Vindication: Mavs, Nowitzki Revel in the Wildest of Victories for Title

Even before he reached the locker room, gazing around to embrace the overjoyed moment, Dirk Nowitzki was overwhelmed, walked through the hallway of a hostile environment and then cried alone. He may have well been the best player of these Finals, relentless in shooting, savvy in his play and bearing his own criticism.

The night for the Dallas Mavericks was indescribable and unbelievable, a night when Nowitzki finally conquered vengeance, abiding vindication after meeting standards of the greatest triumph in franchise history. So now, he won't be ignored given history, but appreciated as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, a team leader and a clutch finisher to lead the Mavs to its first NBA championship in franchise history. Once he emerged from the tunnel and reappeared onto the floor for the trophy presentation, Nowitzki brought exhilaration and smiles, greeted with prolonged hugs and walked onto the podium to hoist the MVP hardware and the Larry O'Brien trophy.

"We're world champions," Nowitzki said in the conference room, with his Finals MVP trophy and a bottle of champagne.

"It sounds unbelievable."

Nowitzki, the seven-foot German who won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award, a player with self-consciousness, wasn't afraid of shooting the ball. Although he couldn't drain a bevy of missed shot attempts early on, he continued hurling shots and hit 8-of-15 in the second half, scored 18 points and guided the Mavs to an exceptional 105-95 win over the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena Sunday night for the NBA championship. There once was a bombastic owner who relished the spotlight for being the focal point of the Mavericks.


In this glamorous moment, Mark Cuban, the cyber nutcase that separates him from the normal owner of pro basketball, was finally humbled and celebratory just as his players jubilated and embraced the beauty of a title. When the Mavs were crowned champs, capturing a remarkable accomplishment of his 11 years of ownership, the famously loudmouthed owner carried himself with dignity and class. Most of all, for some time, Cuban has waited patiently to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy and indeed he has won the grandest prize by putting together a brand of talented stars, pampering his players and paying his athletes.

It's not as though Cuban was a terrible owner with an infamously outspoken mind that has gotten him into trouble in recent years, but it was the NBA fines he amassed because of his infantile hissy fits and absurd remarks. However, on a night that he honored the franchise's original owner, Donald Carter, who stood on the podium proud and speechless wearing his tall cowboy hat, there was nothing that Cuban uttered foolishly.

The growing idiocy wasn't what drew the attention, not even his harsh criticism of the officials, but his innovative framework to fittingly lure talent and manufacture a charismatic core. Here is Cuban now, all grown, knowing when to talk and shut up, tired of being inflicted with fines that cost millions. By now, no one is blinded by the product he has placed on the floor in Dallas, becoming the only owner in Mavericks' history to be honored in such a sterling night.

"Mark wanted to do it this way," said an overjoyed Carter. "He just wanted the trophy to go through the progression. We started it and he took it to the finish line. And with class."

It's perfectly the reality no one ever imagined in the most electrifying closure for the Mavs, a franchise nobody ever believed in and doubted entirely throughout the postseason, calling Dallas the one-and-done team. For once, in his lifetime, Nowitzki never choked in the Finals and carried the Mavs to astounded exultance.

Forgive me for doubting Nowitzki.

It was only five years ago, a point in his career that Nowitzki wasn't a stud or even one of the best shooters, when he and the Mavs collapsed in the '06 NBA Finals. It wasn't long ago, finally mentioned in the company with a myriad of NBA greats, when he was incapable of hailing as the MVP or team leader, he was disqualified as one of the all-time greats and couldn't beat the eighth-seeded Golden State in a stunning upset. It ought to be considered one of the greatest redemptive tales in basketball, a defining ending for Nowitzki to hush the disbelievers with his shooting clinics, determination, mentality and thirst for a legitimate title.

And now, of course, Dirk is purging the haunted memories at last, ousting all the painful mischances. It's the era we live in, one which the Mavs capped a stunning postseason to clinch a victory in the Finals, lifting beyond all expectations this season, not even Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson beheld a surprise party. It's the culture every basketball franchise wish it had, one which has persistence, tenacity and chemistry, particularly in a sport where it requires at least three solid players.


By any notable accounts, the Mavs had the proper ingredients to bring home the prize, fueled by the presence of Nowitzki and even veteran point guard Jason Kidd, along with his counterpart Jason Terry, who backed up his trash-talk and carried the Mavs with a stellar performance. The Mavs, as the better team, responded well to adversity and defeated arguably the greatest trilogy in basketball all-time. As a unified core, stuck together through the toughest road of each series and played impressively.

"It was not our motivating factor going in," Terry said of the awful '06 experience. "But now that we have done it, you can say it was sweet vindication."

When it was over, Nowitzki embraced Kidd and celebrated the moment, but the man worth endearing was Terry. The truth here is, he doesn't have to remove his Larry O'Brien tattoo on the inside of his right arm, after vowing that he would remove it had the Mavs lost. The prophecy from Terry was true after all and he played brilliantly ever since Nowitzki publicly said that he needed contributions.

The relief on Nowitzki, in retrospect, was convenient in Game 6, because Terry not only played as the sixth man building upon his legacy as he has done at a very young age in his hometown Seattle and stifled James but he posted 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting. For all of the superstars no one ever generates conversations about, Kidd at the age of 38 had eight assists and phenomenal ball-handling and DeShawn Stevenson launched threes off the bench.

"Was he unbelievable tonight or what?" Nowitzki said of Terry.

The best of the Mavs' pursuit of excellence happened in the title-clinching win, based on the adjustments by the well-respected coach Rick Carlisle. The highest level of quality for any team is adjustments and the sizable role players to pour in points off the bench. And the amazing player in this game was J.J. Barea, for scoring 15 points. Greater than it all, Shawn Marion produced 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds as usual, and impeccably Brian Cardinal nailed a three-pointer and had an assist.

As in every human, Dirk struggled with his rare misses for much of a peculiar Game 6, the unanticipated shooting debacles to score a manageable 21 points with 11 rebounds. But leave it to Terry with five crucial baskets in the final 7:22 to stain the Heat's potential dream of being crowned champs. By the second half, under his own willpower and willingness, he bounced back from a horrifying 1-for-12 shooting calamity. It's more woeful for the Heat, and as poorly as LeBron James played in the NBA Finals disengaged to endure greatness, he diminished as Nowitzki rose because of his fourth-quarter brilliance. And yes, in the elimination game, LeBron finally scored in the fourth.

"It was weird. In the first half, I had so many good looks," Nowitzki said. "I can't even explain it. I had some 3s top of the key. I had a wide-open 3 in the corner. I had some pull-ups. I had some one-legged fadeaways that I normally make."

Then too, the Mavs entered the series with more swagger and urgency as Dirk wasn't allowing another heartbreaking collapse smear an earnest run for the NBA title, enough to convince us worldwide that Dallas can precisely beat Miami to win the championship on the road. It was already discovered in Game 4 of the Mavs' improbable second-round sweep of the Lakers. While there was plenty of shame on a video that unveiled Friday featuring Wade and James ridiculing Nowitzki's illness, it may have angered the Mavs to play harder and be more engaged for the moment and indeed Dallas attacked with more ferocity, intrepidity, certainty and perseverance.

"Our guys took it personally tonight," Carlisle said. "They were not going to be denied. Dirk and [Terry] have had to live for five years with what happened in 2006. And as of tonight those demons are officially destroyed."

All playoffs, Nowitzki was undoubtedly the best player, enduring pain from a torn tendon in his middle finger on his left hand and then a sinus infection, including a high fever in this series. Amazingly, he pressed on. He's not devoid of an NBA tile suddenly, when there are six NBA MVPs deprived of a championship. To name a few: Among active players, there is Steve Nash and Derrick Rose. In that company, nonetheless, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley all never won a title. At the end of the night, Nowitzki and the Mavericks were seen partying on South Beach at the famous club LIV at the Fontainebleau Hotel with the Larry O'Brien trophy where Cuban was wildly dancing and jiving with his players after Dallas had avenged their failures of the '06 Finals.

A week from his 33rd birthday, and he just built a monumental legacy surrounded by the profound supporting cast. The Mavs were worthy of the title all alone. And since the NBA is the one sport where it is not a rarity to win back-to-back titles, determined by how the collective bargaining agreement fares, Cuban still has the motive to pursue a free-agent in the summer of 2012 for the Dwight Howard or Chris Paul sweepstakes, particularly if he can clear salary-cap space and influence some of his free-agents to demand less in salary.

"This is as mentally tough a team as I've ever been around, and I was fortunate enough to play in the '80s with those great Boston teams," Carlisle said. "And that team had four Hall of Famers. What this team was able to do with guys like Cardinal, Mahinmi, Barea -- those guys played major, major roles in a championship game."

Through six games, Nowitzki had the highest-scoring fourth quarter. If you haven't noticed, he was resilient in Game 6 after a 4-of-21 start, a rare and slow start for a gifted shooter of Nowitzki's caliber. But all that mattered was how he finished, shooting 5-for-6 near the end. At one point, late in the game of course, he couldn't miss shots and drove to the basket with his incredible size and upper body strength, he couldn't miss shots popping jump shots continuously. With four points and 11 rebounds off the bench, Ian Mahinmi hit the biggest shot of his career, if not of Game 6 and nailed a 14-footer as the clock expired to end the third that gave the Mavs an 81-72 advantage.

