Five years ago, the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat were in the hunt for their first ever NBA Title. It was also their first ever appearance in the NBA Finals. The Mavs had home court advantage and used it very well as they hosted the first two games and won. However they did lose all three of the next games in Miami. Game 6 was held in Dallas and after letting up a huge lead, Miami won their fourth straight game in the series and lifted the title in Dallas. Being that Dallas had home court advantage in the series, they were expected to lift the title. However Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O' Neal wanted their first ever Finals to be a success and the two led the way.
Their mouths still full of the sour taste from the defeat five years ago, no one would have predicted that the next time these two teams would make he NBA Finals for the second time in their history would once again be against each other. The odds are not large at all. This match up was a blessing in absolute disguise for Dallas as the sweetest way for them to win an NBA title would be to face the team that defeated them the first time around. They certainly were well prepared.
This time around, the Miami Heat had home court advantage. Miami took game one by four points and then let a 15 point lead in game 2 slip and allow Dallas to even the series at one apiece. Miami took game 3 after Dirk's shot at the buzzer did no go through. Dallas then won games 4 and 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. That led us toward's tonight's game 6 which was obviously a must win game for the Heat. Dallas played very well throughout even though their star player Dirk Nowitzki started out at 1 for 12 shooting. However as usual, he stepped up his game in the 4th quarter and this allowed the Mavs to win the game by 10 points at 105-95 which is the largest margin of victory in the entire series by either team.
2006 had Miami win in Dallas in both of the teams' first ever appearance in the Finals and their very next appearance was five years later against each other, again. Miami won 4 straight to win 4-2 and Dallas won 3 straight games after trailing 2-1. Miami won the title in game 6 which was played in Dallas and now five years later Dallas also won the title in 6 games with the final game being played in Miami. It is Deja Vu except for the other team. Each team has one NBA title in two finals appearances and know no other opponents at this stage. This could be the beginning of a beautiful rivalry. Only time will tell us if these two sides will ever meet again in the NBA Finals. Until next season we wait.
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