2011 vs. Dallas
Yes, James did struggle against Dallas in his first return to the Finals. This time around he was a heel on the Miami Heat, and it was obvious James wasn’t himself. He was trying too hard becoming someone most people knew he wasn’t and it backfired in his play. Dallas ended up beating the Heat in six games.
The 2011 Finals is an interesting one because nobody really gives the Mavericks the credit they deserve. In that situation they became opportunist, and them winning a championship shouldn’t have become surprise, right?
A team like Dallas happens at least once every decade. An unexpected team going on a miraculous run in the playoffs to dethrone a mega-star. It happened in 1994 and 1995 with the Houston Rockets. They were led by Hakeem Olajuwon playing the best basketball of his career along with role players in Kenny Smith, Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry and more. Were they really the favorites in those two years with the likes of Seattle, Phoenix and San Antonio? Especially in 95 with their run as a No. 6 seed? Nope, but they played team ball and knew their role and it worked.
After Houston, the team bug went to Detroit in 2004. A team with guys that won’t make the Hall of Fame, but shocked the world taking down the mighty Lakers with Shaq, Kobe, Malone and Payton in five games.
A true unsuspecting team happens every decade and in 2011 it was the Mavericks turn to make history of their own, despite the struggles of the King.