Set the stage.
Game 7 of the NBA finals. 10 seconds left in the 4th quarter of the rubber match between the Heat and the Mavericks. The game is tied. The teams have changed much, and yet still remain the same.
Dirk inbounds the ball from the left sideline, near halfcourt. The clock starts.
Preseason. Steve Nash's year has not started auspiciously. A broken foot sidelines him for the first month of games, and the emergence of Aaron Brooks as a legitimate point guard makes it easier to trade him to a contender. And what a contender it is. Nash is sent to Dallas, the city where he first experienced real success. The cost is high. Fan favorites Roddy B and Ian Mahinmi are the centerpieces of Dallas' side. The Mavericks understand this is a last gasp for another ring.
9 seconds. Nash sets up at the top of the key, and waits for a screen from his old friend Dirk. He's matched up with Dywane Wade, who still gives Dallas fans nightmares. The screen comes.
Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The reunification of the Mavs and Nash has been a success, and Dallas is once again the best offensive team in the Association. They've just trounced the Suns, who, behind a backcourt of Beaubois and Brooks are unlikely playoff participants. Nash's chance for a career capping ring look as good as they have his entire career. But those Spurs still loom.
8 seconds. Dirk is shadowed by Udonis Haslem. As the screen is set, Wade and Haslem combine to play near perfect defense. Nash's alleyways to the basket are cut off.
2nd Round. Despite a valiant effort from San Antonio's Big 3, the Mavs have won in six games. After being eliminated, Tim Duncan announces his retirement. Slowly but surely, the guard is changing. Next up? The Lakers and Kobe.
7 seconds. The Heat have made a minuscule mistake. Forced to defend Nash, Haslem and Wade have switched, leaving Dirk guarded by a short, albeit athletic, 2 guard. Instantly, Steve Nash whips the ball around to Dirk at the free throw line extended.
Conference Finals. The Lakers mini-dynasty is all but over. Andrew Bynum can't stay healthy, Lamar Odom can't recapture the spark if the championship years, and Kobe has decided the fate of the team will rest on his shoulders. Still, a good regular season record and an easy postseason run has resulted in another trip to the conference finals. That's where the trip ends. This time, it's Steve Nash and not JJ Barea who destroys Los Angeles. It's on to the Finals, and Miami again.
6 seconds. As soon as the ball goes to Dirk, the double comes from Lebron in the corner. He's been guarding Terry, who's been scoreless since the 1st quarter. Now the three best players of the series are battling to see who takes home the trophy.
Game 1 of the NBA finals. Lebron begins his redemption. He drops a quadruple double: Points, boards, assists, and blocks. The Heat run away with the win, and Barea is injured. He's broken his wrist. Steve Nash is the sole point guard now.
5 seconds. Lebron James, the most athletic player the NBA has ever seen, is bothering Dirk, as he would most players. The problem is, he's left Terry open in the corner. Mario Chalmers has been matched up with Peja Stojakovic near the sideline. He notices that Terry is open and runs over, just as Dirk swings the ball around.
Game 2. This game belongs to Nash. He plays all 48 minutes and drops a 20-20 with no turnovers, including passing to Dirk for the game winning free throws. The series seems to be just as much of a contest as it was last year.
4 seconds. Terry holds onto the ball for a moment. This allows Chalmers enough time to get there and contest. Terry passes to Peja. Meanwhile, Haslem, who's been staying with Nash at the top of the key, rotates to Stojakovic.
Game 3. The Heat win this one and Game 4 behind two 40 point games from Dwyane Wade. The Mavericks are once again in a hole. Nash seems exhausted. He's barely gotten any rest all series. The Mavs can't afford to let Jason Terry play point guard for very long.
3 seconds. The ball and Udonis Haslem arrive at the elbow extended at the same time. Peja is a veteran though. He understands what to do. He swings the ball to Nash. Lebron James has been caught watching the ball movement. As the ball leaves Peja's hand, Lebron is still a good 10 feet away from Nash.
Game 5. Jason Terry gets hot from behind the line. Not even a fully focused Lebron can stop his one handed 30-footers. The Mavs avoid elimination for another game, and Nash gets some well earned rest at the end of a blowout.
2 seconds. The ball arrives, right in Nash's shooting pocket. He sets his feet, makes sure he's got room, and readies for release. Lebron lunges at him.
Game 6. A Dirk special. He drops 30 points on 15 shots. The Mavs pull out another close one, despite a Lebron triple double. No one is blaming him anymore.
1 second. The ball rises up, over Lebron James' outstretched fingertips, seemingly over the rafters in the arena.
Game 7. Everyone brings their A-game. Dirk drops shots like he's playing in an empty gym. Nash is hitting everyone in the hands. Terry gets the hot hand in the first to keep Dallas in the game. Lebron is everywhere, blocking shots, dunking, dishing to Bosh, Haslem, and Joel. Wade is destroying anyone who tries to guard him one on one. Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem are providing stellar defense and midrange shooting. It comes down to one shot.
No time left. The ball drops through the net. Steve Nash drops to his knees. Lebron James' head drops to his chest. It's over. For one more year, Lebron will remain ringless, while Steve Nash will finally get his.
No comments:
Post a Comment