Don’t get me wrong. D. Wade is my guy, ever since I saw him playing for Marquette in the 2003 NCAA Tourney. Even though Captain Kirk Hinrich and the rest of the Jayhawks crushed his hopes that year, I knew Dwyane would be thrilling player in the NBA. I never imagined his dizzying climb to the pro game’s elite company, but it has been a pleasure to watch this kid from Chicago excel at the highest level.
D. Wade has been superhuman during the NBA Finals, particularly with his 4th quarter heroics in a crucial Game 3 with his Heat down 0-2 in the series. He was unstoppable again in Game 4, and a cursory glance at his line from last night’s Game 5 would suggest he did it again.
The Heat won for their third consecutive game to send the best-of-seven back to Dallas, with a chance for Miami to capture the crown in Game 6. Dwyane had 43 points while leading the Heat to victory. He also set a NBA Finals record in the course of his exploits. Was it most points in a Finals quarter? No. Maybe most points in a half? Nope. Well, it has to do with scoring, right? Umm, yes, but, in my mind, it is a rather dubious distinction.
Wade set a NBA Finals record for most free throws made in a game with 21. Twenty-one free throws. That is a crime against the viewers. I didn’t forego a good night’s sleep to watch a free throw shooting contest.
Furthermore, the least deserved pair of uncontested shots he was awarded ended up making the greatest effect on the game. On the preceding play, with Dallas down one and thirty seconds left in overtime, a struggling Dirk Nowitzki did what great men do. He disregarded his earlier failures and rose to the occasion, arcing a fadeaway baseline jumper over Shaquille O’Neal to put the Mavericks up one with 10 seconds left.
In total contradistinction to Dirk, D. Wade was unguardable down the stretch, brilliantly scoring with ease. But instead of soaring even higher, Wade took and missed a difficult shot that would have won the game. The contrast was complete.
That is, until the refs decided to intervene, calling a ghost foul to put D. Wade on the line with a chance to tie, and then another chance to win. Wade hit both free throws, which was clutch in its own right, but utterly anti-climactic considering the stakes. An amazing story was ruined, and injustice prevailed.
With the World Cup debacle and now the Finals officials’ idiocy, I’ve come to appreciate what a delight I will find when I meet a trustworthy judger-of-actions. Justice will be my pleasure one day.
3 comments:
Oh, you do speak to the heart of me, Oneway. I concur in the admiration for D Wade, but last night made me wish that I had gone to bed.
The greatest part of the game for me was when the Mavs came out of the time-out with like 26 seconds left. Terry had the ball at the top of the key; Dirk faked a down screen and then came back to the ball. Dirk then drove across the lane, got triple-teamed, and then found Dampier for the dunk. I seriously think Avery Johnson is a great coach, and that looked like a brilliant drawn play.
I also do not appreciate Shaq's ignorance.
FYI, Dirk-lovers, another record has been set this postseason: Most Free Throws Made by a player and that is Dirk.
Wade went to the line too much last night. Dirk has gone to the line too much this whole postseason.
Down with Dirk!!! Long live Michael Redd!!!!!!!
teef,
I was hoping you'd chime in, man. You are dead-on about that excellent play with Dirk-to-Dampier, no one saw that coming except Avery.
bensheets,
The reason Dirk set that record is because he played a seven game series against Bruce Bowen, aka The Human Blocking Foul.
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