In a remarkable run, it took teamwork and effort. And Cuban surrounded Nowitzki with enough star power for the sweetest victory in Mavs existence. Plain and simple, the Mavs were just the better opponent and wanted it more than the Big Three in South Beach.

LeBron's Tattered Legacy is Endangered as the Heat On Verge of Suicide

He was integral in assembling the monumental trifecta all-time in hope of inserting triumph, to provide countless championships for the folks in South Beach who are worried greatly about the state of mind of the Miami Heat.

For LeBron James, one of basketball's global dignitaries and the most despised athlete because he wrongly departed Cleveland on callous terms and arrogantly broadcasted "The Decision" to announce his next destination during his free-agency mania, he was the greatest closer in the postseason that sort of validated his legacy as James stifled critics from irately bashing the embattled star.

But, then, something very weird and hopeless has happened of late. Whatever glaring perceptions we have on the Heat, especially with a season of accomplishments in jeopardy, it's now notable that the Heat would produce franchise suicide if Miami is devoid of an NBA championship when the masterminded Pat Riley constructed an unimaginable trilogy. The quality of play has been so dreadful that James is the scapegoat, catching all the negativity and scrutiny because of his fourth quarter meltdowns, where he has not shown ferocity, heart or determination but a lack of effort and self-assurance.

He'd much rather watch than hustle for the loose ball, grab rebounds and attack the rim, which tells us his mentality isn't all there, unprepared for the biggest moment of his career, a defining chapter of James' occult career. Although deep down, as someone who wishes to stand out as a modest public figure in mankind and our society, he merits no love unfortunately in America and, if there are impassioned people fond of James, it's the population located in South Beach.

There is much to dislike about the self-proclaimed King James, from the latest episode when he proclaimed that Game 5 was the biggest game of his career, from the megalomaniacal television spectacle last summer, from his insensitive exit that infuriated the citizens in Cleveland. As the most condemned athlete in sports, if he falls short of a championship, then James' tarnished legacy is endangered forevermore in the wrath of inevitably a pique he draws as the villain in sports.

The pressure is intense, then, for James to finally sustain his first ever championship in these NBA Finals, specifically when he pulled together with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for the purpose of capturing a title. It's not so true as the Heat struggles mightily with James' fourth quarter woes, in a nation where the loyalists have every reason to ridicule, mock and laugh at his passiveness and inertia. There is a sense, by many viewers and critics, that James is often too latent, vulnerable and stolid, unwilling to stay with his abilities to drive to the basket and lately has the temptations of trying to be an outside shooter.

"The last 48 hours have been thinking about Game 5," LeBron said Saturday. "Some of the opportunities we had to win. Some of the opportunities I had to make plays and either made them or didn't."

Maybe he spent ample time thinking about just how he and his teammates need to keep this series alive if the Heat are pursuing an NBA championship. Consider it a failure if the Heat falls short of conquering the grandest prize, which for LeBron no doubt, he'll draw much scrutiny and aspersion after he couldn't exceed immense expectations and standards.

The disparity has been fretting James for some time, with the world closely glazing at the loathed superstar on the shores of South Beach, a place that welcomed him in nicely with open arms and bared compassion for a sports individual who has been loathed across the nation, if not worldwide. If he has the desire to be the best, in many ways, he needs to sustain greatness and deliver in the clutch. If the Heat lose to the Dallas Mavericks Sunday night in Game 6, Miami and James would be described as failures as their title hopes this season will diminish.

And, of course, James is on the verge of elimination and a painful summer, a long offseason when he reflect on the disappointment in the Finals. The heavy talk of these Finals, in whispers heard across the world from radio airwaves to television to the Internet, is on James, who is generating more buzz than other players. While Dirk Nowitzki is on the verge of capturing his first NBA title, James, in contrast, is nearly doomed and has been ripped for underachieving with his endless fiascoes on the floor such as in late-game situations when he's not producing as a clutch performer.

We can barely applaud James, not only because he's the most disliked player on the universe, but because he's never prevailed in the biggest event. In this development, James has underperformed on his playground where he is absent, not clutched, not a fourth-quarter savior, not one of the best shooters in postseason history, not even one of the all-time greats, but the flukiest and enigmatic player judging by his sudden disappearance.

It won't take long, should James and the Heat topple against the Mavs, until he falls from grace in a shot at redemption. It won't take long, should he began his vacation Sunday night in South Beach, until he visions the shred of his tattered legacy devalue, not potent enough, not determined enough and not reliant enough to lead the Heat on a wondrous expedition. Because of his foolish Tweet before Game 5, James is described as a fool, a loudmouth and overly sensitive whiner, reducing his focus and energy on the series, so engaged in getting the last word but disengaged in raising the intensity in the Finals.


The notion that James tweeted "Now or never!!" could have been a motivation strategy, but in reality, for the Heat as a whole, it's "Now or never!!" Could it be bad karma for James?? Remember when he and Wade were captured on video, directly ridiculing Nowitzki for being sick in Game 4??

"I'm not feeding into that. If you guys want to feed into everything that not only myself or D-Wade or the Miami Heat do, I think that's a non-issue." What in the hell has happened with LeBron?

All week, the curiosity has inherently circled James, worried heavily about his recent stumbles in the last two games of this championship series. That was Game 4 and 5, where he never measured up to his own standards. The comparisons of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson are absurd at a moment in his dizzied career when he could be a work in progress, and can't withstand the stiffest challenge of pro basketball. It's more inexplicable to understand the Heat, and in the midst of James disappearing on his teammates as Miami is one game from elimination, he'll be blamed more than ever, hated even more so for such a poor and strange performance.

There'd be no way in hell to escape the criticism and taunting, simply when he convinced the world that he was an admirable athlete, hailed as one of the greatest all-time before he even made his presence felt in the league. It's the culture we live in, one which is abnormal for a player with higher expectations than life, but has yet met the agenda of greatness.

There's been plenty attention, after remotely raising his isolated popularity in a lone town and state, regarding his personal life, his health status and mindset. For sure, he is at much fault of the overblown hyperbole recently, and one can still speculate whether or not he's afraid or soft, turning into an epic disaster in one of the worst tragedies in NBA history if James doesn't turn it around in Game 6.

For the most part, legacies are constituted in June, as much as James tries calling it via social networking, he is wrong and on the verge of missing out on protecting a legacy in disarray. The result of James' flaws have no bearing on the fourth-quarter disengagement that seems confusing, when it looked as if he was having one of his historic postseasons. He ultimately know it's inexcusable to blow a legion of games late, and as much as James is considered a great athlete, it's a rarity whenever an exceptional player performs poorly in back-to-back games in the fourth quarter.

In theory, James is petrified of failure and he's mentally not in the frame of mind, just as much as he is physically fatigued. Even if he produced a triple-double in the 23-year history of the Miami Heat, it would be "NOW OR NEVER!!" The aspect of judging James is that he's not handling the adversity or expectations, unwilling to manage the hearsay and criticism, reluctant in handling the everlasting drama from his critics and the media. Given his baggage, the perception is that he's viewed as the enemy of basketball, so the pressure is greater than ever for James to win as a way to not be begrudged.

When he is described as the evildoer, the only way to clear one's name, given his pompous actions in many ways, James ought to be attempting to keep aspirations alive Sunday night and reduce the fear and weaknesses. There's only so much one person can endure in life, but in this case when much ramifications are involved, actions speak louder than words for LeBron. It's all about survival and avoiding the dizziness, the anger and the pressure.

Furthermore, it's "Now or never!!"

Where's LeBron James?? LeChoke Stumbles Upon Failure

A couple of days later and LeBron James is not escaping his disastrous meltdown with reality setting in, and no matter what this means for the Heat's experiment of building a singular trio, he can't restore optimism for Miami -- a team that face much scrutiny of late. Maybe we were so surprised to see James not bounce back from a horrific breakdown he endured in another peculiar performance, engulfed in controversy ever since his porous fall in the NBA Finals.

This was an eroded James in whom the people have blasted recently, calling him a whiny baby and a choker, deemed as a villain and an egomaniac. This was a self-centered James who was callously insensitive and dampened spirits of the gracious population in Cleveland, disowned for leaving and turning disloyal to the Cavs' faithful near his native town. This was the much-scrutinized star suffocating in another late-game crisis, with James nearly finishing scoreless in the final quarter of Game 5 and merely scoring 2 points in the fourth that resulted in a 112-103 loss on Thursday night to the Dallas Mavericks.

The worst part of it all is that James' latest mental lapses, blown shots and poor ball handling haunted the Heat and the self-proclaimed King. Then again, maybe James has finally redeemed himself to some degree, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to settle for a triple-double on the night. What we all expected, just by witnessing James as the greatest closer in these NBA playoffs, was him closing out games and validating his tarnished legacy.

If James continues to stand around looking confused and lost, the Heat won't win a championship and it would be hard to envision Miami capturing triumph without him having an impact on the series. Even after he was ripped for such an insufficient performance, he never responded or avenged his deficiencies from Game 4, where he plunged ever so miserably and lacked toughness.

