Mavericks-Heat: Game 5, 2006.

We're big fans of venturing through the time continuum and in 2011 as in 2006 the Mavericks and the Heat are in the finals. This overtime in particular was a crucial turning point in deciding the fate of both clubs.  In retrospect, it is the way basketball go... for sure. WARNING to Mavericks fans: watching this video may result in heart break, anger, bi-polar, or other harmful physical or psychological effects.

If you are a fan of either team, you have to like the current version of the rosters more than the past... Enjoy! 

Eastern Conference Finals Review: Aint Bullsheat'n Yall!

After watching Miami take a 2-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, it's clear that the Bulls are in a world of trouble, a trouble indicted by the lack of confidence, a lack of confidence that comes from inexperience, and an inexperience that is becoming the glaring conduit of Bulls Eastern Conference Finals failure 2o11.

Heading into the series, we considered all sides and angles of everything Miami and Chicago, trying to dissect what it would take for the ball to bounce this way or that. My favorite aspect of championship basketball is depth. Team depth seems to always been the most evident thing on every championship team, and it's an easy argument every time some scruffy little Knicks fan tries telling me that NYK can beat the Celtics in the first round, or that the Heat have the tricks to stomp their way into June basketball. I always support the team of plenty. A team like Dallas, or Chicago, have not only backups, but they have backups for their backups. Omer Asik goes down? Bring on Kurt Thomas. Ronnie "Don't Call Me Corey" Brewer, Kyle Korver, Keith "French Food" Bogans all take their turns contributing in the wings. Boozer turns into Gibson. Noah into Asik. Only their backup to Derrick Rose, young C.J. Watson, is a true hazard to Bulls success. I've watched a lot of Bulls basketball over the season and playoffs, and I rarely see Watson make his jump shot, yet I see him shoot it whenever he can. Bad brain? Yes! Fortunately for Chicago they have a point guard in Rose who can play 40+ minutes a night.

So why does Miami have the 2-1 edge as well as a Game 4 home game to take control of the series? Well, as Miami is proving, perhaps there's something even bigger than depth when it comes to being victorious in the playoffs. Surely we all figured Chicago to have the demeanor to win the East, what with them owning the best regular season record, the MVP, the Coach of the Year, and a roster that plays 11 deep. In what has been a watered down Eastern Conference Playoffs leading up to this Bulls/Heat contest, Chicago implemented their depth, taking care of business. But bright lights are burning stronger here in the Conference Finals, and as a result I'm seeing unsure, uncool Bulls, the kind normally saved for bovine comic book conventions and all-night bovine Call of Duty marathons. It's ugly, it's nerdy, and it's killing the Eastern Conference.

In what was supposed to be one of the greatest playoffs of all time, failure is responsible for the recent outcomes more so than greatness. In the first round, failure kept Orlando at bay. The Spurs keep making excuses (although legitimate (Ginobili played with broken bone in arm)), giving their historically epic series against Memphis a "Spurs beat themselves" vibe that the Grizzlies don't deserve. The Lakers collapsed in curious failure against Dallas, even though the Mavs were extremely unbeatable in that series. Boston wasn't themselves, and the showdown we'd all been waiting for out East, Celtics and Heat, was merely a shadow of what could have been, again, due to flailing and failure. And now the Chicago Bulls aren't handling themselves.
 
The MVP Rose is showing us very pedestrian numbers on a consistent basis. For the playoffs his shooting numbers are down across the board, yet he's averaging very similar totals in points and assists as he did in the reg. He's trying to do it all alone here against the Heat, simply because his supporting cast is disappearing. Kyle Korver can't buy a bucket, Boozer's as inconsistent as they come, Gibson's starry eyed, Noah's never recovered all the way to the player he was early in the year, and as a result of all this, Luol Deng's team is one loss away from being strangle-held. Chicago can't afford to trail 1-3, yet winning in Miami in Game 4 is looking mighty daunting. I hope they can figure it out, because I'm sick of all the failure in this year's playoffs. Other than a few series', the battles haven't been top notch, and struggles have never glared so bluntly in the NBA tournament, and they'll likely continue out East, with the Bulls unsure of what happens next.

Round One Rebound Free-4-All - NBA Postseason Thoughts You Can Trust

With the Boston Celtics about to slug it out with the Miami Heat, the Bulls given a second straight push-over opponent in Atlanta, the Mavs and Lakers meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1988, and with the Grizzlies, America's Team, going up against another fresh face, Oklahoma City, NBA fans gotta feel great about the second round situations about to unfold. It was an unforgettable first round, and the 2011 playoffs continue to shine like a freshly cleaned dagger.

