The Dallas Mavericks lost game one of the Finals on Tuesday and there were plenty of reasons why they did. The question is: what can they do to avoid going down 2-0 and tie the series up? Here are a few things I believe they can do to have a chance to win tonight.
1. Rebound the basketball: They were out-rebounded 46-36 in game one and allowed Miami to grab 16 offensive rebounds. Dallas held the Heat to 39% shooting from the field but they allowed too many extra possessions. Part of playing defense is securing the rebound and ending the team’s offensive possession. Tyson Chandler’s four rebound performance is a flat out joke and he needs to play better in the paint. Dwayne Wade and Lebron James are great rebounders for their positions and the Mavericks’ guards need to commit to rebounding and not leaking out.
2. Better production from the bench: The Mavericks bench scored 17 points in the last game, 12 of them by Jason Terry who didn’t score a point in the 2nd half. The Heat put Lebron James on Terry and took him right out of the game. J.J. Berea went 1-8 from the field and had two points and 3 assists in 18 minutes of play. The Mavericks need better production from him running the second unit against the Heat’s second unit. The bench averaged 40 points per game during the season and 39 points during the playoffs and they are a big reason the Mavs are even here.
3. Stop Chris Bosh: Lebron and D-Wade are going to get theirs either way you put it, but if Dallas can contain Bosh and hold him under the 19 points and 9 rebounds he had in game one, they will have a way better chance to win. Bosh had 5 offensive rebounds in game one and Dallas needs to keep him off of the O-boards tonight.
Yes, it’s easier said than done, especially when you have Lebron and Wade taking turns down the stretch making plays. But hey, Dallas has to win this game tonight or they can chalk it the hell up.
Prediction: Miami is a 4 1/2 point favorite tonight and I like the Heat as a straight up winner tonight over the Mavericks.
Brandon Pemberton of Brandon On Sports, Blogger for War Room Sports
Tags: All's Fair in Sports and War, Brandon On Sports, Brandon Pemberton, Chris Bosh, Dallas Mavericks, Dwyane Wade, J.J. Berea, Jason Terry, Lebron James, Miami Heat, NBA Finals, The War Room, Tyson Chandler, War Room Sports