra athletic Tyson Chandler has the edge in my opinion.  They can run the floor which will be important vs. the Heat and they don’t back down.

BENCH…..No contest on this one.  Miami’s bench is nothing to write home about.  They only play three guys in Haslem, Mike Miller and Mario Chalmers.  Not much production coming here.  For Dallas, Jason Terry is a killer off the bench averageing 17.3 ppg in the playoffs while shooting 46% from 3 pt line.  Barea, as stated before, is scary off the dribble.  Don’t forget about the veteran Peja Stojakovic who at anytime is a threat from downtown.

CELEVISION’S PREDICTION

So if the Mavs have the better guard play, the better bigs and the better bench it should be a no-brainer right?  Mavs are NBA champs.  Not so fast.  I am a firm beleiver that stars win in the NBA.  And that’s why “Star Power” to me is worth so much more.  Stars make the big shots in the big moments.  Stars get the calls from the referees.  Stars rise to the occasion when it matters.  So yes, I am going with the Miami Heat although all the numbers and the stats say otherwise.  But like my father always told me “Stats are for suckers.”

CELEVISION TOP FIVE NBA PLAYERS OF ALL TIME

So Scottie Pippen said that Lebron James is overall a better player than Michael Jordan.  I think we better get Scottie to a doctor right away.  Although I respect King James and do agree he has the potential to be a top 5 player one day, he’s not in the conversation as of yet.  Too many great players over the years.  Here are my top five of all time, no need for much explanation.

Magic Johnson…. A point guard who played center in Game 7 of 1980 NBA Finals.  The No-Look Pass was invented.  5 rings.

Wilt Chamberlin…..He scored 100 pts in a game!!!   He led the league in assists from the center position.  And told the media he was gonna do it!  All while doing lots of extra-curricular activity off the court!

Oscar Robertson…..Averaged a triple double for the season!!!  Did you hear what I just said?

Kareem Abdul-Jabaar…….The sky hook!  I never saw it blocked.  All-time leading scorer in NBA history.  He should be the logo

Michael Jordan …..The tongue, the baggy shorts, the wristband, the shot on Ehloooooooooo!