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Washington Post staff writer Michael Lee was online Thursday, June 15, at noon ET to examine the NBA playoffs.

From The Post: NBA Coverage

The transcript follows.

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Michael Lee: What's up, people. It's really nice down here in Miami. Thank goodness Game 3 offered some excitement and entertainment to what had been a pretty dull couple of games in Dallas. Let's hope the next two, three or four games keep it going. Had a chance to hang out on South Beach last night, so I'm still pretty tired. But I know you have questions, I hope I have some answers. Let's go. . .

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Washington, D.C.: A lot of people (Wilbon included) seem to think that Game 3 will make a series out of this. From my perspective, Miami played about as well of a game as it could have (especially Wade,) and still needed Dallas choking at the end to win. I just don't see Miami being able to do that three more times in four games.

Michael Lee: I don't know. My gut reaction after Game 3 was how it reminded me a lot of Game 2 of the Lakers-Pistons series in 2004, when Kobe Bryant rescued his team with some late-game heroics and an incredible three-pointer to force overtime. It would turn out to be the Lakers' last hurrah, but at the time, everyone wrote about how the Pistons wouldn't be able to recover from such a devastating loss, how the Lakers' two superstars (Shaq and Kobe) would lift them over the inexperienced Pistons - and as you remember, the Pistons won the next three games. It was a gift game for the Lakers. I have the same feeling about Game 3 - although I hope I'm wrong, since I picked Miami in seven - because Dallas has been the superior team over the first three games and could easily win this series in five. Especially if Wade is still hurting with that sore knee. My man didn't look too hot yesterday.

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Atlanta, Ga.: The Heat have "Big Mo" in their corner now, and if they win tonight, Shaq will be raising the trophy and riding/retiring off into the sunset in style. Can Dirk and Company finish the brilliant work they started in games 1 and 2?

Michael Lee: I think they can. Dallas is deeper, more athletic and faster than Miami - and the Mavericks have yet to play their best game yet. They wanted to push the tempo and they still haven't scored 100 points. That's why their 2-1 series lead should scare the Heat. Miami got an unbelievable show from Wade, O'Neal was playing great - and it still was down by 13 in the fourth quarter. That's not good. Dirk and Company should be able to win tonight, but if they allow Miami to tie this series, they really messed up big time by lifting the Heat from the floor.

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Tallahassee, Fla.: Do you think all the attention Dwayne Wade is getting will inspire Shaq to dominate in tonight's game, or do you think he has settled for the #2 spot?

Michael Lee: As much as I hate to say it, the dominant Shaq is gone. I cannot tell you how painful is was to see him get just five points on Sunday. Shaq is still great. You cannot discredit a man who has led all three teams he has been on into the NBA Finals - at three very different stages in his career, no less. Shaq knows Wade is the best player on the team, but Wade is smart enough to always defer to him and stroke Shaq's ego. Shaq is capable of a 28-point, 15-rebound game or a 25, 12 game every now and then, but those 38, 20 games in the NBA Finals are a thing of the past. You might get a good Shaq, but the MDE - most dominant ever - is just another great player now. The Heat would settle for him just scoring 20 points at least one time this series.

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Washington, D.C.: It's gotten to a point where the only thing left from Shaq is his mouth. He's always good for a quote, but you're seeing the downfall of Shaq O'Neal in the NBA Finals.

Michael Lee: That might be right, but think about what the "downfall of Shaq O'Neal" means. In the last stages of his career, he still led his team into the NBA Finals! That should let everyone know just how great a player he is. When Wade got sick in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the downgraded Shaq was still good enough to get 28 and 16. So, if this is the downfall, I think a lot of big men would love to be this bad.

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Washington, D.C.: Don't understand what all the euphoria is about. Neither the Heat or Mavs were expected to get swept this series.

Michael Lee: After the first two games, and the first 42 minutes of Game 3, a sweep look like a serious possibility. I don't think anyone expected Shaq to get five points in Game 2 or that the Heat would look lethargic in both games in Dallas and the first three quarters of Game 3. Yes, no one predicted a Mavericks or Heat sweep, but for a while, it sure was looking like we'd have a short stay in Miami.

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Heat: Is this the last good chance for the Heat to win it all as Shaq and some others are rather old?

Michael Lee: answer to a similar question to follow

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Washington, D.C.: When the Heat lose this series, its gotta be pretty bad for Riley. To have Shaq declining and paying him $20 mil a year, to the bad contracts of Walker and Jason Williams, that guy has to work his butt off to have that team stay competitive.

Michael Lee: I think this could be the last run for most of these players, like Shaq, Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning, but I'm not sure if this is the end for Dwyane Wade. He's still just 24 and he has at least 10 more great seasons in him - unless his body completely breaks down falling so many times.