It's almost contemptible to watch James these days, playing with a befuddled state of mind, playing with no firepower, no ferocity and no glaring conviction. What in God's name is happening with James? This wasn't Dallas' terrorizing defense and instead it was James looking disengaged as if he couldn't care less whether the Heat win or lose. The Heat trails the series 3-2 to the Mavs -- in James' lack of effort to attack the basket and defend tightly in the late minutes.

It was probably the biggest game of his lifetime, a defining moment in his sullied NBA career -- but even though he was a facilitator -- his teammates trusted him and James fueled the Heat players with passes -- he never was a factor in the fourth. James -- is the nation's most hated athlete with the vast majority celebrating his sudden demise in the Finals. He doesn't have a clue what is materializing, busy talking too much and have not focused on the game enough to respond with a stronger performance. It would be wise for James to shut his loudmouth and take on the role as a closer, not a berated buffoon who posts moronic comments on Twitter.

"This was probably the biggest game of my life," James said before Game 5.

What we all waited for, just by hearing his foolish nonsense after disappointing the Heat, was a breakout performance and the defining moment. And so it goes. There was never, not even at one point in the game, a defining moment for James, particularly in the end when he couldn't close it out by hitting his jumpers, or even better, storming the paint for an empathetic dunk or an easy layup. What the headlines are likely to exaggerate on, nonetheless, is clearly that James was too much of a talkative star rather than a brilliant ballplayer.

If this were a Heat team devoid of stars crumbling when it all matters, it's because of the rhetoric from Miami recently. To make matters worse, James shrunk ultimately while in desperation. When he vowed to the world that he'd answer in the biggest game of his life and was said to silence his critics, indeed he failed to back up his self-proclaimed drama and has been publicly embarrassed for the worst disaster of his NBA career.

Faster than ever -- since his surreal departure from Cleveland -- he instantly plunged from one of the global stars in the world and has been ridiculed, jeered and laughed at upon another anticlimax. And through it all, his self-inflicted prophecy meant nothing and it humiliated James again, making him look like a fool on the biggest stage of his lifetime, I presume. There'd be no reason to call him the King and worship the so-called superstar as he produces no basketball royalty.

It should come as no surprise in his emergence, even if he had a breathless postseason run and finally defeated his nemesis Boston, that incredibly he has deteriorated with his lack of heroics and continuous struggles. In recent memory, we watched James come all so close in the postseason during his seven-year stint in Cleveland, but he would disintegrate in the Eastern Conference Finals alongside the disimproved supporting cast. Maybe all he really is, of course, is someone who brought his talents to South Beach, an enemy of basketball, especially when much of the nation hates James.

But the truth is, he never stuck with his promises to bring fulfillment for the Heat and he's now criticized for it, a plague James does not handle too well. That's common nowadays of adversity he endures, incubated by James' miserable atrophy in the Finals. When he left Cleveland -- after he announced that he'll be joining the Heat in his overblown television special "The Decision," he needed months to recover and couldn't withstand the entire backlash. As a villain in sports, a battered James finally had a heavyweight postseason, all before he encountered the Mavs in the NBA Finals.

He quickly overcame the hardships last November when the Heat struggled and played passive and soft, but it took a long time until James found his stride. If he falls into a funk, he whines and blabbers frequently, to take his mind and energy away from the game. That's all the more reason he stumbles as pressure affects his ability drastically. Although he was a clutch performer earlier in the postseason, a star we become accustomed to when he was a sensational finisher and arguably the best player this postseason, all of the sudden he has lost composure and debilitated.

From an honest perspective, LeBron chokes much too often, although he's one of the league's talented stars with the knack to take over the game in the end. He was firmly in control in the final minutes of games, but as of now, he has seemed to disappear at the end-of-game situations. It's very strange, given that he sold the notion of being the finest closer for the Heat, that he looks bewildered, helpless, harmless and incapable of taunting.

If anything, James is worried and petrified, knowing the Mavs are in position to close it out in Game 6 and hoist its first ever NBA title in franchise history. How amazing to notice that James, fading in his sudden disgrace and troubles, seems like the failure who represented Cleveland. How incredible to notice that the Superteam, arguably the greatest trio in NBA history, is the flukiest and most pathetic combination in sports.

If that was the case, James was better off staying in Cleveland, not joining a pair of superstars to assemble a dysfunctional experiment which appears to be cascading. Most notably, it's not hard to laugh at James, for which he takes on several nicknames. If he has common sense, James knows the world is buzzing about his latest default in the Finals. He is surely missing in action, absent for much of the series. If the Heat is devoid of a championship and falls short of a celebration in South Beach, it would go down as LeBron's most embarrassing Finals in NBA history.

Mired in uncertainty, the King is fittingly known as LeChoke, LeBrick or LeBaby, unless he arrives and has a monster performance in Game 6 where sudden death is upon the Heat. When it comes to James, we as the critics, expect much from him simply because of his arrogant, overbearing and egomaniacal personality. The other day, Charles Barkley ripped the Heat and their fans on the Waddle and Silvy Show in Chicago.

He said,"Yeah they have the worst fans. No question. It's not even loud in there. You're at the game and you are like, 'Man this place isn't even loud.' At least when you go to Chicago, it's loud in there, it's crazy down in Dallas but it's not even loud in Miami."

He elaborated further...

"Listen, if the Miami Heat were playing the Washington Generals I would pick the Washington Generals," Barkley said with a chuckle. "It's something about that team that annoys me. They just a whiny bunch and I can't root for them."


It was all diminishing for James, from his popularity to his assurance to his admiration. The harsh reality is that he does whine more than he drills baskets. Hell, he can even be a brilliant actor, starring in a Hollywood picture for flopping and baiting the refs into poor calls. When he never heard the whistle blow on a play where he felt he was touched, he exploded in one of his infantile tantrums and acted worse than a toddler.

As a professional ballplayer, James doesn't handle his failures like a man, but instead an amateurish clown. It was almost a resemblance of his eight point stunner, the fewest points in his postseason career, in 45 minutes Tuesday night. But this time, he was a no-show in the fourth quarter, and settled for too many jump shots. This wasn't a defining moment, but a tragicomedy and it surely was an epic failure at a time he was supposed to act in response.

The measure of all-around excellence seems forgotten for a star who cannot avoid the painful blows, but James has plenty of time left for turning it around, even if some suggest that he's not ready for a radiant moment. So far, James has not convinced the basketball world that he's capable of winning a championship, or even greater, driving the Heat to triumph. Really now, James has abandoned the offense and has given Wade, who has had stellar performances in the last two games, the chance to take over the game.

It's worth noting that James is uncomfortable to measure balance in facilitating and contributing offensively, and because of it, he's missing in action. All series, James has been a non-factor and missed eight of his 11 shots in Game 4 alone, making a lone shot in the fourth quarter of Game 5. It's clear James has lost confidence within himself, evidently the other night when he scored less than 10 points for the first time in his last 434 games.

Because obviously, it's all about ego and recognition -- in truth -- he can utilize social networking and post "Now or Never," on his Twitter account early Thursday morning. It's said that James refuses to listen to criticism or allegations from the public and media outlets. Who knows? He takes much abuse and bitterness, but he doesn't play with enough heart or a fierce mindset, one that could wane all the derision. The fact he disappeared blemished the Heat, and now, it looks as if he is incapable of coming through in biggest moments. After two chaotic games, of his fourth quarter mental lapses to potentially delay the fans for bracing a South Beach parade, he bricked shots, he was baffled and he was dizzied on another planet.

Where was he?? On Pluto??

As it happened, he had another dreary fourth quarter in the Finals. And again, James was the shrinking star, despite having an irrelevant triple-double. There's a sense of belief that the Dallas Mavericks WILL close out Game 6 to win the NBA championship and jubilate in South Beach. As for the Mavs, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry pulverized the Heat and hit an avalanche of three-pointers.

It turns out that Nowitzki and Terry are the heroes of the Finals, not James if he never has an epic finish in the fourth. He was scoreless, harmless and laughable in the fourth, and it wasn't enough to vindicate talent in which he should be in command of these Finals. It could be the Mavs getting inside James' head, along with DeShawn Stevenson, who unsympathetically called him a quitter in Game 4 and Shawn Marion, who called him an abrasive name on the court.

Where is LeBron?? What, did he suddenly vanished and ventured off to LaLa Land?

The best player in basketball, built with much prodigy and craftiness is gone. Where is the King?? He is the helpless Prince, disheartened over the last two defeats. In reality, the Heat are down 2-3 in the series, and James has a shot to redeem himself and return to prominence in what could be the most theatrical story in Finals history, chronicled in one of the greatest NBA tales. James doesn't have the desire to drive to the rim and be assertive inside the paint.

His state of mind isn't there, and he has not had the touch on his jumpers, only tallying 11 points in all five fourth quarters of these Finals. Now he's bearing the criticism as Game 5 was a humiliating loss -- dropping in the fourth -- when he missed an uncontested three-pointer with the Heat trailing 102-100. And then, he was whistled for a charge on the baseline as he tried driving to the basket. The blunder surely came when he allowed Terry to beat him in a footrace on the critical three-pointer of the night.

