If Animal Kingdom is the 2011 Belmont Stakes betting favorite for the last race in the Triple Crown favorite, then Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki is the favorite when it comes to the Finals MVP, that is, if the Mavericks manage to beat Miami (only one player on a losing team has ever won the award, Los Angeles’ Jerry West in the inaugural season of 1969). If the Heat are going to defeat the Mavericks, slowing down the big German is at the top of their list, and it looks like LeBron James is their best option. The Heat should start the game with Udonis Haslem on Nowitzki, and Haslem showed that he is almost back to 100% after missing most of the season with a foot injury. Haslem did a good job on Nowitzki in the 2006 Finals, so the Heat could at least look to soften the Dallas star up with Haslem’s physical play in the early part of the game. Haslem knows that Nowitzki is going to make shots, but he also knows that you have to make him work for his shots. UFC betting players would be impressed with Haslem’s physicality, and the Heat will need that in this series. Miami can also turn to Joel Anthony, who would probably do a better job than Chris Bosh as he can be physical with Nowitzki as well, although Anthony’s tendency to leave his feet may open him up to foul trouble, and Nowitzki has a trunk full of pump fakes to get defenders off their feet. Bosh is the tallest player that could get in Nowitzki’s face, and he’s turned into a decent pick-and-roll defender, but Carlos Boozer scored on him in the Chicago series, and Boozer isn’t close to Nowitzki’s level. Anthony would hope to turn the matchup into an episode of WWE Raw, with all of the banging he’d try to do. Everyone is waiting to see LeBron James on Nowitzki, and James is probably the most versatile defender in the league as he showed against Chicago’s Derrick Rose, shutting down the NBA MVP in late-game situations in the last round. You’ll probably see James on Nowitzki down the stretch or Nowitzki gets out of control, and it’s going to be a fascinating matchup as Nowitzki has the height advantage, but James is athletic enough to deal with it. He’s quick enough to keep Nowitzki from driving, and he’s strong enough to battle with him on the block. When he commits to it, James may be the toughest defender in the league with his combination of size, strength and agility, and he may be the worst matchup for Nowitzki. The winner of this matchup will give their team the edge when you’re betting online.
