Heat beat Mavericks in Game 1

Some thoughts on Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

- Great defense from both teams. The coaching staffs did their homework and then some on each other.

- Heat outrebounded Mavs 46-36. I think that was as big a factor as anything.

- Dallas needs more from their bench. They can't afford to have Jason Terry, JJ Barea, Peja Stoyakovic and Brendan Haywood go 4-22 shooting. By comparison, the Heat bench was 8-22. Again, good defensive night, but Dallas's bench is more important than Miami's bench.

- Dirk did everything he could. He was relentless in attacking the rim, and Dallas overall had the free-throw-attempt advantage. Shawn Marion was good too, but Dirk needs more help.

- I don't know why Mike Bibby starts. He should be a DNP-CD. Just start Mario Chalmers and be done with it.

- Udonis Haslem is a glue guy that was key tonight.

- Game 2 will really test Rick Carlisle's mettle as a coach. If he can make the adjustments and steal one on the road, he's a stud.

- I'm rooting for the Mavericks. For the past 27-ish years, only seven teams have won the NBA Finals. Which is just one reason why the NFL is better than the NBA. If you're not a fan of the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Rockets, Pistons or Heat, why watch the NBA? I'd like someone else to break through, and the Dallas Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stoyakovic, i.e., hard-working veterans who've earned their places in the NBA.

- Since Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls in 1998, only two teams have won the NBA Finals without Shaq, Kobe or Tim Duncan. (The 2004 Pistons and the 2008 Celtics). And both of those times, Kobe was on the other team in the Finals. If the Heat win, you can swap Shaq for D-Wade and that statement will still be true.

- The Heat are going to dominate the NBA for the next five years. Ring-hungry vets are going to fight to get on to the Heat bench every year.