As the spotlight shined on Terry, he backed up his trash talk directed towards James and had a brilliant night. If James is done talking and ready to play basketball in which he has created a ruckus because of his personal issues and hearsay publicly, then he could probably be more productive offensively.

I am not too sure whether or not James can accomplish the unthinkable

Nowitzki Won't Keep the Mavs On Top Alone

My faith in the Dallas Mavericks has been diminished in many ways. The shock of perhaps Dirk Nowitzki falling short of another astonishing feat is a bit worrisome, all because he couldn't hit a contested 16-footer that bounced high off the rim and dropped to the court as the buzzer sounded.

"Well, I thought we had opportunities," said Nowitzki. "First of all, we can’t always fall down behind. I think we’re always reacting. We did in the first quarter. Third quarter we came out slow, fell down big."

He tried, mind you, to duplicate an encore finish in Sunday's 88-86 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, he tried to obviously complete a flawless performance again and then he tried to virtually be the hero in the end. Instead on this particular night, he would rush the shot with very little time on the clock to hoist a prayer that would have sent it to overtime -- he would hit a missed shot, stand hopeless in pain, then lower his head as if Dallas' aspirations mercifully imploded at the damnest time.

"We all know that basketball is a game of runs," said Nowitzki. We have to stop the runs a little quicker. We can’t get down 15 all the time and battle back. You can get like a five, six-point swing here and there. We can’t get in a deep hole like that."

It sounds more like Nowitzki can use assistance and should be pleading for help from his passive supporting cast, coming in a series where the Heat consist of too much talent, coming in a series where Nowitzki has worked alone and lifted the Mavs out of distress. It could be that Nowitzki is mentally exhausted and weary after carrying the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, along with staging a breathtaking comeback in the previous meeting, an unexpected rally the folks can presumably embrace for the ages.

And since he's being compared against the all-time greats in basketball, he ultimately seeks his first ever NBA championship and waited a long time for another crack at capturing a title while wearing a Mavs uniform. But what we fail to realize is Nowitzki cannot win it alone and he'll need reinforcements from his non-existent supporting cast in these Finals, if Dallas plans on celebrating its first NBA title in franchise history.

It was so easy to postulate, evidently when we thought Nowitzki was the invincible star in these Finals, when we suspected him to pose as the most lethal performer, that the Mavericks had climbed beyond any doubts. No one standing on our earth is superhuman -- including Nowitzki -- who showed he has weaknesses as every other player in the game. For once, he looks imperfect in crunch-time and in no position to showcase his brilliance, although he almost led the Mavs to a significant win. When he touched the ball on the last possession, he was flawed on the last attempt and the lack of support from his lackadaisical teammates.

What the hell is with Jason Terry?? Being down 2-1 isn't such a bad predicament, considering that the Mavericks are resilient and poised. Given Dallas' history, though, the Mavs are vilified and have been known to derail and suffocate in huge games with plenty implications, particularly in the most challenging moments. It seems strange to recognize the Mavs having flaws -- teammates playing soft and passive in this series alone.


It's almost unfathomable that Terry has come into view with a dismal performance, shooting merely 38 percent from the field in the NBA Finals. The unfolding of his struggles blazoned in Game 3 when Terry shot 5-for-13 and scored 15 points and, for much of the night, he was ineffective as the defensive-minded Heat double-teamed and trapped the absent-minded guard.

"We've been very inconsistent," Terry said. "Obviously, offensively is where we like to get in the paint and finish plays, and we haven't done that. A lot of that falls on my shoulders, and so again in Game 4, I will be real aggressive. I have to be for us to be successful."

Oh, I'm sure he'll be aggressive in Game 4 Tuesday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The best player on the floor, no doubt, is Nowitzki, such as in the fourth quarter when he scored 15 of his game-high 34 points and snatched 11 rebounds in the game. Maybe he oozed his swagger, or maybe he was persistent for 48 minutes. Whatever it was -- if you will -- it wasn't enough to beat Heat and it surely wasn't enough to seize a commanding lead in the series.

It's telling the Mavs are not a stout team, from the oversized seven-footer in Nowitzki who act as if he's a shooting guard to the fervid owner Mark Cuban, but are fundamentally built to capture a title. But if the Mavs are seeking to win a championship, minimize the painful collapses in the past and erase the doomsday memories of postseason failures, then Dallas shouldn't just depend on Nowitzki.

"We have to be a little sharper at the beginning and not let them get their rhythm," said Nowitzki. And I thought the crowd pushed us forward. So, we’re going to need the same effort out of them. It’s basically a must-win situation."

With the exception of Nowitzki, he has manipulated the state of the series and placed significantly a heavy burden on the Heat. When he dominated in the last game, Nowitzki single-handedly defeated the Superteam and capped a historic comeback in NBA Finals history, scoring the Mavs' final nine points for a stunning victory that tied the series. The standards, in the meantime, are immense for Nowitzki just as much as the circumstances are larger than life for the Mavs as a whole.

"Haslem's fronting me everywhere, trying to keep the ball out of my hands," said Nowitzki. "He does a good job. He's active, he's quick on his feet. Down the stretch, I think he stayed down and made me shoot a contested shot and a shot I can make, but unfortunately it didn't go."

And by the time the fourth quarter arrived, he scored double-digits for the 11th time in 18 playoff games but it still was meaningless in a loss. Long before the Mavs eroded on the final basket, Nowitzki scored Dallas' last 12 points and rallied the troops from a seven-point deficit. Most folks figured, after Bosh hit the go-ahead jump shot, Nowitzki would have achieved greatness at the end.

But instead the Heat trapped him with three defenders in the middle of the floor, harassed him, and lastly, stopped him from his proverbial finishes. This would make sense when he indeed had a great look at the basket, but clearly, he missed it and was crowded. The masses in the building were stunned in disbelief that Nowitzki had a rare miss on a 16-footer, even though Udonis Haslem had a hand in his face when he attempted the jumper. For the Mavs, should the supporting cast continues to disappear and abandon the Finals, Nowitzki is marred in trouble as long as Dallas shoots 34.6 percent from the floor and take nights off by shooting a miserable 11-of-21 from the field.

"We didn't really give him much help," said Terry, who was 0-of-4 in the fourth quarter, including a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 58.9 seconds remaining. "I take a lot of that on my shoulders."

It took Nowitzki to deliver in the fourth quarter, hitting a lone three-pointer, fueling the home crowd on an electrifying dunk and even a layup, an incredible comeback as his teammates watched in delight. To be honest, the Mavs won't achieve an ambition if the Mavs score merely seven points in the final minutes.

It's the biggest game with nearly as many people watching, a moment for Terry to hit three-pointers, a moment for him to overcome his struggles. The only difference is, he's a zilch in the Finals, just as much as Jason Kidd has been inconsistent. He's known for making his teammates better, but he was scoreless with one assist in the fourth quarter.

"We've gotta have somebody else step up. Dirk is doing his part."

It was nearly an instant classic, quite fittingly, that Nowitzki played like a one-dimensional superstar, advisedly choosing to take the last shot and risk the trend of potentially leading the series. And then, as we know it, he botched the biggest shot but has undoubtedly placed himself among the NBA elites by scoring 34 of the Mavs 86 points, while the rest of the players withered in which Dallas was outscored 21-7 in the six minutes he sat on the bench. As much as we have relished Nowitzki, he is fortunate that he's been relieved with the presence of Shawn Marion, shooting 59 percent in the series with Nowitzki on the floor.

So when it comes to the Mavs, it takes a remarkable supporting cast. It takes more than Dirk. Simply, he can't do it by himself.

Nowitzki Produces His Own Legend in Breathtaking Comeback

It just so happened that the Mavericks awakened when the stakes were larger than life, before Dirk Nowitzki -- a public figure too often denounced for the wrath of failures in the postseason or Finals -- encountered endless criticism. So disappointingly, for a franchise that seemed to displease us more than fascinate us, Nowitzki was the focal point of any frequent blemishes in the postseason and never prevailed to save the Mavericks from itself -- or better yet -- at least delight the petulant owner Mark Cuban.

If the Mavs dare to venture in the Finals and hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy in June, Nowitzki must know the significance in rescuing Dallas as the team was under duress and trailed for much of the night. In a way, he knows the Mavs are superb and have been evidently the deepest unit in these playoffs, elevating to an all-time high and ready to capture a championship in order to relieve themselves of the bitter collapse in the '06 Finals. So now, five years later, Nowitzki drove Dallas to one of the greatest epic comebacks in ancient history. The other night in Miami, where the liveliness in the city uplifted the mood, the Mavs weren't so lucky and lost Game 1 because of porous shooting.


Remember what happened back in the '06 Finals collapse?? If we could grasp a clearer understanding and follow one's mind, maybe we then would corral the assumption that Nowitzki won't allow this to happen again, ready to erase the nightmarish thoughts of blunders and heartbreaking collapses. The home crowd booed forcibly and turned silent when the Mavs came back from a 15-point deficit and avoided the dismay on the emotional and inspirational performance late near the end of regulation from Nowitzki. All of this defines a series filled with eventful drama, watching the Mavericks survive with a breathtaking come-from-behind victory in the closing minutes to close it out in a dramatic fashion.

