| Show The Heat light it up for fora a win in the Finals Johnathan Bonner Contributing Writer It has been nine years since former Ute stars Keith Van VanHorn VanHorn VanHorn Horn and Michael Doleac played in a tournament together The pair found themselves yet again competing competing competing ing for a championship Although this time around they were opponents rather than allies In the end it was jubilation jubilations of s for one Ute and a foiled opportunity for the other Unlike their roles nine years ago with the Utes Doleac and Van Horn have adjusted to their playing styles to become role players for f r the Heat and Mavericks respectively Watching his teammates godown go godown godown down early in the series 2 0 the brink of Miami was on elimination The Heat ran off a game four-game winning streak to defeat the Mavericks It was only the second time in Finals history that a team trailing 2 0 had returned to close the series with four consecutive consecutive consecutive con con- wins Being outplayed in Dallas during Games 1 and 2 by a combined 24 points Miami was the aggressor through the remainder of the series Game 3 found Miami at American Airlines Arena for forthe forthe forthe the first time in the finals Erasing a 13 point four ter deficit the Heat clinched a 98 96 victory on a Gary Payton jumper with 93 seconds seconds seconds sec sec- remaining Miami followed a 98 74 Game 4 drubbing of Dallas with a riveting Game 5 overtime overtime overtime over over- time win With 19 Finals continued on page 2 Doleac Van Horn heat up Finals Continued from Front Page seconds remaining in the extra period finals Dwyane Wade was clutch in hitting two free throws to propel the Heat to a 3 2 series lead Shifting back I to to Dall Dallas Dallas' the J f Mavericks attempted to to even the series in Game 6 In the end Wade proved too much for forthe forthe forthe the reeling Mavs The prodigal guard tallied 11 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to give the franchise its first fast Championship 95 It was the fifth championship championship championship champi champi- as a head coach for Hall Hallof Hallof Hallof of Fame-bound Fame Heat coach Pat Riley Miami center Shaquille 0 Neal proved yet again why he is one of the games game's most dominant big men men adding a fourth championship while averaging only points and rebounds in the series Wade who shined through the series was named the Finals Most Valuable Player by averaging Wade was phenomenal at both ends of the court by adding 78 rebounds He just took it to another l level vel Riley said in press conference conference conference con con- ference following the game You all witnessed it You all watched it Players like that are very hard to come by As for Van Horn and Doleac the duo has played for a combined combined combined com com- ten clubs spanning the thelast thelast thelast last nine seasons including a stint together on the New York Van Horn averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds for forI I Dallas Dalla tB fin finals Nowa Now V Van Horn has has' se Interested in in staying with the Mavericks Im at the stage in my career where Im I'm not concerned about numbers or anything like that Van Horn told the Dallas Morning Star I love being here in the situation right now This is the reason you play the game A major pay cut from Van VanHorn's VanHorn's VanHorn's Horns Horn's million salary is expected Doleac a third-string third center for the Heat found himself with a ring but without playing playing playing play play- ing time in the finals Backing superstars 0 O Neal and Alonzo the of Mourning captain I Utah's 1998 Final Four team I was relied on to prepare the powerhouses in daily practice A 2002 graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in biology Doleac resides in Salt Lake City during during during dur dur- ing the season off-season with his wife Shannon Bowles a former Ute American All-American gymnast |
