For Miami Heat fans, the 2011 NBA season came to a disappointing end on Sunday, June 12. Despite hundreds of cheering hopefuls gathered at the American Airlines Arena, the Dallas Mavericks refused to let up for game 7.
For the Mavs, star players Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Dirk
Nowitzki were the ones bringing the heat with a combined total of 57 points.
Terry's three-point game was nothing less than amazing, scoring his team a
whopping 27 points. Nowitzki led the team in rebounds with 11 in total. And,
despite only adding 9 points to the scoreboard, Kidd paved the way with 8
assists.
There is no doubt that the Mavericks played excellent defense and
outscored the Heat behind the three point line this series. However, Heat fans
complained that the referees made call after call in favor of the Mavericks.
Angry screams and the booming crashes of TV sets being thrown from
two-story windows could be heard in almost every South Florida community. And,
for people not interested in the basketball frenzy, the sweet sounds of
hummingbirds at night were replaced by fans yelling "Come on Lebron!", "Are
these refs blind?" and "Can someone guard Barea!"
The Heat ultimately lost game six -- 95 to 105, crushing their championship dreams.
Besides the unfair refs, many fans blamed James for not meeting
expectations, especially in game 5.
Complaints were made about James' tendency to choke in the fourth
quarter when his team needed him most.
He responded in a press conference after the loss.
"I
mean, sometimes you got it, sometimes you don't. And that was this case in this
series. I was able to do things in the last two series to help us win ball games.
Wasn't able to do that in this series. Once you get to the playoffs, every game
is pressure."
Theories swirled about the root causes of an unfocused James, ranging from relationship issues with his baby's mother to his own mother.
Nevertheless, the real Heat fans are still rooting for the Big
Three and have high hopes for next season.
The Dallas Mavericks lost the championship to the Heat in 2006. This
is the first ever championship win for the Mavericks since their introduction
into the NBA in 1980. It was also a historic moment for Terry, Kidd and
Nowitzki, who all received their first championship ring this year.
Kidd has been playing in the NBA for 17 years, having yet to garner
a ring until now.
And to the Miami fans, there's always next year for the Heat to rekindle the flame!