The Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat will both step into the unknown when for the first time in 35 years, the NBA Finals will see two teams make their debuts in the Championship game.

The Mavericks got here thanks to their new found defensive strength - instilled by the NBA's Coach of the Year, Avery Johnson.

But that defence will face a mammoth task in trying to shut down the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.

While this may be new territory for the Heat, O'Neal has seen it all before, having collected three NBA titles in consecutive years during a glittering spell with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Miami signed him in order to buy into this success. While a first-ever finals appearance is an achievement in itself, O'Neal is not celebrating. Not yet.

"We just don't want to make it to the Finals, we want to win the whole (thing)," he said. "I only celebrate when it's really over. I'll celebrate a little bit, but like I told the guys, the job is not done."

Johnson will assign either DeSagna Diop or Erick Dampier to defend O'Neal. Diop has speed and is an effective shot-blocker, but Dampier is a better low-post player.

The 7ft DJ Mbenga may also be called upon in later games but is suspended for Thursday's opener.

The question mark for Miami is Wade's fitness. The 24-year-old superstar guard has missed practice for most of this week with a sinus infection.

Dallas should not assume that this will stop him. Hours before Game Six of the Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons, Wade had been in hospital with the illness, but he emerged to score 14 points in limited minutes to help Miami book their ticket to this game.

The Mavericks can counter with unpredictability. The genius of their own big man - Dirk Nowitzki - is no secret, but the depth and versatility of Johnson's squad means he can keep Miami guessing as to what they will be facing.

Johnson's Coach of the Year award was recognition not only for his work in tightening up the Mavericks defensively, but also for turning them into basketball's chameleon, able to change and adapt to any situation they find themselves in.

"I like the way we've pieced together this team," Johnson said after his team wrapped up a berth in the Finals.

"It was definitely with the intention of trying to be flexible enough to play fast, slow. We feel we have different styles, and we can play against teams with different styles."

No matter what system they are using, Nowitzki is the star.

The 7ft Germany international is best described as a shooting guard, but he can play inside or outside and is a menace in any set up.

The Heat are likely to ask Udonis Haslem to counter Nowitzki, but the smaller, quicker Antoine Walker will also get a look at some stage.

Facing O'Neal and Wade, Dallas may go with a heavy dose of defence. The alternative is to try to capitalise on Miami's sluggishness by using an up-tempo attack.

Whatever Johnson chooses, he knows he has a team with the flexibility to play that style.

Article courtesy of www.fiba.com