“Dirk knows for us to win this series he’s going to have to play all-around basketball,” Rick Carlisle said. “He’s going to have to fight through periods where the ball isn’t necessarily going in the basket, which he did tonight.”

With 24.5 seconds on the clock, Nowitzki stood over on the sideline where he looked disgusted and furious in the huddle as head coach Rick Carlisle diagrammed a solid play on the last possession, all while Nowitzki recalled the collapse to the Miami Heat. Those are fiascoes that continue to haunt Nowitzki, and as much as he has been blamed for the struggles, he wasn't allowing the Mavs to stumble again.

Seconds later, while coming out of the timeout, he walked onto the floor in the tense seconds of Game 2 and he was given the ball after it was promised that he would touch it on the last possession. Down by 15 with over six minutes left, the Mavs rallied and survived on Nowitzki's brilliance, closing the game and tying the best-of-seven series from a magnificent 22-5 run. Once the Mavs and Nowitzki found their swagger, it was immutable to cease Dallas from an enduring run that ended the night and gave the Mavs a 95-93 win.

It's clear that the Mavs, as evidence reveals a much-improved Dallas squad after such a historic comeback, are built as a championship-caliber team. If not for Nowitzki, even if the Mavs are surrounded by an ultimate brand of talented role players, Dallas wouldn't be so resilient or poised. The salvation is a lift in the Mavericks' playoff success, hungrier and stronger than the last Finals appearance, finally playing with confidence and perseverance.

It was because of Nowitzki, a foreigner from Germany, for which the Mavericks advanced to the Finals and clearly turned it around in Game 2. It was because of a seven-footer, a skilled shooter who can knock down an array of shots with the arsenal in hurling jump shots, for which Dallas had a courageous mindset and believed in Nowitzki late in the game.

More than likely he's one of the greatest shooters, perhaps one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. It certainly feels like he is when Nowitzki hastily drove to the rim, pushed from the right to the left, lifted the ball skyward and dribbled past a defenseless Chris Bosh. That's right, he couldn't hesitate to float into the paint with a torn tendon in his index finger on his left hand and had the ball where he is notably efficient. The ball landed into the basket with 3.6 seconds left.


If Nowitzki is as mentally dominant as we've come to believe, he indeed was on this particular night, scoring nine straight points to finish one of the most improbable, implausible comebacks in NBA Finals history. This isn't to suggest, mind you, that the Mavs can win it all, celebrate and host a parade in downtown Dallas in the upcoming weeks but, in clarity, this is a series with much drama and intense excitement.

For one, if you haven't noticed, the Mavs are alive and can make it challenging for the Heat. It's such an insult to rule out the Mavs, and maybe even greater, Dallas delivered a convincing blow to the Heat. All it takes is one player to discourage and disrupt Miami's blueprint for success -- when the Heat built invincibility during the playoffs.

In most ways, the Heat probably carried a pompous disposition about themselves, and mostly everybody sensed a lopsided, uncontested finish on a night that Dwyane Wade dropped 36 points on an abundance of empathetic dunks as the Miami superstar discombobulated the Mavs. Best of all, whatever improvements the Mavericks made since '06, from roster transitions to offseason upgrades, Nowitzki shattered the Heat's heart and became an NBA legend.

Because it was a night that the Mavericks were humiliated and incensed in a blowout, as the Heat dunked on and walked all over Dallas, no one ever imagined an epic rally. It was a stunning collapse for the Heat, it was the Mavericks propelling to a historic comeback in Game 2 of the Finals. And all of the sudden, it's a thrilling series to remind the viewers what fun the NBA presents.

With the series even at 1-1, the series shifts to Dallas for the next three games resuming Sunday night. The series was OVER to some, when Wade fired a three-pointer from the corner in front of the Mavs bench and gave the Heat an 88-73 lead as the building erupted. Through the Heat's ferocious defense forced turnovers on many possessions and resulted in fastbreak dunks or alley-oops, allowing Miami to kill the Mavs in transition, Nowitzki responded like a leader and changed the dynamics of the series.

It was an unbelievable push in the final minutes and Nowitzki scored with his injured left hand, driving twice for left-handed layups, along with the game-winning shot to end any possible thoughts of foundering in a horrid catastrophe. It's rather surprising to see Jason Terry quiet in this series, but he suddenly came to life in the second game of the Finals. When he left Mario Chalmers open for an uncontested three-pointer, Nowitzki scolded him.

"Big fella told me he had my back,” Terry said. “And he did. He came down and got the game-winning bucket.”

The surest thing is that Nowitzki solidified his legacy when he scored on a jumper and heaved a layup to tie the game at 90-90. His late heroics stunned the Miami fans in the stands as he was proficient in his promise to beat the Heat and dashed to the rim.

As the Heat celebrated prematurely, Nowitzki laid it on the glass. This was the beginning to redemption for Nowitzki and the Mavs in an epic finish we'll be talking about eternally.

Mavs Need Helping Hand from Dirk Nowitzki or No Glory

This was a chance for Dirk Nowitzki to make the deepest statement, to vindicate that he is the prolific player of these NBA Finals and better than ever before, to send a sense of upbeat vibes in the series. This was when Nowitzki was supposed to kick butt and channel Chuck Norris or Cynthia Rothrock, and then inspirit David Hasselhoff to join the craze in the Heart of Texas. But he's delivered a subpar performance and rendered indisputably the most chaotic, lowest scoring percentage that we had the displeasure seeing in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.


What we have seen is Nowitzki expose his weaknesses at the worst possible time, unable to avenge the painful memories from when he faltered in the 2006 Finals against the Miami Heat. The star of the Dallas Mavericks poured in 27 points in the lightest fashion and eventually unveiled he had sustained a torn tendon in the middle finger of his left hand. He stood in a corner on the court of American Airlines Arena in Miami, located on the edge of the bay, optimistic about his ability to play at an all-time high as the assassin who answered in prior series with no conscience for his array of phenomenal shots.

So when Nowitzki and the Mavericks withered in the first game of the series, missed shots and lost a decisive game, I had suddenly pondered and flashed back to the nightmarish point in time that he unsteadily unraveled. It's a no-brainer he's absolutely fixated on the task at hand, when he's never embraced the moment of capturing a second Western Conference title. It was the night he disappeared from the trophy presentation, jumping over the scorer's table and hiding in the tunnel to avoid the national spotlight of flashbulbs and swarming media personnel.

The last thing Nowitzki wants is another meltdown, on pace to avenge the painful collapse -- ready for a suspenseful and striking rematch on the path to redemption only if he grinds out his first ever NBA championship and doesn't come unglued in the national landscape given his reputation of descending. If you can recall, as the Mavericks took a 2-0 lead on the Heat in the '06 Finals, Nowitzki couldn't vanquish from the burden of failures in the past. There was one point, such as when we were overly obsessed with Nowitzki prematurely considered to be one of the greatest players of all-time, if not the deadliest shooter, when the god of the Mavs carried Dallas in Game 3 in Miami by maintaining a 13 point lead with 6:42 left, but then all of the sudden underperformed and took much criticism for the struggles.

Is he overrated?? In my view, he is the best player in these playoffs. And coming in a different scenario, he never has been fully capable of capturing a title or leading the Mavs to the biggest victory. This season, he was more than the freakish athlete, more than the appreciated star in Dallas, only a man endeared for modifying the personality in a sport that relies on an influx of star ballplayers. Before entering the Finals, he was a breakthrough performer who suddenly relived the moment, when he drove the Mavs literally through the postseason, including with the helpful contributions of the veteran point guard Jason Kidd, forward Shawn Marion, and the emotional defender at center Tyson Chandler and, of course, the journeyman Jason Terry -- a main fragment for the much-improved '06 Mavs.

As of today, he still has the chills and goosebumps by thinking of the bitter ending that he has never stopped dwelling on, knowing how close the Mavs were to winning a championship. That's how the situation looks for Nowitzki, a typical victim for not only allowing his opponents to defeat him, but also for beating himself. A day later, after watching film and working out in practice on Wednesday, Nowitzki said he is ready to respond. But then, he might be declining again when so much is on the line, hit by a roadblock now that the Heat stands in the way.

What's more, with many postseason appearances, is he advanced to his 11th straight postseason and started as one of only four players all time to average at least 25 points and 10 rebounds per game. That wouldn't, by the numbers, rank Nowitzki higher than many active ballplayers, although he has compiled 32.2 points on 55.7 percent shooting in the Western Conference Finals. In reality, he is an elite player, but he hasn't led the Mavs to a championship and stumbled in the finish. Therefore, he is trying harder than ever to not walk away winless in his 13th season.

A couple of weeks ago, he surely recalled the Game 3 collapse with too much mournful thoughts as Nowitzki lamented and finished 2-of-14 from the floor for 16 points in Game 4 of the '06 Finals in the 98-74 rout. The point is -- he performed the choke job in prior seasons -- particularly in critical series, at this time of year. All we know is that the Mavericks, owned by the cyber bully Mark Cuban, have a bevy of experience when the billionaire has lavished his players with wealthy paychecks to build the deepest contender in the West.


