Once you get into the playoffs in sports and most teams’ seasons have come to an end, tips begin being exchanged. Coaches and players have friends around the League from previous jobs and stops in their careers and they like to help each other out. That’s nothing new — just look at the NFL playoffs and you’ll hear about coaches getting tips from their friends in the business on how to beat an opponent. This has been no different for the Dallas Mavericks, who say they’ve received help from opposing players and coaches regarding their series with Miami. But are these people trying to help their friends, or motivated by a desire to see the Heat lose? Mavs guard DeShawn Stevenson believes it’s more of the latter.
“The guys that I deal with, they say a lot of things about how to guard and the way to play them. And coach (Rick Carlisle) said a lot of coaches called him about how to play the Miami Heat. I just think a lot of people want to see us win this thing.”
As I previously noted, teams still in the playoffs receiving tips on how to beat their opponents is nothing new, but what makes this somewhat different is Stevenson’s belief that it stems from people wanting to see the Heat lose. Again, that’s nothing new either — we know the Heat are hated. If they weren’t, their games wouldn’t get such high ratings from all the people who want to see them lose. If the Mavericks can pull off one more victory, many people will get their wish of wanting to see the Heat fail.
via Business Insider, also seen at Black Sports Online
