Game day: One more victory stands between Mavs and ultimate prize

Plano, Texas — Hopefully, today is the day.

At 7 tonight in Miami, the Dallas Mavericks have a chance to win the team's first NBA championship in franchise history.

I drove in this weekend from Lawrence so I could be in Texas in the event that title-clinching chaos ensues in Dallas. I'll be watching at a bar in Dallas with some of my high school friends.

One more victory is all that's required of the Mavs, who own a 3-2 series lead over the Miami Heat in what has to be considered one of the most thrilling finals in NBA history.

Tonight is going to be tough. The Heat are 9-1 at home this postseason, with the one defeat coming in Game 2 against the Mavs. Furthermore, Miami has lost two consecutive games, and you'd think that on the brink of elimination, we're going to get the Heat's best shot. The crowd is going to be jacked and primed to force a Game 7.

I think the best chance for the Mavs is to clinch tonight. A Game 7 would clearly favor Miami, playing at home again in the 2-3-2 format with momentum on its side.

But that's the kicker. In the scope of the series, Miami doesn't have much momentum at the moment. After losing Game 1, the Mavs have taken three of the past four games.

So what's the key for Dallas in Game 6? Here's a few that are on my mind:

• Continue to maintain a fourth-quarter edge. Dallas has outscored Miami, 118-104, in the fourth quarter of the series. Doesn't sound like much when you add up the five games, but three of the contests have come down to the final possession. That's been a clear advantage for Dallas.

• Win the superstar showdown. Dirk Nowitzki has performed considerably better than LeBron James in the finals, particularly in the fourth quarter. Dirk's fourth-quarter points this series: 52. LeBron's fourth-quarter points this series: 11. Shawn Marion has done a terrific job in using his length and athleticism to contain James to 17.2 points per game for the series.

• Provide scoring help for Dirk. In Game 5, the Mavs had five players score at least 13 points. Dirk had his normal-looking line, which is to say he played sensational: 29 points, six boards, 10-of-10 from the foul line, 9-of-18 from the field. But J.J. Barea, now in a starting role, scored 17 points and shot 4-of-5 from three-point land. Jason Terry poured in 21 points, including two vital three-pointers, one of which sealed the victory. Jason Kidd scored 13 points and was 3-of-5 from long-distance. It's going to be extremely difficult to replicate a 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) team effort from three, but if Dirk has help resembling Game 5 again, I like our chances.

• Keep it close. Sure, it sounds simple, but the last thing we want is Miami winning by a sizable margin. As the road team in a hostile environment, Dallas just needs to keep it close. The Mavs are 2-1 in games decided by three points or less in this series.

• Establish Tyson Chandler. We know the Mavs center will bring a defensive and rebounding presence rivaled by few. But his offensive production cannot be overlooked. The Mavs are 3-0 in these finals when Chandler scores in double figures. Conversely, they are 0-2 when Chandler scores in single digits. It would behoove Dallas to keep looking for Chandler for high-percentage buckets around the rim.

I can't wait for this game to start. In a recent blog post, I said win or lose, I wouldn't regret this trip. I stand by that statement. I have no problem doing crazy stuff in support of the Rangers and Mavs. But man ... just thinking about what a victory would mean for this franchise and for the city of Dallas is exciting in itself. And for this one night, I will get to witness the madness first-hand in the event of a victory.

Let's get this one tonight. Go Mavs.