While Johnson enjoys the reputation of turning a bunch of crybabies into ruthless executioners, Riley enjoys the reputation of backstabbing his loyal follower Stan Van Gundy, who took Riley's job in a day's notice when Riley stepped down three seasons ago. After SVG went through last year's heartbreak, Riley asked him to spend more time with his family.
Memo to Pat: if Mavericks win, it's good karma.
Talking of karma, Mark Cuban is finally getting respect from the referees. If you noticed the insane number of game turning calls that went to the Mavs in the playoffs, you know Cuban has successfully got into the heads of the NBA officials. You'd think Cuban, from his courtside seat when he is not hugging his teammates, averages a solid 8 ppg.
Memo to Mark: if Miami wins, it's good karma.
So, who's going to break open the champagne? Make no mistake, Wade is not going to let this slip away and there's just enough Diesel left in Shaq's tank to win 4 games.
My prediction? Heat in six.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
I probably wont' be right but I wouldn't be shocked if it was a sweep. Thinking back to the '05 World Series, that was supposed to be close. And it was -- all four games were close, but Chicago won 'em all.
Plus, nobody ever calls a sweep in the Finals anymore. But it's happened a couple times in the last 12 years. Among those swept in the Finals? Pat Riley.
2 - Q Bit
Suss:
Yes, Riley holds this unique record of getting swept in the finals twice in his career -- all came during the showtime era (sixers 83, Pistons 89).
It's a bit of shock because in the past 23 years it has happened only 4 times, and only 7 times in the history of NBA.
Among the players, I believe Shaq is the only one who who has seen both ends of the sweep-stick. (lost in 95 as a Magic, won in 2002 as a Laker)
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Could be, I only compared the last four to each other and found nothing. But I did see Robert Horry be on the right side of a sweep twice ('94 Rockets, '02 Lakers)
4 - Q Bit
That's a neat observation. I was trying to think about an active player who's been on the right (or wrong) side of a sweep twice when I wrote my prev comment, but couldn't come up with any name.
The greats like Magic, kareem, James Worthy are on the wrong side of a sweep twice, playing for the Lakers - it's quite surprising.
5 - RJ Elliott
Mavs up 1-0... :)
6 - Q Bit
Heat gave it away -- an opportunity lost -- might come back and haunt them later.
7 - RJ Elliott
Mavs up 2-0! :)
8 - SDhglva
You and Sussman are insane. Everybody I know is calling a maverick sweep.
9 - Q Bit
umm .. do you know RJ Elliott? He's our resident promoter of maverick sweepstake.
And Suss is the editor, I never doubt anything that's said about him :-)
10 - SDhglva
My remarks were aimed at Sussman and Q bit alone for your finals predictions.
11 - El Bicho
"The greats like Magic, kareem, James Worthy are on the wrong side of a sweep twice, playing for the Lakers - it's quite surprising."
To be fair, Magic got hurt in game 1 of '89 and never came back. There would have been no sweep and I doubt a Piston win if it hadn't been for Magic's injury.
12 - Corey
The HEAT????!!! HAHAHAHAHA! I'm calling it. Sweep. Go home Miami.
13 - Q Bit
EB: True, but the Lakers got swept in 83 with Magic. Perhaps Magic could have prevented the Pistons sweep in 89 or perhaps not, you never know.
And the 89 Pistons would have won it anyway, they were a better team.
14 - El Bicho
Q, I made no comment about 83, so I'm not clear why you are bringing it up other than an effort to reinfoce your conjecture.
I saw plenty of the Showtime Lakers. I do know that with a healthy Magic they would not have been swept.
15 - Q Bit
EB: I never said the 89 Pistons would have swept the series with a healthy Magic playing for the Lakers. I left it as a possibility.