Dwyaniacal Ramblings

Some of the best basketball games I ever saw were the multiple-overtime slugfests between my high school and that of Devin Harris. He was second banana to Scott Merritt, and believe me when I say he played that way. It was funny to me to see Merritt shamed by the college game and Harris elevated by it. I hated them both with such fire as one of them inevitably made a layup to send a game to its third extra period. It was always amazing to see my Marquette Hilltoppers come out on top and equally as revolting to see Tosa East succeed at anything, least of all basketball. Familiar pangs as Harris' Dallas Mavericks kicked off the Finals with two consecutive victories. The 2006 NBA Playoffs had been the best in recent memory. I will not soon forget the way Kobe and Nash traded willpower, or the way Hubie Brown officially made the switch to speaking constantly and exclusively in the second person. The two Dallas wins spoke of a rotten end to what will go down as the best playoffs since Jordan was a baseball player. However, I knew better than to doubt the Heat, for the only thing mightier than a Marquette Hilltopper is a Marquette Warrior. Sure enough, Dwyane Wade's college jersey read "Golden Eagles", but the likes of George Thompson, Bo Ellis, Al McGuire and even Brian Wardle would know better than to believe the hype. Flash was a Warrior before he was an eagle or before he was...hot? I refuse to use the word "heat" in the way they want me to. Either way, there was no way I would have believed that Miami was done after two games. After Game 2, I text messaged my friend to tell him "Heat in 6". Why did I believe such nonsense? 29-11-11. It's simple math. Add up a player's totals in points, rebounds, and assists from his most important game. If it is above 45, you are dealing with a champion. Wade's from his NCAA Tourney triple-double? 51. From last night? Let's just say the 2006 Finals MVP is a Warrior.