the big keys in the series are going to be efficiency with the ball

Despite the natural, national stories about this Mavericks' trip to the NBA Finals being all about avenging the meltdown in 2006, that thought process simply isn't there.

Different teams. Different cheap fashion wholesale times. Dwyane Wade is still with the Heat. Terry and Dirk Nowitzki are with the Mavericks. Beyond that, the focus is elsewhere.

"For us, once these playoffs started, we looked at the road to the championship, and you have to go through the Lakers," Terry said Friday. "That was the only thing that was a given.

"Destiny? Maybe. Fate? Yeah. But for us, the only two people on this team still playing (from '06) are Dirk and I. For them it's Wade and (Udonis) Haslem. It's really not the same. People wanted to compare us at that time to this time now. It's just different."

Rather than get caught up in the history, the Mavericks are more concerned with devising ways to deal with the potent Heat.

Having dispensed with a Lite-version Big Three from Oklahoma City in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, the Mavericks now can zero in on the full-bodied trio in Miami.

And they know how difficult it will be to handle LeBron James, Wade and Chris Bosh.

"There are similarities," coach Rick Carlisle said. "They're more experienced and they're more powerful at those wing positions. James and Wade are just built bigger physically. So that presents a different kind of challenge.

"For me, the big keys in the series are going to be efficiency with the ball, because when you turn it over, they convert better than any team in basketball. It's challenging because they're a great defensive team and they get their hands on a lot of balls. We're going to have to be aggressive, but play smart.

"And (secondly), then keeping them off the free throw line is going to be a big challenge because of James and Wade. Their ability to attack is going to create huge challenges for us."

The Mavericks' defense has grown teeth during the playoff run. They have handled LaMarcus Aldridge, Kobe Bryant, Durant and Westbrook.

Now, the league's brightest star-powered team is in front of them. It will require a lot of teamwork, which is a good thing since that's been one of the Mavericks' strengths.

"They're tough to keep in front of them," Nowitzki said. "They're so good at putting their heads down and getting to the basket and getting fouled, but we had some of it, actually, last series.

"That's a big part of the series, trying to get those guys out of the lane, and the whole league is trying to do it. But it's hard. If they get in the lane, they're so explosive."

Invariably, though, each team's fortitude will be a determining factor, Terry said.

"This is primarily about will to win," Terry said. "Who wants it more? That's what it's going to boil down to - to a man. It's not going to be one individual, three individuals. If three of y'all want it and the other 10 don't or there's some indecision, the balance is going to shift."

The free throw line, of course, brings up painful memories for the Mavericks.

Wade wore out the hardwood making constant trips to the stripe during the 2006 %Finals, shooting 97 free throws in the six games, including 72 in the final four, all Heat victories.

The Mavericks had trouble cheap fashion 2011 keeping Westbrook and Durant off the line.

A parade to the free throw line is always possible. But these NBA Finals figure to evolve into an entertaining two weeks, no matter what.

Usually we've had more balance than this

"Usually we've had more balance than this," said Eaves, alluding to the fact the previous worst offensive imbalance in his nine-year tenure was in 2004-05 when 45 of the 127 goals came via the power play (35.4 percent).

The lack of even-strength success can be linked to one major detail. UW is averaging 27.9 shots on goal per game, which is the ninth-lowest in the WCHA. The only other time in the Eaves Era that ratio finished below 30 was in 2002-03 (25.9), his forgettable first year.

That's a telling stat. The 16th-ranked Badgers (8-7-3 overall, 4-6-2 WCHA) have won all five games this season when collecting at least 30 shots.

"We're creating a lot down low and we're cycling the puck well," Murray said, "but we're just not bringing it to the net."

In that respect, the team has several issues. In addition to not generating enough shots, UW has been inconsistent when it comes to getting traffic in front of the net. In turn, that limits the number of deflections and rebound chances.

Senior center and captain Sean Dolan said the deficiencies are a by-product of tactics, not lack of effort. He said some of it can be tied to a lineup that has only six regulars from last season.

"I know it's December now," Dolan said, "but we're still getting used to how guys play and finding where to go."

Another element, according to Dolan, is the psychological aspect of venturing into the dirty area in the low slot.

"Something that we need to keep working on as forwards is generating 5-on-5 chances," he said. "I think it's just more of a mentality of bringing the puck to the net and not playing on the (perimeter) and kind of forcing ourselves to get bodies to the front of the net and getting those ugly goals."

Murray always seems willing to stick his nose into the fray near the crease despite his smallish 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame. He was asked if a young roster — as many as six freshman forwards have been in the same lineup — was a factor.

"Maybe the first couple games; they're not used to the speed of college hockey," Murray said. "We can't use that excuse the whole year.

"They're not young guys anymore. I remember my first year, the first couple games were a little bit of a surprise. But then you get into a rhythm."

In WCHA games, the Badgers have the No. 1 power play and the No. 2 penalty-killing unit, but are 10 points behind front-running Minnesota-Duluth with the holiday break on the horizon. Closing that gap depends a lot on creating a more balanced offense.

Eaves was asked if his club can make a push given its current approach to scoring goals.

"I don't think it'll get us to where we want to be ultimately," he said. "We're going to have to forge up that part of our fort and find more offense."