Rooting for the Underdog

Lately, I’ve been an avid viewer of the NBA and getting my savvy back on the game.  I realized that apart from a preconceived bias, I’m inclined to root for the underdog.  From the start, Miami had a sure spot on the top 2.  It’s creditable to them how they bounced back on their last game against the Bulls.  To say the least, they earned their place on the championships. Whether you’re a fan or not, there’s no denying that the Heat IS good.  TOO GOOD in fact that I found myself rooting for the underdog, the one expected to lose.  So I woke up one day and realized it was the start of the NBA finals.  It was game 1.  I rooted for Oklahoma against Dallas during the playoffs.  So obviously, I had no clear position on the finals.  But I stuck it out through game 1 and found myself (guess what?) on the side of the Mavericks.  They lost the first game but what a surprise they were at the second.  The Heat looked as if they owned the game and their players talked big on the court – but it was indeed too early a celebration.  Game 2 finally taught them a lesson.  I’m rooting for the Mavs because they have less gall and more grit.  Their last game against the Heat showed resilience and the spirit NOT to let home court advantage, a 15-point lead by their opponent in the last quarter, and the terror trio of James, Wade and Bosh dictate the end result of the game.  A team trailing by scores of points, pressured by the boos of the audience, and threatened by dunks, steals, impeccable three’s, and turnovers against their favor by the other team (obviously more advantaged!) will most likely go downhill over all these disadvantageous circumstances.  But the Dallas Mavericks is something else.  Heck they wouldn’t have squeezed their way to the top if they’d been otherwise. They persist in the most cutthroat moment even when LeBron James pulls a very intimidating dunk and Chris Bosh follows through a missed shot with such surprising flair.  The other team is clearly stronger in terms of players.  But the Mavs define "cool under pressure". They fight ‘til the last second and endure consistently. A special mention to Dirk Nowitzki who never fails to deliver! He is indeed THE German Assassin – and a modest one, at that. In the last remaining minutes of the fourth quarter, the Mavs pulled through scoring consistently, not missing a shot while the Heat was, well, caught by surprise.  They just had to celebrate too early.  Consistency and persistence even under immense pressure got the Mavs their first win by a crucial 2-point lead in the last remaining seconds.  From being a consistent runner up in all four quarters of game 2, victory was still on their side. What a turn of events!  Who would’ve thought.  But to be fair, I also give it to the Heat.  They surprised the Bulls with a slamming comeback.  I was honestly rooting for the Bulls to win.  But Miami is a powerhouse, inevitably strong and less exciting to cheer for.  That is why in this season’s finals, I’m rooting for the underdog – win or lose.

GO MAVS!!!