As for Riley, I don't think you can question his ability to find help for his guys. He blew up his team last summer and he knows that if this team is going to stay competitive, they will need more youth and athleticism, so he can still get things done. And, paying a declining Shaq $20 million a year isn't so bad, because you can be assured that Shaq won't miss the playoffs any season. There are a number of well-paid superstars making a ton of money on non-playoff teams - Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Chris Webber, Allen Iverson. You might not consistently get the monster games from Shaq, but he is still worth the money. He did average 20 and 9 this season. His regular season numbers were about the same as Tim Duncan's. And he's done? Cool.

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Charlotte, N.C.: Although the Mavs have exorcised some demons in this postseason, they have shown a tendency to let teams back into it if Avery isn't constantly calling timeouts to right the ship. Do you think as the pressure builds, will their youth and lack of experience playing on such a big stage will catch up to them and cause what would be a monumental collapse?

Michael Lee: I think Dallas really showed what kind of team it is in the second round, when it beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 7. Sure, the Mavericks let down their guard after taking a 3-1 series lead, but Avery Johnson was able to help them get over the hump. This team is tougher mentally than in the past - and, it's because of Avery, who has convinced his team to believe because he's been there before, winning a title in 1999. Having said that, they are not used to this stage, so it's really hard to say how they'll respond to pressure - but you have to remember, the Heat has to apply pressure first. So far, Miami has only done it once.

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Washington, D.C.: Shaq should be embarassed about how he is playing so far in the finals. This is where he was suppose to add a legacy to his career and his is being outplayed by, of all people, Erick Dampier. Is it the Dallas defense or is Shaq really struggling down there? They can't be doing anything he hasn't seen before.

Michael Lee: This has been a bad run for the Big Fella. But the Mavericks have thrown everything and everybody at him, double- and triple-teaming him and disguising double teams. The first two games, Shaq's struggles from the foul line seemed to make him less aggressive in attacking the double-teams. He was quick to pass out, and unfortunately, Antoine Walker was quick to take his open looks - and miss. Dallas is forcing Shaq's teammates to beat them, and with the exception of Wade, nobody else has been able to make them pay for the approach. Shaq can really only be as effective as his supporting cast. If Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Udonis Haslem and James Posey cannot put the ball in the hole, the Mavericks can continue to strap Erick Dampier and DeSagana Dip on Shaq's back, put Dirk on his shoulder and Jason Terry and Devin Harris on his ankles. Shaq has seen it all, but usually got help from shooters like Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw or Nick Anderson. Here, he has. . . the man needs some help.

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Washington, D.C.: I wouldn't say Shaq led them to the Finals. This season has been a real eye opener for me, personally. It's like Shaq literally got old overnight.

Michael Lee: Yeah, like last Saturday. But, I don't see how you cannot say Shaq led them into the Finals. Wade is the best player and leading scorer, but Shaq is the leader of that team. Don't get blinded by the numbers or his miserable outing on Sunday. When Shaq has needed to step up in the playoffs, he has. You can look at each series and see when Shaq came through for Miami. We're witnessing Shaq Lite, which isn't what we've seen over the past 13 years, but it's still not bad.

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Washington, D.C.: what are your thoughts on the final inbounds play by the mavs in game 3? it was executed well with the lob to howard... until wade made the jump. i was wondering what was the deal with dirk being the passer in that play? seriously, the lob was a fine plan A, but you always need a plan B (and C). Dirk-- the 7 foot freak-- taking a jump shot would be a great back-up plan. why not have van horn--- who's tall enough to look over the defense-- make the inbounds pass? do you think avery was hoping to befuddle the heat by making dirk the passer? just curious...

Michael Lee: I hated that play. I don't want my best player inbounding the ball at the end of the game. Even if I didn't want him to shoot it, I'd at least let him draw the defense as a decoy. That play may have worked better if they had Terry inbounding the ball, Dirk starting in the low block and Josh Howard starting at the foul line. Dirk would sprint to the foul line, taking one or two defenders with him, and Howard would curl underneath Dirk for a lob. But if Dirk is throwing the ball in, you're allowing the Heat to play straight up in that situation - and letting Wade get his hands on the ball.

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Minneapolis, Minn.: The NBA finals should display the talents of the best players on the best teams in the league. But the length of the season mixed with the grind of endless travel does not permit such a display. The physical damage is not limited to the most serious injuries. The grind of the season and the grind of the playoffs leaves the players near total exhaustion. The finals look too much like the cage matches staged by wrestlers. Endurance and fitness are required. But for the finals to pit frazzled competitors is to create a show of injured and fatigued players worn down to a nub. Champions? Survivors is more like it.