Now, we are left to wonder if Nowitzki can finally lead the Mavs five years after they were obliterated by the Heat. Now, we are left to wonder if Nowitzki, who is having the best season of his outstanding career, can actually transcend in his prime with a dimensional nucleus of talent. Twice in his winsome career, Kidd has lost in the Finals. There is even Terry and Peja Stojakovic, a pair of sharpshooters with lethal ability to slaughter their opponents from long range. Then come the Mavs’ centers, Chandler and Brendan Haywood, two of the tallest players with tremendous size in the paint. There is much to like about Nowitzki -- for instance -- he has proven to be a solid player, a perennial star in the postseason, though he hasn't proven he can lead a franchise to a championship.

That much is an explanation for all the criticism the much-scrutinized megastar takes in each season. But now, quicker than he drills a three-pointer, the Mavs' aspirations might be determined based on Nowitzki's ability to play at a moment when his presence is a necessity in Dallas' championship pursuit. And whether people are willing to believe it or not, Nowitzki admittedly informed everybody that he is optimistic the middle finger on his left hand with the torn tendon won't affect his ability to release shots.

Welcome to the playoffs, folks. Over the course of his career, Nowitzki has certainly fought through pain from injuries. First, he nursed a number of ankle sprains, and then he amazingly made a speedy return after having Carl Landry's chipped teeth removed from his elbow. Earlier in the season, he also recovered from a sprained right knee and returned sooner than expected. In his career, all with the Mavs, none of his injuries debilitated his athleticism or strength to push left on the court.

When it comes to Nowitzki, he is more efficient driving left than moving the ball right, and his shooting percentage is solid on the left side. If he desires to heal the wounds of postseason flaws and treasure the celebration of winning a title, then he needs to direct the Mavs in the biggest happenstance of his lifetime. Pressured to win it all or either worsen the criticism, it's a notion that it would be a miserable travesty in Dirk's elusive NBA career if he is devoid of a championship after having his best season.

As in the case with all players, particularly the stars of the sport, winning cures everything for Nowitzki, too.

Team Hollywood Thrills, Captures Revenge: Lakers Wins Indelible Classic

It’s almost titillating when a town embraces the top franchise in Hollywood, living in a town accustomed to winning championships, a triumphant ritual happening in a diverse community that assembles as a unified atmosphere, once the Los Angeles Lakers captures greatness and takes in euphoria.

Suddenly, the ideal ending came in a low-scoring Game 7, but a memorable showdown among two of the most hated rivals in sports as the purple and gold confetti fell, the team’s anthem was heard and the Lakers celebrated another glorious moment at home.

It’s a town famous for watching championship banners rise to the rafters, gazing at the sky to witness the purple and gold confetti fall from the ceilings, and now observed Kobe Bryant jump on the scorer’s table, shaking his fists and extended five fingers advertising that he won his fifth ring after the Lakers clinched its second straight championship.

“I just got one more than Shaq,” Bryant said after he won his fifth championship. “You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don’t forget anything.”

Thereafter, he leaped off the scorer’s table to meet and shake hands with Boston’s legendary Hall of Fame center Bill Russell, mostly smiling without revealing his frighten and intimidating scowl.

In the finest moment, a historic time in the existence of the Lakers, they were overjoyed and rejoiced as a team, releasing dismay and agony after a doleful 39-point loss in a distraught Game 6 at Boston two years ago.

At last, he’s not furious or has a bitter aftertaste about the Celtics, never erasing the memories of a depressing defeat that obliterated aspiration last time these two teams encountered a showdown.

Finally, the Lakers experienced heartfelt emotions, shedding tears of joy and uncontrollably jubilated in front of a boisterous crowd of non-celebs and celebrities.

This was a moment Jack Nicholson, the team’s cheerleader who has a personalized seat on the sidelines, applauded the Lakers and cheered loudly for his home town franchise.

This was a moment the enthusiastic town cherishing its basketball gathered around the inner and urban community to engage in a fairly pleasant celebration when Lakers supporters jived and party at the local sports bars and restaurants, despite the soulless idiots who poured onto Figueroa Ave., Flower Street, and Olympic Boulevard.

Shame on rowdy fans for such rebellious behavior by pathetically vandalizing vehicles and lighting one car on fire, refusing to celebrate with pride and dignity. Aside from all the embarrassment shaming the town, Bryant, who was named the Finals MVP for the second straight season, stood on the court with his wife, Vanessa, and had his two daughters on his shoulders, while accepting congratulations and embracing the moment.

For the first time in a seventh game of a series, he was frustrated and shot the ball poorly, harassed and forced to shoot as the Celtics defenders plotted the double-team and obstructed his mental toughness and capability in facilitating and burying shots during sequential shooting.

For a man who had an abysmal night, which included 23 points on six-for-24 shooting but an essential 15 rebounds, he still proved that he’s an authentic leader, the fiercest scorer on earth, and a godlike specimen with five rings, quickly moving closer of surmounting pass Michael Jordan.

Fact is, he’ll never be like MJ, but in this generation, he’s definitely the well-known brand name in professional basketball and glowing as the ravishing megastar within his prime on pace to win at least eight rings before he calls it a career.

As a beloved athlete and a rare breed in a league when his presence has magnetized the NBA, he’s an admirable icon who isn’t selfish or egocentric, but selfless and willing to lead by example and as a sophisticated leader.

But it’s fair to assume that he would not have won his fifth championship without a poised and powerful supporting cast.

Nevertheless, his legacy would have been in tatters and lofting another Larry O’Brien trophy would have been delayed, had the Lakers failed to beat the Celtics twice in his career during the finals.

Once known as the most polarizing figure in sports, he's now known as a noble symbol in the Lakers franchise, and probably will go down as the greatest player in franchise history, if not league history.

We now know he can win without Shaquille O’Neal. We now know he can reach a crescendo in his career with his transcendent title runs, aiming to surpass the legendary Jordan for the most titles as the greatest player to implement worthiness.

At times, it appeared that the Lakers weren’t worthy of winning because of awful shooting droughts and unwisely over dribbling on possessions, but eventually recovered and came back to salvage an 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics to win its 16th championship, completing the final chapter of a thrilling rivalry in Game Seven.


Because the Lakers played with much heart and guts, they rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second-half and managed to overcome a potential nightmare of falling to the Celtics again in the most storied rivalry showdown. Had it not been for their toughness, bravery and earnestness, the Lakers could have loss out on sustaining its 16th franchise title.

Doing so, however, Derek Fisher won his fifth ring, Pau Gasol won his second, Ron Ron won his first after taking a pay cut and signed with the Lakers to win a championship, Lamar Odom won another won, and as a core the Lakers captured vengeance and redemption.

“We wanted it more,” said owner Jerry Buss.

There were towel-swinging fans chanting, “Kobe, Kobe,” imploring for Bryant to get involved and take over in a nerve-racking and tense showpiece. And with the Celtics leading by double-digits in the third quarter hope quickly dwindled.

Because the archrivals looked as if they were the stronger and hungrier team than the soft and passive Lakers throughout the game, Team Hollywood trailed by four points at the start of the fourth and trailed by three with fewer than seven minutes remaining.

“I’ll be really honest with you, I didn’t even hear them,” Bryant said of the crowd. “I was so tired my ears were ringing. They really were. It felt like it was six in the morning and I was on track running. I was just drained.”

The high-energy and deeper star power of the Lakers, including frequent trips to the charity strike, diminished any acceptance of likely beating and dethroning the defending champs.

While the team in L.A. had immeasurable talent, proving that it could purge the Celtics, Fisher’s heroics were useful when he lofted a three-pointer to tie it, Bryant’s late rebounding was a factor in the comeback when he converted on a pair of huge free throws and buried a jump shot over a pesky Ray Allen.

Yes, he was urged not to shoot. But in this game alone, Artest was the MVP, firing one risky three-pointer with 1:01 remaining to clinch a miraculous night and pop the champagne corks and wear the goggles before squirting the champagne in the locker room for a well-deserving victory party.

“I want to thank my psychiatrist,” said Artest who had 20 points.

Dismissed as an awful shooter, but cheered for his exemplary defensive-minded tactics, he told fans if the Lakers failed to win a championship, that he was the one to blame. Turns out, no one is to fault.

It was a disputable signing by the Lakers front office when the Buss family brought aboard Artest for his defensive theories, while fans were perturbed about the departure of Trevor Ariza and the Lakers lack of interest in re-signing an energetic and younger defender.

Very impressive was the leadership of Pau Gasol, who is rapidly flourishing as the second-leading scorer on the Lakers, scoring 19 points and had 18 rebounds, finally eradicating his soft and attenuated trends. In other words, he fought and abused Kevin Garnett, who spent much of the night in foul trouble.

“We fought extremely hard,” said Gasol. “We kept our minds and our hearts into the game at all times, and we hustled…we hustled.”

This season, Bryant has broken down a bit for his aging and injuries. It wasn’t a day that past without the man playing with a taped-up right index finger and his sore right knee that he had drained after Game Four of the first-round, often monitored by team’s physician Gary Vitti.

He has been candid about his health. “I’m obviously going to have to look at the knee and figure some things out, said Bryant. “I can’t play a whole entire season the way it is now…Without the tape (on the finger), I can’t grip a basketball.”

