Wade, Riley help Heat defy expectations to win title

	Dwyane Wade made a mockery of Dallas' defense, shredding it for 34.7 points a game, eclipsing Michael Jordan's Finals debut. Bob Rosato/SI
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DALLAS -- They said it couldn't be done. At least that's what a lot of experts thought about the Heat's title chances going into the 2006 playoffs. Miami, after all, had undergone a radical roster overhaul in the offseason and experienced chemistry issues all season.

But the Heat managed to put it together at the right time and prove the doubters wrong. Miami knocked off the Bulls, Nets and Pistons to reach the Finals. Then, after falling into a 2-0 series hole against the favored Mavs, the Heat swept four straight games to claim the first NBA title in franchise history.

How did the trophy end up on its way to South Beach? Let's count the ways:

1. Wade's world

Not since Michael Jordan has one player so single-handedly dominated the Finals. Wade averaged 34.7 points on 46.8 percent shooting. He also chipped in 7.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while playing solid defense.

Like Jordan, Wade got most of his points in the flow of his team's offense -- and with considerable flair. He also did a lot of things that didn't show up in the box score, a la MJ, such as going over Jerry Stackhouse to snag a key offensive rebound late in Game 3 and rising up to thwart Dirk Nowitzki's last-second lob pass for Josh Howard at the end of the same game. Throughout the series Wade demonstrated a tremendous will to win, and his ability to get to the foul line was huge for Miami, especially late in Game 5. The Mavs just never could get control of him.

"Dwyane was great," Nowitzki said. "After Game 2, he was really unstoppable. He really, you know, really won them the championship."

2. The D on Dirk

While Wade was giving Dallas fits, the Heat were doing a tremendous job defending the Mavs' main scorer. Nowitzki averaged a respectable 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds during the Finals, but he shot only 39 percent from the floor and 25 percent (6 of 24) from three-point range. The 7-foot German just never was able to go off.

Miami forwards Udonis Haslem and James Posey took turns crowding Nowitzki and getting him out of his comfort zones. When he did put the ball on the floor and try to attack the basket, Shaquille O'Neal or Alonzo Mourning were usually there to keep him from getting to the rim. "We made him work for everything," Posey said.