Basketball World

MIAMI – A day after the retirement announcement of one of the NBA’s all-time great big men, the Dallas Mavericks head into their Game 2 matchup with the Miami Heat needing more from their big bodies inside in order to even the NBA Finals at a game apiece before the series shifts to Dallas.

Looking to draw inspiration from Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal’s exit from the game, the Mavericks’ duo of interior-based 7-footers, Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood, admit that they will have to bring more to the table after watching their team lose the battle on the glass, 46-36, surrendering 16 offensive rebounds for the Heat to have its way. And with Chandler in foul trouble for most of the 92-84 Game 1 loss, the Mavs’ high-octane five man enters Thursday night’s outing knowing that he must increase his level of activity after scoring nine points but snatching down just four boards in just under 34 minutes of play.

“We gave them too many offensive rebounds,” Chandler explained. “Either we were taking the ball out of the net or they were getting another shot attempt. We’ve gotta box out, we’ve gotta limit them to one shot and we’ve gotta run.”

“Rebounding is very important. It’s not just about me and Tyson, but as a team collectively,” Haywood added, coming off a three-point, seven-rebound effort in just about 14 minutes of action. “Offensive rebounds are a very important part of the game. I think early on in the game we gave them a sense of life when they didn’t really have anything going. Those second-chance opportunities really gave them a chance to get buckets. I think if we would have controlled the boards a little bit better, we might have had a bigger lead when we made that [7-0] run in the third.”

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle couldn’t agree more, emphasizing to his team the importance of defensive rebounding even despite the fact that Dallas’ 16 second-chance points bettered Miami’s 15 points after extended possessions. And with the coach hoping for a rebounding turnaround on Thursday night, Carlisle says that he isn’t putting the entire onus on his big men inside, knowing that the Mavs will have to gang rebound in order to keep the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — who collectively grabbed 28 rebounds in Game 1 — from once again controlling the pace of the game.

“A lot of this comes down to the disposition that we need to have on the defensive boards. We work hard for 20 or 22 seconds to get a stop, and then they’d get the ball back. I mean, that kills you. So, the defensive rebounding has got to be better for us. … We can [play at a faster pace] when we rebound better. That’s gonna be the key. It’s hard to generate tempo taking the ball out the basket. It just is. And it’s even more difficult when the opponent has two consecutive shots at the basket. It just takes more of your defensive energy. So, defense is important, but finishing off possessions with defensive rebounds is critical.”

The health of Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki is just as critical to the team getting a win on Thursday night, likely taking the court with a splint on his left middle finger after suffering a torn tendon in the final four minutes of the loss.

Nowitzki went through practice on Wednesday as well as Thursday’s walkthrough without any kinks in his off hand. But now the 7-footer admits that he will have to play through the injury for the remainder of the series in order to lead the Mavericks to a title, starting with a Game 2 victory before returning to Dallas to host three scheduled games.

“At this point in the season, everybody has bumps and bruises. This is just a bump, and you gotta play through it,” Nowitzki modestly said.

Hoping to show no ill effects from the injury, Nowitzki will lead the Mavs back into American Airlines Arena in search of a 1-1 split and the home-court advantage.

Note: The NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat will continue Thursday in Miami, with Game 2 airing nationally on ABC at 8 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks will host Game 3 at the American Airlines Center on Sunday, June 5, in a game that tip off at 7 p.m. CT and air nationally on ABC. Tickets for the Finals are on sale now. Visit Mavs.com for details or call 214-747-MAVS (6287).

All of the Mavs’ home Finals games at American Airlines Center will be a MAVS ROYAL BLUE-OUT!

Every seat at the American Airlines Center will have a MAVS ROYAL BLUE playoff T-shirt placed in it. We need for you and every Mavs fan to show their Mavs pride. So, dress ready to put on your MAVS ROYAL BLUE playoff T-shirt when you get to your seat.

The Dallas Mavericks will host a FREE watch party for fans on Thursday, June 2 as the Mavs take on the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals.

Fans can join the Mavs Dancers, ManiAACs, Street Team, Ali Dee and Ro Parrish and watch the game on the full HD video boards inside American Airlines Center.

Parking will be available in Lots E and F for $5 and the Platinum parking garage for $10. Fans can enter American Airlines Center through the north and east doors beginning at 7 p.m.

The North and South Fan Shops will be open for fans to purchase NBA Finals and other Mavs apparel. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase