The 2011 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat has just started and it seems very personal to two players who had been in the Finals before, but never gotten the elusive championship ring.  LeBron James vs Dirk Nowitzki – a match-up between two superstars, two very high caliber players.

2011 NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James or Dirk Nowitzki

2011 NBA Finals MVP: LeBron James or Dirk Nowitzki

Dallas and Miami met at the 2006 NBA Finals, wherein the Dwayne Wade-led Heat won over the Nowitzki-led Mavericks 4-2. Both teams were on the NBA Finals for the first time, and also their last prior to the 2011 encounter. Miami Heat trailed 0-2, before bombarding Dallas with 4 straight victories to run away with their first and only trophy. Now for the 2011 NBA Finals, Nowitzki and the whole of Dallas’ team have every reason to come out with their best and avenge their defeat 5 years ago.

Dirk Nowitzki, a 7ft power forward from Germany, played for the Dallas Mavericks since 1998. He was NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2007. He is currently the Mavericks’ all-time leading scorer and averages 25.6 points per game during post-season. Nowitzki is considered one of the best shooters in the game. He sinks in almost 88% of his free throws, connects on almost 50% of his field goal attempts and hits 40% of his three-point shots. His shooting ability plus his height makes him difficult to block at any range. I’ve seen him dunk the ball too many times.

Another thing noticeable in Nowitzki’s stats is that he upped his average on games where it mattered most. On regular season he averages only 23ppg but makes it 25.6 on post-season. He also made plenty of winning treys.

LeBron James, is a 6’7” small forward who first played for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 as in first pick. Since joining the NBA, James set numerous youngest player records, including the youngest person to score 10,000 points in his career at 23 years and 59 days. He was MVP in 2007 and 2010. He was the focal player of the Cavaliers, even leading them to the 2007 NBA Finals. In 2010, on a much-publicized free agency process, he transferred to the Miami Heat on reasons that he thinks he could win trophies there.

At Miami, James played all-around game with superstar teammates, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. At his first regular season at Miami, James production downed to 26.7ppg, 3points less than his previous year’s output at Cleveland. But it did not matter to him as the scoring chore is well distributed and they are on the Finals anyway.

Who’s Your Pick? Nowitzki vs James for the Finals MVP

Derrick Rose is the regular season MVP but his Bulls team was torched by James’ Heat in the Conference Finals. Other say that Dwayne Wade could reclaim the honors he won in 2006. It is possible really. But for now, the focus is on Dirk Nowitzki vs LeBron James for the 2011 NBA Finals MVP. Miami already took game 1.

I say it will be LeBron. Agree?

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