His injuries are the least worry, I assume, after winning it all.

Now that the town is fueled over the win, the Lakers are delighted than ever after accomplishing revenge against the archenemies and unfriendly rivals. What an indelible classic the Lakers endured and excelled, capturing unforgivable triumph.

Celtics Won't Beat Lakers As Vengeance Is Almost Sustained

The scoreboard posted the ending results at Staples Center, and quickly, an enticing scene in a sudden-death situation erupted an electric crowd that never had to shut their eyes or bite nails, but loudly cheered the Los Angeles Lakers to an 89-67 victory in a crucial Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

If you felt a jolt or heard a rattling sound, it wasn’t an earthquake that shivered Southern California recently, but it was the Lakers rising above a disappointing loss to force a Game Seven, refusing to stumble in an elimination game.

It hasn’t been a spectacular series, but a nerve-racking series for the defending champs by meeting the Boston Celtics, it’s archenemies in a rematch seeking to avenge a miserable 39-point loss two years ago.

In theory of the Lakers, it’s very clear that Team Hollywood knew much was at stake, performing brilliantly and responding with urgency and fortitude, to survive a redemptive series in which the Lakers tries to mount a legacy.

Late in the fourth quarter, he walked to the bench and received a standing ovation from the crowd before he sat on the sideline, wearing a towel and a pleasant facial expression, delighted with the recovery in a must-needed game.

It was Kobe Bryant, who was faulted for the Lakers’ mental lapses and physical inadequacies to implode chemistry and disrupt the energy and drive of his supporting cast, facilitating and involving his teammates by spreading the floor and drilling well-advised shots.

The timing couldn’t be better for a composed and smarter Bryant, the greatest closer in the game known for obliterating defenders with his sequential scoring and miraculous shots.

It isn’t often in sports when a man with a selfish modus or arrogance, accepts an applause subsequently being described as a pompous, self-centered hypocrite who ultimately abandoned his teammates and hurled too many irresponsible shots.

For all the abuse he took, from the no-call when Paul Pierce snatched the ball out of his hands in Game 5, from the doubters constantly scorning the greatest player in the game, from the media blaming him of the Lakers recent falters, he was absolutely the man setting the tone early.

He almost took most of the finger pointing for deranging the Lakers offense and defensive commitments, but now he’s not hearing the displeasing questions from inquisitive reporters in the interview room, commended for minimizing his shooting percentage and playing the specific role of a virtuous overseer with cultured leadership.

They were a baffling unit, almost committing championship suicide as a championship-caliber team and the most talented franchise, without any discipline, toughness or star power.


But suddenly, the Lakers were serious about staying alive and protecting its title by repeating glory once again, persevered and fervent to symbolize the symmetry of valued mystique and tradition.

Here were the Lakers again, escaping a soft, indolent and complacent attitude, as fans supporting purple and gold believes in the home team, believes there’ll be another parade on Figueroa, believes that Bryant will obtain his fifth championship, and believes purple and gold confetti will fall from the Staples Center rafters when the Lakers hoist the trophy Thursday with a win over the Celtics.

For the first time this series, they exploded with much parity and urgency, to pull away midway in the second quarter and never blew a large margin. Normally, the Lakers lose huge leads for becoming to comfortable and inattentive, but not on the night a credible season was endangered of missing out on a title.

At least once, a glorious journey almost ended wasteful, dropping Game Five in a hostile territory, booed and badmouthed by the unfriendly Celtics fans. It’s a different unit avoiding the same type of mistakes that cost them the last game, with a new makeover after returning to Hollywood invincible and unbeatable.

Turns out the average citizen was granted their wish after all, prepared to witness a Game Seven of the NBA Finals, following a triumphant performance that gives the Lakers an advantage with home court advantage and the greatest closer.

If the Celtics dares to win and travel home with the trophy and celebrate by marching in a parade, they may not outlast or outwork the Lakers in the final game of the season, when L.A. dictated the ultimate standpoint of the series and seized all vitality, realizing they are a win away from sustaining back-to-back triumph.

By avenging consecutive losses in Boston, the Lakers forced a seventh game with the series tied at three games apiece.


So now, the latest chapter in the NBA Finals is a historic and bitter rivalry, in which two storied rivals will meet on the hardwood for a crazy, tense showdown that will write an epic classic as one memorable event in ages. In desperate moments, winner takes all. Amid a pair of legacies, each opponent is craving a taste of the hardware.

“This is definitely a special treat for the NBA,” said Ray Allen. “We’re going to Game 7, and this is the finals, and it’s the Celtics and Lakers.”

Even though the Larry O’Brien trophy was ready to be presented to the Celtics, it has to wait a few nights before the worthy one wins it all, whether the Lakers avenges its failures two seasons ago or the Celtics shatter the hearts of Hollywood.

In present, was the Celtics legend Bill Russell, who couldn’t bear to glance at the painful rout and left for the exit with three minutes remaining.

For most of the night, he watched the Lakers push and abuse the archenemies, he watched the entire team dominate the villains, he merely watched Bryant have a stellar game with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and he watched Pau Gasol come close to a triple-double, bouncing back from a dreadful contest with 17 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

If Celtics center Kendrick Perkins never had collapsed with Andrew Bynum midway in the first quarter, departing with a sprained knee, maybe Boston might have stayed within double-digits. It’s unfortunate to loss Perkins, a muscular center with incredible strength and size in establishing as a post defender and slow down the Lakers from overworking the Celtics in the paint.

“It’s a big disadvantage,” said Bryant. “He’s a big emotional leader for the team. I’m sure it didn’t help them, him going down.”

It’s often bad to dismiss the Lakers, but a loss in the next game will probably go down as one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.


Meanwhile, the Lakers raises closer in capturing redemption and vengeance. And if Bryant is ever described as one of the greatest basketball stars of all-time, he immensely need contributions from his supporting cast, similar to what his teammates exploited when Ron Artest finally wasn’t confused and had 15 points and badgered Pierce with his defensive mentally.

But the bigger factor was Gasol, who shot 19 times in 40 minutes, finally stood up to a sluggish Kevin Garnett and played with much toughness as his soft demeanor quickly vanished.

When the Lakers come out with high-energy and urgency, it usually stimulates the bench, as Shannon Brown electrified the crowd on a pair of high-flying dunks that were created off of two of the seven turnovers the Lakers forced.

“We want to carry everything we did tonight to Game 7, and then I think we’ll be in very good place to win,” said Gasol. “When you bring the intensity we did tonight, good things are going to happen.”

The capacity crowd chanted “BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS!” after averaging 67 points, the second-lowest in NBA Finals history. Early on, the Lakers slaughtered the C’s, cruising to a 22-point lead in the first half as the Lakers sturdy defense forced Boston to shoot a horrible 33 percent from the field and had only 13 points from the bench. On positive terms, all the Lakers need to fulfill a wonderful and memorable moment in a potential epic showdown is another win.

For now, the Lakers are meaner, fiercer and hungrier than the Celtics. At least it looks that way.

Lakers Fall, but Kobe Bryant Isn't to Blame

Kobe Bryant, who walked into the conference room flustered from another outraging defeat, sat gloomily in the midst of an elimination game answering the unassuming questions at postgame interviews sarcastically and angrily. Later, he emerged from the interview room speechless with a bitter stare, then down the hallway reflected on a 92-86 loss in Game Five of the NBA Finals.

If there’s a petulant superstar irritated in an unpredictable and startling series that the Lakers are bearing unfamiliarity by being on the verge of elimination, it’s Bryant losing his swagger and composure, despite shooting from the field brilliantly without faltering.

The Black Mamba, as we call the greatest finisher and scoring menace with four rings and the most frighten facial expression in sports, is very indignant following a loss that was considered a much-needed win, traveling back home to potentially close out an alluring series.


As the season winds down for the Los Angeles Lakers and a winner will very well soon be crowned the champs, the main feature of the Lakers is calmly representing much optimism in Game Six on Tuesday, ready to harass the Boston Celtics with his distributions and selfish ethics to score as a dictator and unstoppable force.

By meeting with the media lately, he proffers merely short-answered and dissatisfying remarks about the culminating results. As anticipated, the Lakers place any road woes in perspective at home, greeted by the celebrities and non-celebs as the cast emerge from the tunnel and are introduced by the PA announcer during the players’ introduction.

It’s apparent they like the savory taste of home cooking, instead of room service. It’s obvious they are comfortable sleeping in their own beds, instead of sleeping in a luxurious suite in Boston, a hostile environment where the Lakers are insulted and disliked.

For the first time in the postseason, L.A. trails 3-2 in a series and needs to survive in the next two games in order to host another parade on Figueroa Ave., a crowded street with the craziest activity.

In a sense, the Lakers could miss out in all the festivities, without staring skyward at the rafters to glance at purple and gold confetti fall from Staples Center. The finest scorer on earth, I suspect, is only a loss away from missing out on one objective in a series when the focal point is surrounding his legacy as he has an opportunity, a viable chance to strengthen his legacy by winning his fifth title.

With a lingering scare, as the Lakers are faced in an unfamiliar scene, the supporting cast is outworked by the Celtics' raw bench, outplayed by a hungrier and coveted starting unit, and more passive and softer than Boston. If there is a bigger letdown in sports, it's the lethargic sporting cast of the Lakers, considering that Kobe’s teammates have relied and comfortably watched the public airing of the Kobe Show, not realizing much is at stake.

It’s unfortunate that the Celtics are manipulating the tone with resourceful method, downsizing the style of a vintage Bryant. Unlike ever before, he’s hesitating on every attempt and draws defenders, frustrating his mentality and minimizing shots from the field on a night he scored a game-high 38 points in Game Five while the four other starters had 34 points combined and scored 19 in the third quarter alone.

There’s one thing certain about the esoteric Lakers previously discovered in Game One, a night the tenacious unit seemed worthy of winning a consecutive title with the fearless size, powerful depth, and a talented roster.


But now the Lakers are simply not championship-caliber, needing adjustments to rise above the Celtics’ superiority recently, with an incompetent supporting cast deteriorating and deranging at the moment a championship is on the line.

And this time, he’s not to blame for such collapses or back-to-back road losses in a significant showdown, putting on a shooting clinic and keeping the Lakers within a double-digit deficit.

While he’s ostensibly faulted for disrupting the chemistry and incapacitating the elements, selfishly taking over without involving his teammates into the offensive groove, he’s getting criticized for being too selfish and overly occupied. Early on, he wasn’t a facilitator, but an unconscious shooter.

Early on, he failed to spread the floor and share the ball with teammates, but realized his supporting cast has been shaky. So again, it’s damned if he does or damned if he doesn’t. For the time being, no one simply can dismiss the Lakers having a clutch finisher who seems helpless, even when he’s the most lethal superstar since Michael Jordan.

Near the end, Bryant screamed angrily and Ron Artest was befuddled and complained, and Pau Gasol was softer than ever, all bringing back the dreadful memories of two years ago when the Lakers were murdered badly by the Celtics in a 39-point loss, the worst blowout in NBA Finals history.

At this point, Kobe’s teammates are no longer the scariest one, nor are they the favorites to win the series for all the defensive lapses and lack of productivity.

The Celtics are a well-rounded squad coached by Doc Rivers, who utilizes his deeper bench, a second unit that has outworked and pestered the Lakers. It’s fair to say the Celtics are scoring on second-chance points, out-rebounding a taller frontcourt, neutralizing confused defenders, and badgering a perturbed Bryant.

The strongest heavyweights are the C’s, demonstrating toughness and potent balance. It wasn’t until late in the game when Rajon Rondo slashed the lane and levitated over Lamar Odom and Bryant for a tip-in. Even though he was born and raised in Los Angeles, Paul Pierce, who overly worked his defensive nemesis Artest, has no sympathy in beating down his childhood team, the Lakers, finishing the night with 27 points.

In the meantime, the L.A. team is still optimistic heading back home, realizing the series is sudden death and that a helpless Bryant needs team contribution if they expect to force a Game Seven at home. And without a sense of urgency or a stronger mindset, the Lakers won’t survive the potency of the Celtics. Asked about the fear of elimination, Bryant once again had a short answer and responded in sarcasm.

“I’m not very confident at all,” he said, laughing.

He is fearless, I’m sure. But he’s also earnest about winning a fifth title.

This is no longer the same Lakers, demoralized with injuries, softness, and passiveness. This is no longer the same Lakers grabbing rebounds or loose balls.

This is no longer the same Lakers pushing and sending bodies to the floor. And this is no longer the same Lakers with enough fight or heart, coming back home where the heart is, but certainly not for the purple and gold team, unless they turn things around. Now is the time Phil Jackson may want to make minor adjustments and escape the softness that destroyed aspiration two years ago.

Perhaps, the supporting cast could use extra practice and adjustments very quickly.

It’s very apparent that Kobe doesn’t need the practice or adjustments, just as he is not to blame.

Celtics' Raw Bench Elevates Presumption as Lakers Raise Concerns

It wasn’t long ago when the Boston Celtics, now taunting on their home floor and staring bitterly in the faces of the Los Angeles Lakers, were whining and weeping about an awful call, but relentlessly outweighed the arch-rivals in the final minutes of Game Four Thursday night.

There’s no need to denounce or disbelieve in the Celtics, who overwhelmed and surprised the visitors in every angle on the floor, neutralizing and overmatching the energy, strength, and sloppiness of the Lakers.

This time, there were signs of relief and worshipping from a competent second unit, out-balancing the disoriented opponents and salvaging a conceivable mindset in an upcoming Game Five.

Much as the basketball populace wants to believe that the Lakers are the favorable ones to win the series, forgetting about the Celtics defensive principles, heart, and guts, the ultimate instinct is denying the possibility of an older and passive franchise.

Outside of the TD Garden, on Causeway Street, the rowdy crowd believes the Celtics are still capable of winning this entire series; presumptuous in bracing the Green Machine, as we called the winningest and most hated franchise in the ‘80s era.

It was an emotional scene on a night the Celtics were balanced and composed, erupting mini-celebrations prematurely in the fourth, sure of themselves that a victory was quickly unfolding. It was a symbolic turnaround for the Celtics, recovering from an abysmal loss in Game Three by capping a fourth quarter surge in an electric romp.

It’s fair to recognize that Boston's momentum and sentimental mode in the NBA Finals reminded us that they are fittingly a portrait of a menacing assassin, securing a 96-89 win to tie a well-balanced series 2-2 while assuring a Game Six in Los Angeles.

In the most arousing exhibit, Boston’s bench scored a massive 36 points on the night and played much of the fourth. Coach Doc Rivers had trust in his second unit and left reserve forward Glen Davis and guard Nate Robinson on the floor.

Earlier in the series, the Celtics were worthless in the lamest performance in the postseason and were criticized roughly for weeping about poor calls or committing too many fouls. They are once again back in the series, fighting back with energy and physical activity while maneuvering the flow, finally glowing on the biggest stage in basketball.


For the first time this season, no signs of exhaustion or age hindered the likelihood of the Celtics stumbling in the closure of a brief reign. It’s decorous that Davis and Robinson embodies the youth and raw toughness, a contiguous mentality that motivates teammates and even the clamorous crowd in the stands, screaming whenever Robinson excites spectators with his explosive scoring and fearlessly taunts the Lakers.

It’s amazing that he’s a little man.

Fearless in taking over and fueling the loudest crowd with his energy as he fired two three-pointers in the first half. He was brilliant on this night, averaging 12 points in 17 minutes and gave the Celtics aspiration in the series.

Suddenly, it was precisely the inferior Celtics that stayed alive with a Big Baby pushing around and abusing the Lakers seven-footers and little man hitting from long-range. It’s worth noting that no team has ever come back from a three-games-to-one deficit in the finals, and the Celtics knew it was vital to alleviate pressure and avoid a decisive loss in falling behind three games to one.


So now the Celtics are tougher and ferocious, at a time when the Lakers were vanquishing the feeble and soft personality, but were brutally manhandled after establishing a presence in the paint early, until Andrew Bynum aggravated his torn right knee that swelled and painfully limited his production to 12 minutes.

From the start, he hobbled and walked awkwardly and was scoreless in the fourth quarter.

The concept that the Lakers are different, rather than two years ago when they were humiliated in a 39-point defeat, the most disheartening loss in NBA Finals history, had us believing that the Lakers were invincible and couldn’t be denied.

But then came, Big Baby, who was dancing and scowling meaner than Kobe Bryant.

His nickname is fittingly an acceptable one, drooling after he slashed down the middle to score seven points in four minutes to topple the Lakers 62-60 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. That led to his nine points in a game-changing spurt, and moments later, he stalked off the court with teammate Robinson hanging from his back, proudly jubilating over the blazing run.

“I just felt like a beast,” said Davis during his comical post-game news conference.

Now, suddenly, the Lakers are worried and furious following a sluggish and inattentive performance on a night they could have pressured the Celtics to win the next three games. No longer were they the team we seen in the first game of the series, but a team that relapsed and refreshed our memories of the softness and lack of urgency the Lakers had in the finals two years ago.

Believe it or not, Davis out hustled and out-rebounded L.A. single-handedly. He was earnest and invincible, owning the middle and corralling every loose ball underneath the rim and drew fouls or finished on a put back to sadly torment and harass the hell out of a taller and lanky Pau Gasol and ineffective Bynum.

It was essentially the second-chance points that destroyed the Lakers for which Bynum, Gasol, and Odom combined for a staggering two offensive rebounds in over 97 minutes of play.

“They got all the energy points, the hustle points, second-chance points, points in the paint, best us to the loose balls ,” Bryant said who had 33 points and seven turnovers. "I mean, that’s how the game turned around.”

With Rivers wise choice to believe in his bench, he normally would have called on Pierce to enter late in the fourth, particularly when he delivered in the first-half as the hottest player by getting the Celtics off to a fast start.

However, it wasn’t Pierce, Kevin Garnett, or Ray Allen, but instead it was Big Baby and Robinson with the gratifying night.

“They won this game,” said Artest, shaking his head in disbelief. “I mean, they won this game.”

Yes, the Celtics won it, all right?