By John McMullen
Dallas is the perfect place for these NBA Finals.
Think about it...the “Holy Grail” for conspiracy theorists, Dealey Plaza, is just a few miles from the Mavericks’ home. John F. Kennedy’s assassination there spawned a generation of lunatics that think the fix is in on everything.
From important world events like 9/11 and the election of George Bush to things as silly as the Super Bowl and the NBA Championship, these mental midgets think evil puppeteers are calling all the shots from dimly lit rooms that no doubt smell of a cigar smoke and hooker spit.
It’s not really a big deal. In fact, I have always just snickered at most of these nuts and let them have their fun. But, when one of the crazies actually owns a team in the NBA Finals, you have to sit up and take notice.
Mark Cuban has turned into the world’s most famous (and annoying) conspiracy nut since Mel Gibson played Jerry Fletcher in the movie.
I actually feel for Mark...it would be cool if Montgomery Burns came to life and really did manipulate everything but the truth is always far less exciting.
As the Mavericks owner, accuses the NBA of trying to steal his NBA Championship, I wonder if Cuban really is that foolish or is he just trying to cover for a team that can’t finish.
On Sunday night, when Miami took a 3-2 series lead with a 101-100 overtime victory, Cuban could not accept the loss. So he and his players blamed the referees.
In the final seconds they said Dwyane Wade committed a backcourt violation that was not called. Then it was Wade committed a foul on Jason Terry on his way to the basket. Next, they wined that Wade was not fouled at all on the final drive that set up his winning free throws.
Finally, Dallas claimed it wanted to use its last timeout after Wade's second free throw but that the referee mistakenly awarded it after the first one -- even though the Mavs’ Chris Webber impressionist -- Josh Howard -- clearly called for the timeout after the first free throw.
Like most good conspiracy theories there is some truth in the Dallas story. Most importantly, Wade wasn’t fouled with 1.9 ticks left.
That said, one bad call, even with 1.9 seconds remaining, doesn’t mean the world is against you.
If the NBA truly wanted the Heat to win, why were Howard and Dirk Nowitzki put on the free throw line late? Howard missed two free throws with 54 seconds left and Nowitzki missed 1-of-2 from the line.
It also doesn‘t explain how the Mavs blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 3.
If Dallas had players that performed under pressure like Wade does, this series would be over.
And that doesn’t sound like a conspiracy to me.
-You can reach John McMullen at Jmcmullen1@comcast.net or john@phillysportsline.com
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