Mavs lose Game 1, but panic button should be cast aside

Within minutes of the Dallas Mavericks dropping Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, 92-84 in Miami, I was driving home when a late-night host on ESPN radio started analyzing the series.

If you're the Dallas Mavericks, the host said, tell me one positive thing you took away from Game 1. Tell me anything the Mavs did that would suggest they have hope the rest of the series.

I wish I was live in the studio so I could have put that guy in his place. One positive thing?

• The Mavs, for one, held a 44-43 lead at halftime and jumped out to a 51-43 lead to start the second half. This was a close game, despite Dallas shooting a chilly 37.3 percent from the field. Can't expect the Mavs to win every game, especially in Miami. The Heat haven't lost in their home building since April 6. That's nearly two months.

• Dallas, for two, played sound defense for the most part, especially for a road game. Holding Miami to 92 points, including 16 in the first quarter and 43 at halftime, is not too shabby.

It's amazing the snap judgment some of these talk-show personalities immediately formulate. It's one game. Chicago beat Miami in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, only for the Heat to storm back and take the next four games. Now, the Mavs won't do that, but calling for a fallen sky after the first game is ridiculous.

Of course, the Mavs remain the heavy underdogs. Teams that have won Game 1 of the Finals proceeded to claim the title 73.4 percent of the time, including 10 of the past 12 seasons. Dallas needs to rebound better, particularly on the offensive glass, where Miami held a 16-6 edge. Dirk Nowitzki revealed after the game he played part of the fourth quarter with a torn tendon in the middle finger of his left hand. He'll play going forward, but you have to wonder how much that will affect him, even though it's his non-shooting hand.

Yes, the Mavs have a lot of work to do if they want to hoist the trophy, but instantly dismissing them after one game is absurd. Let the series play out.

We'll see what happens in Game 2 on Thursday night in Miami.