It's all done and dusted. The NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup have been won. Subsequently, this will be the last US Sports Wrap for a while as we'll go on hiatus until the NFL season begins (if it ever does).


NBA (Basketball)
NBA Finals
  * Dallas Mavericks (4) defeated Miami Heat (2)
It's series like these that prove to us that big matches can't be won if you rely to heavily on one player. Early in the series, Dirk Nowitzki, named Finals MVP, was the only Mavs player shooting well but despite scoring 40 odd points the Heat moved to a 2-1 after three. Then Dallas changed it up. JJ Barea came into the starting line-up for DeShawn Stevenson despite the fact he was shooting poorly, and the additional speed opened up the court and allowed guys like Jason Terry (27 points in game six) the space to hit their shots. Nowitzki was a warrior - battling an injured finger and a fever - still led the scoring for the Mavs for the series, it was 'Jet' Terry's return to his earlier playoffs form that really turned the series. Coming off the bench he was able to get in Lebron James' head and shut him down. 

The Heat as a whole, but Lebron in particular, couldn't play fourth quarters. Dwayne Wade couldn't do it for them alone, but battled hard making tough shots and getting back for some huge timely blocks again and again. Why Mario Chalmers didn't start more than just game six at point guard instead of Mike Bibby was beyond me. In my opinion, Dallas won this series because everyone on the court was a scoring threat. An offence is easier to shut down when two starters (Bibby and Joel Anthony) barely ever attempt a shot (except game 5 when Bibby scored 15). 

So now it'll be another year before Miami's big three have the chance to get their rings (or in Wade's case, a second ring). But will they all still be there next year? Will one be traded to bring in some more balance? Or can they afford to stretch for another big name? Who knows. 

For a long time the Dallas Mavericks were a bit of a joke on the court, but since Dirk Nowitzki entered the league 13 years ago they've been contenders. In 2006 they lost to the Heat and that fact was not going to be forgotten by Dirk or Jason Terry. This was the franchise's first ever championship. Despite owner Mark Cuban's odd statement in the last couple of days that rings were out and they might get something else like bracelets... bah! They'll be getting their rings, and none are more earnt than Nowitzki's.

Highlights of game six below.





NHL (Ice Hockey)
Stanley Cup Finals
  * Boston Bruins (4) defeated Vancouver Canucks (3)
For six games this series swung dependant on which team was playing at home. The Canucks were convincing in Vancouver, but in Boston the Bruins were unstoppable. In games played in Boston, the Bruins led the scoring 17-3. While before today's game seven, games in Vancouver had the Canucks up 5-2. 

But today was a different story. The Bruins won 4-0 to take home the enormous Stanley Cup trophy, and goalie Tim Thomas became the first ever to record a shut-out in a game seven of the series. Thomas received the Conn Smythe Trophy for MVP in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

It was Boston's first Stanley Cup in 39 years, but the locals in Vancouver didn't handle the loss gracefully. After first booing as the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handed over the trophy to Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, they then rioted outside the stadium, setting cars on fire and attempting to flip over a police bus.

Highlights of game seven below.









So that's it for the US Sports Wrap for a while. I hope you've enjoyed the weekly updates. See you again in September. 

For more sports coverage on The Vine until then, be sure to keep checking out the Aussie Sports Wrap each Monday by the Friday Experts and the World Sport Report every Thursday.