The Time Has Come...

by Chris Tagawa

The time has come...for me to gloat over my Finals predictions (even though I hate being that guy):

1) This team was built for a championship (much like the Lakers team that won in 2000). This Heat team has two superstars in Wade and O’Neal and aging veteran role players in Walker, Mourning & Payton much like the 2000 Lakers had Rice, Harper & Shaw. Also, much like the 2000 Lakers, fans hated Glenn Rice, and every Heat fan hates Antoine Walker. To both groups I say, “Why you got to Hate?” Without their ugly 14 points per game neither team wins a championship.

2) Jason Terry is not a clutch player. In games one and five I thought I was going to eat my words, but in Game 6, the Jason Terry that I expected came to play. The so called three guard (point guard who likes to shoot like a two guard) from Atlanta reemerged and went 7-25 from the field (2-11 from 3pt land) and did not get to the free throw line the entire game. He sat outside, settled for jumpers and threw up bricks all game long (unless he was getting blocked inside).

3) 95 points would be enough to win. The Dallas supporters gave me much grief when I said if the Heat could score 95 points it would be enough to win, because Dallas was going to score well over 100 points per night. Dallas managed one 100-pt game and that was in an OT loss in Game 5.

4) Finally, I stressed urgency as a deciding factor over, athleticism, length and speed. The veterans on this team, Dwayne Wade and Pat Riley all knew this was their last, best, and maybe only shot at winning a first, fourth or only championship. They all came out and did their part to win this title and they all deserve it.

5) If my last prediction comes true, I will be all too satisfied. I need Shaq to get on that mic during the victory parade and give me a big “LA Can Yooooooou Diiiiiiig It?

Comments

[Craig]

Clipper fans can suck it! Very College Football of them to run smack on the Lakers for Shaq winning the NBA title. Again, Shaq brought the Lakers 3 titles and a TON of misery to the Clippers during his 8 seasons in LA. In fact, during Shaq's 8 seasons the Clippers won all of ZERO playoff games, never beat the Lakers more than once in a season and Shaq had his career high of 61 against the Clippers (all because Donald T. Sterling would not give Shaq free tickets for friends and family, Shaq was heard yelling, "Fuck you! I'm gonna drop 50 on y'all!").

[nbafan_8]

The Mavericks were cheated out of the championship. They clearley won 5 out of the six games. The calls in games 3 and 5 were totally in favor of the Heat to secure the win. Look at the free throw discrepancy, if there is any doubt. How about the no call at the end of game 6, that seized the victory for the Heat. Jason Terry was fouled and should have gone to the line, after all isn't that what ocurred in game 5 in Miami. David Stern needs to retire, he need look no further than himself in placing blame on the fans questioning the integrity of the game. The Miami cHEAT enjoy your ill gotten victory. Gary Payton can stop chasing the ring, Alonzo Mourning can write his memoirs and Shaq has finally redeemed himself...he got the ring before Kobe. D Wade keep drawing those warm up fouls that get you to the line and get you going. You are the only talent, but it don't hurt to have the officials on your side.