Most folks probably expected the Celtics and Heat to see each other in the playoffs, but before the season started, most would have expected it to be in the Conference Finals. Instead, the 2nd and 3rd seeds are facing off in the Semis, giving the Eastern Conference a Christmas-come-early feel. Doc Rivers insists that Shaquille O'Neal will play in the series, but it's unclear if it will matter. Thankfully for Boston, the Heat's center position is one of historic weakness (a side result from the formation of the superstar super-core), and Shaq's mass shouldn't be needed (Dampier, I'm calling you out!). Sure, his body is capable of blobbing up the paint, giving the Celtics a cool dinosaur look on defense with some positive results, but Boston's gotten very little from Shaq all year. I don't suppose it's time to begin relying on him now. "Shaq was supposed to be Dwight Howard repellent, but turns out there ain't no Dwight Howards coming through Beantown this postseason, so screw it!" said Celtics season ticket holder Bud Reeves.

Dirk Nowitzki was just a boy in Germany when the Mavericks last met the Lakers in the postseason. Seems hard to believe, but believe it you must. It's altogether possible that Dirk Nowitzki's Mavs are confidently feeling the monkey back lifted after taking care of business in Portland for the Game 6 closeout. With the extra days off, Jason Kidd has a chance to rest his aching feet. His feet have become monstrous over 16 seasons, and just one brief glimpse has been known to frighten the bravest of goths. Perhaps the team with more crazy-brain will win. So which team has more crazy-brain? Mavs got Jet Terry, D-Shawn Stevenson, Brian Cardinal, and Tyson Chandler. Lakers got Kobe B, Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, and Steve Blake. Tough to call, just watch out for all eight of these crazy-wild guys, because they're all bringing the fireworks to this tight-lipped playoff series. Should be explosive! Children look away!

Although I've got plenty of doubts about the Bulls, I trust them to take care of the Atlanta Hawks. No chance Atlanta does it again, right?... Nope. It truly is nearly impossible. Everyone's talking about Kirk Hinrich's injury as the broken table leg, and without him the table's bound to fall. Kirk Hinrich's a good pro, but if no Hiney means the Hawks are doomed, I'm pretty sure the doom was already front and center, creating tropical storm patterns over present-day Atlanta, with or without Captain Kirk. Prove me wrong Jeff Teague. Prove us all wrong.... (yeah right).

Our time portal comparison proved to be legitimate, as two cracks in the living parallelogram occurred during the Western Conference's first round. Dallas meets Portland, 3rd vs. 6th seeds, just as it was in the 2003 playoffs. Things started off eerily similar, but before Dirk Nowitzki saw his young father dancing at prom, he dominated the basketball series, giving Dallas the good result, just as it was in '03. "I swear, I saw Dirk scoring some 31 points to beat the Blazers, but also, I could have sworn I saw Nowitzki on the local news, turning a scooter into a skateboard," said Dallas fan J.P. Hiltoppington.

Secondly, in uncanny 2007 style 8th seed dominance, the Memphis Grizzlies upset the San Antonio Spurs, bringing smiles to the faces of Don Nelson, Baron Davis, and Stephen Jackson. Suddenly, the old feelings were back. Men started kissing their wives more. Tweens went through their old toy boxes. Babies didn't understand, but it didn't matter. It's ecstatic pure bliss in 8th seeded Memphis, and ladies and gentlemen, it's contagious. But for the Grizzlies, time doesn't stand still. Their first round victory was epic and wonderful, but this 8th seed's journey isn't over. A legitimate chance at the Conference Finals is in sight. Here come KD with the Rumble in the Sky. A fresh taste of second round basketball. Sure tastes good (like seasonal fruit).

Teams will be on the hunt for as many Tony Allen types as possible this summer. Cheap, dedicated, sometimes on the covers of insane magazines, Tony Allen types play with a general ferocity that intimidates older, more flamboyant players. The Grizzlies noticed it earlier in the year, and added even more Tony Allen type talent with the Shane Battier trade. The loss of Rudy "The High Score Kid" Gay took it further, only this time by accident. Take away a flashy offensive player, the kind of guy who consistently wants the ball to create his shot, and replace with a Tony Allen type. Bing-bang-boom, you're team is suddenly playing with contagious team-first energy (side effects include poor shot selection, inability to create shot, O.J. Mayo wants to play too, crazy haircuts).

