In the 2010-11 regular season, The Heat finished one game better than Dallas. From 1947 through the 2011 NBA third round, when NBA teams finished one game better than their best-of-7 playoff series opponents , they have posted a 16-17 (.485) best-of-7 series record in those series against those opponents. This is the 25th best-of-7 playoff series for the Dallas Mavericks, and the 19th for the Miami Heat. In best-of-7 NBA playoff series, Dallas has a 11-13 overall series record, a 0-1 Finals-round series record, and a 9-15 Game 1 record, while Miami has an 11-7 overall series record, a 1-0 Finals-round record, and a 8-10 Game 1 record. This is the second best-of-7 NBA playoff series meeting between Dallas and Miami; the first was in the 2006 NBA Finals, in which Miami lost Games 1-2 in Dallas but won Games 3-6 to take the 2006 NBA championship. Five years later, Dallas has its rematch in the second NBA Finals appearance for each team.

The Mavericks have not lost to Miami since that finals ending loss in 2006. They have won 10 straight games in the series, including both games this season by a combined 102-95 score. In the 2 games this season, Dallas had the better shooting numbers 45% to 40% and shot 12% better from the free throw line. They also won the rebounding battle and had more assists and less turnovers. Miami had their biggest edge in blocked shots. Miami has 3 bona fide stars on their team in James, Wade and Bosh. However their bench does not have the depth or versatility that the Dallas bench has. Miami was able to contain D. Rose of Chicago with various double teams and solid defense from Lebron James late in the fourth quarter of their series. Dallas has Nowitzki and while he will be hard to stop he will have the added benefit of having other players on his team to pick up the scoring, such as J. Terry and S. Marion. Down low T. Chandler will be clogging the middle which could make it difficult for C. Bosh to enjoy the success he's had in the last 2 rounds, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Dallas in general plays much better defense than they have in previous years. Unfortunately they are under rated defensively. Going into the OK. City series they were holding everyone to under 100 points. They have proved to be the type of team that could win in a low scoring game as well as a high scoring game. Miami will tighten the defense on them and the key to the series will be how open, and how much time Dallas has to get open looks. That's where veteran point guard J. Kidd may play the largest role. He is a proven leader with big game experience and should be able to move the ball around and do enough in defense to be a big factor in this series. Miami and Dallas should be a great series, one that may very well go the 7 game distance. Dallas has handled South East Divison teams to a 9-1 tune this season and have covered in 13 of their last 15 games. Our Selection here is to Take the Dallas Mavericks to win this series at plus money.

Rob Finished the 2010-11 NBA Regular Season 15 games over .500 and was 24 games over .500 in both NFL and College Football Combined. In 2010 Rob Had a solid Baseball season with the Arrival of his all new Diamond Cutter MLB Systems, which release plays through systems that win by 3 or more runs per game. As a result MLB Was a solid 21 games over .500 on the season. Rob also does a weekly sports talk radio segment on Monday nights at 8:05 eastern. Listen online at 88.9 wsia.fm At the end of the segment Rob shares a solid free pick.

RV