The Dallas zone worked wonders. Miami could not shoot their way out of the zone–this is where Spoelstra decided a zone buster (House I guess) was more important than a ball handler. That was a mistake. Oh and the guy who was actually hitting mid range shots, Bosh, was not getting the ball. Why? No real point on the floor. I know LBJ and Wade can make nice passes but neither of them can really manage a halfcourt offense. They can produce for themselves in the half court with penetration or good outside shooting, but each of them seemed not to be able to do that in this series. And they don’t know how to run an offense in such a way as to work the ball to Bosh.
Finally, Chandler and Marion on defense and rebounding really helped Dallas a lot. Miami lacks defensive forwards who are that active, so do the Knicks come to think of it.

David Crockett: I remember the pre-Scottie days when Jordan refused to pass to Orlando Woolridge (who was Agent Zero before Gilbert Arenas). God, can you imagine if the Oak-for-Cartwright deal never happened and Oak had to co-exist with MJ?

Random thing noticed from their basketballreference profiles: in their only full season together, Woolridge had a higher TS and EFG than Jordan at only slightly lower usage!!

Mike Kurylo: Oh they sure did. Before the titles, Jordan had the reputation of being a me-first scorer. Back then everyone pointed to Magic & Bird as the epitome of team players, and Jordan was the selfish genius. Hence why his legacy is so strong, because Jordan “overcame” that flaw (ironically at the same time HOFer Pippen came on-board). Also why Phil Jackson is seen as someone who poops marble, because he inserted the triangle offense which forced Jordan to share with his teammates.

I remember the pre-Scottie days when Jordan refused to pass to Orlando Woolridge (who was Agent Zero before Gilbert Arenas). God, can you imagine if the Oak-for-Cartwright deal never happened and Oak had to co-exist with MJ?

Z-man:
The media was pretty active in those days too.They didn’t say that about Jordan because it wasn’t true, even before he won anything.Also note that he was 6 for 6 in the finals.

Oh they sure did. Before the titles, Jordan had the reputation of being a me-first scorer. Back then everyone pointed to Magic & Bird as the epitome of team players, and Jordan was the selfish genius. Hence why his legacy is so strong, because Jordan “overcame” that flaw (ironically at the same time HOFer Pippen came on-board). Also why Phil Jackson is seen as someone who poops marble, because he inserted the triangle offense which forced Jordan to share with his teammates.

It’s a great narrative, but it’s 99% malarkey because if Jordan in his first or second season walked on to the 1991 Bulls with a half decent coach, they’d have won a title right then & there. He was just that freakin good.

“He just can’t win the big game. He doesn’t make his teammates better. You can just push him around and he’ll fold.”

And then, from age 27 onward (you know, a year older than Lebron is now) the guy won six titles.

LeBron and co basically played 3 on 5 and had no outside shooting help to speak of once James Jones got hurt. Mike Miller was awful this year due to wrist injuries. Mike Bibby is clinging to the league by a thread and lost his rotation spot to 3rd stringer Eddie House. Up front, Udonis Haslem missed the bulk of the year, Zydrunas Ilgauskas fell out of the rotation and Erick Dampier never cracked the playoff roster over Jamaal Magloire.

It will be an interesting off-season for Miami because they will be looking for legitimate starters at the PG & C positions.

Free Agents
PG: Mario Chalmers (R), Mike Bibby, Eddie House (1.4 Player Option)
SG: N/A
SF: James Jones (1.4 Player Option)
PF: Juwan Howard
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (1.4 Player Option), Erick Dampier, Jamaal Magloire