Michael Lee: I don't agree with you, but it was an interesting read.

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Washington, D.C.: Some Wiz fans are worried about the Orlando Magic next season. They seem to be a playoff team within the next year or two. What do the Wizards need to stay competitive in the East?

Michael Lee: I think it's pretty obvious what the Wizards need to do to stay competitive in the East - keep the ball in Gilbert's hands and convince him to make a commitment on defense. Gilbert is the best player on the Wizards, but if this team is going to change it's approach on defense, it has to begin with him. If Arenas commits himself to being a lockdown defender - and has the tools (quick feet, big hands, long arms and strength) - the Wizards would look much different. As for Orlando - watch out. With Shaq slowly fading away - or quickly fading, as some of you would like to say - Dwight Howard could become the dominant big man in the league over the next decade. I know everyone is trying to bury the low post game, with the success of the Suns and Mavs, but Howard can keep it alive. The Magic should be a playoff team next year.

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San Diego, Calif.: Michael,

Possibly a bit off topic, but it occurs to me that basketball "rules" are among the most bizarre in sports. Examples: (1) a team can benefit by violating the rules (fouling a poor free throw shooter). In no other sport can a team directly benefit like this (2) an offensive player can call a time out in almost any predicament (while lying on the floor about to get tied up or while flying out of bounds, ball in hand). Can the defender call a timeout when his man is free on a layup, or at any time, for that matter? No! Unfair. Can a quarterback call a timeout when about to get sacked? Of course not. Clean up the rule book, Mr. Stern, and while at it, how about calling travelling more than one time in 100 or palming? Yours truly, James Naismith's Ghost

Michael Lee: Anytime Mr. Naismith chimes in, we've got to give him his space.

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Detroit, Mich.: A lot of people, Wilbon included, are writing that the Pistons are no longer contenders in the "new NBA." I take exception to this, the Pistons still have the best starting 5 in the league - if they resign Wallace. Rip, Chauncey and Tay are hardly slouches. Sure they need a deeper bench, but with a few tweaks I think they will be fine, especially in the East. Miami is certaininly not getting any younger and if they dont win this year, I think their window has closed for a while even with Wade. Cleveland still needs help for LeBron. Which leaves the Pistons? Thoughts?

Michael Lee: The East is really interesting because there are so many good young teams (Chicago, Orlando, Washington) and some aging teams with young stars (Miami and Cleveland) and then you have Detroit. The Pistons won 64 games, which cannot be discounted, but I don't understand why they stopped competing this postseason, it really was bizarre. I don't think their window is closed, but it is rapidly closing. Even if they sign Ben Wallace, they have a bunch of guys who are getting old (the Wallaces and McDyess are going to be 32 next season, Billups will be 30). They need to add some youth and athleticism to this squad charged up. They really need some new energy because sometimes, when you have the same group for so long, it gets a bit stale.

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Silver Spring, Md.: These playoffs have shown the different styles in the East and West teams. The East seems to not have a lot of young, athletic, run up and down the court teams as the West does. The trade of Shaq over to Miami and the rise of the Pistons was suppose to bring a balance of power in the NBA, but it still looks like the East has a long way to go to stay competitive against West teams.

Michael Lee: I don't know about that. I know I was one of the people who was quick to say that the East was back at the beginning of the season and the East let me down. But I'm really excited about the influx of talent in the East over the past four or five years (LeBron, Wade, Arenas, Bosh, Howard). I think within two, three years, the discussion about East and West won't even matter anymore. The league has more parody than ever. I don't think the East is THAT far away from being taken seriously.

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Falls Church, Va.: This year's draft seems pretty wide open -- any thoughts on who goes at No. 1? Will Toronto trade the pick?

Michael Lee: I don't know if I want to go with the word "wide open" or "weak." I'm not too excited about this draft, and it might be because for the first time in recent memory, we've really seen almost every draft prospect play -- since so few guys are coming from overseas and there are no high schoolers -- and I'm not completely blown away. I have no idea who goes No. 1 because I'm not sure if there really is a player deserving of that honor. There's rarely an obvious choice, but this year, there is no obvious top 3. Toronto needs size, but they seem ready to move that pick. The Bulls are listening to offers, too. I'm hearing, though, the Portland really wants to move up to take Adam Morrison. Yawn.

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Michael Lee: Alright people. It's too sunny and bright to be stuck in this hotel room on a laptop. I've got to go. Sorry, I couldn't get to all of your questions, but thanks for sending them in. This might be the last time we talk this season, so have a great summer. It's been great. Peace.

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