The Spurs have handled it well, losing so soon to the 8th seeded Griz. Chalking the lost round up to inferior effort and strength appears to be the Spurs' reasoning, and all post-series feelings seem to lack the insane disbelief that Dallas and NBA fans felt in 2007. Back then, Dallas and Mavs fans were crying baby-style. For two straight weeks following the '07 upset, Dirk was seen throwing furniture at least twice a day. The Spurs are taking the high road, and the classiness is appreciated. General praise for the Griz is the main ingredient in all Spur interviews, and although it takes the pressure off the situation, isn't there something about all this high road strolling that seems a bit chicken-shit? Is it wrong to want more Spur sadness?

And now, a moment to remember those who gave us their best during the first round of the playoffs, yet lost in the end with bitter regret. These fellas fought to the finish line, and filled the stat sheets as they went. Yet it was not enough, as team ball reigns supreme.

Carmelo Anthony, NYK

26 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.3 spg, .8 bpg

Dwight Howard, ORL

27 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg

Kenyon Martin, DEN

11.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg

Oddsmakers, Championship Edition, TD3Q's Official Odds to Win Championship

Here are our odds for each remaining team to win the 2011 championship. Updated every hour. Please inquire with our bookies for betting opportunities. Creative bets only.

Lakers, 2/3 odds
It's pretty annoying but all signs point to another Laker championship. They'll be favorites in every series, and will probably continue to win in 6. Ron Artest's happiness keeps it a feel good story though. When Artest smiles, he lights up every arena bringing admiration and warmth, both home and away.

Mavs, 4/1 odds
Dallas has the potential to beat the Lakers, and surely they will win two, maybe three games against Lamar's crew. It's not impossible for them to upset the heavily-jeweled Lake Show, it's just that, having watched the Mavs, and having watched the Lakers, each for the last 12 years, I think it's pretty unlikely for anything to change all of a sudden. But hey, prove me wrong Dallas. Prove me wrong.

Thunder, 4/1 odds
Quadruple your cash, bet on the Rumble in the Sky. Walter Rustbroom seems a little bit phased by the big show, and his drives are a bit on the unsure side. Kevin Durant is impossible to slow down right now, and will continue to put up a big chunk of the score. It's gotta come from the supporting cast. If Westbrook can't get it going, James Harden and Serge Ibaka will need to pick up the slack. Memphis loves to win though, and that's no joke.

Grizzlies, 6/1 odds
The Griz have it all covered. Take a checklist to it, mark 'em off. Quick, heady point guard, capable of knocking down big shots, check. MVP caliber post presence, check (Zach Randolph). MVP caliber face-up mid-range shooter, check (same guy, Z-Bo). Ace defensive perimeter wing rotation, check. Spanish-born center making everything he shoots, check. A steady-handed coach, calling plays from the soul. Pick a number on a dice and let it roll. That's the Grizzlies. Wish 'em luck. They have a chance.

Bulls, 5/4 odds
How fortunate for the Bulls that they get another easy opponent in the 2011 playoffs. After business taking came easy against the Indiana Pacers, Chicago faces the upset boys of Atlanta, a team that struggles to match Chicago's talent on a good day, soaking wet. With the Coach of the Year and the MVP playing for the Bulls, it's smooth sailing until the Eastern Conference Finals. Can the Bulls fight through two straight legendarily heroic battles? Watch the games to find out.

Heat, 3/1 odds
By losing out on the 1st seed in the East, Miami and Boston fell out of the HOV lane and into a smaller two-lane highway. It's suddenly harder to pass, but while over in that HOV lane, the Bulls drive however they want, up until the HOV lane ends here at the end of the Semis. Can a Heat or Celtics team outplay the triple-team-blast of Boston, Chicago, and whichever West powerhouse ends up in the Finals? Hence the 3/1 odds. Good luck, team with little depth.

Celtics, 5/2 odds
The experience of Boston's players gives them some sort of advantage over their rival Heat. The Celtics, when healthy in the KG era, play basketball in the Finals, and that's the way it's been. It gives them the edge over Miami, and it gives them the best bet to outplay the Bulls. By sweeping the thin Knicks of New York City, Boston's been granted days full of rest and recuperation. It's my belief that the time off has done them good, and perhaps it's given Rajon Rondo the means to heal back up into the player they need him to be.

Hawks, 30/1 odds
The real longshot, the Atlanta Hawks. Losing their starting PG for the series, the Hawks find themselves even skinnier for depth. The Hawks matchup fairly well with everyone on Chicago's starting unit except for the bright glare of Derrick Rose. Rose should continue to shine, and help from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer (who is dealing with some toe turf burns) should send the Hawks into elimination skies, flying off into the sunset.