The NBA Championship

It was fun today, basking in the glow of the NBA Championship. First major sports championship in this area for twelve years (the Stars won the Stanley Cup). In fact, of all the major sports franchises in DFW, the Cowboys have gone the longest without an appearance in a championship. Can somebody buy Jerry Jones a clue?
This victory was so satisfying on so many levels. Beating the "chosen one", for starters. All the hype means nothing without the ring. And how the Mavs won. One superstar, and a lot of committed veteran role players.
The turning point of the series may have been the Wade-James show to put them up by fifteen in game 2, but the turning point last night was Stevenson's bump of a Heat player after Miami took the lead in the 2nd. Instead of a quick timeout for the Mavs to settle down, it took fifteen minutes for order to be restored, bu which time the adrenalin of the Miami players and fans was gone.

MAVS Win NBA Championship

To borrow from Muhammad Ali: They shocked the world!

NBA Finals Part 2

The comeback on Thursday night was certainly one for the ages. I think the Wade-James celebration after the lead was extended to fifteen points was one for the ages. It was like waving a red flag in front of a German bull. A writer in the Star Telegram pointed out that it was also the storyline of this series: old school vs. new school. In an old movie, either Bull Durham or Mr. Baseball, the lead character reminds his teammates that one should treat the game with respect because they are being paid to play a kid's game. It is humility versus arrogance. Certain players act as if they are entitled to all the attention. As my Dad used to say, "if it wasn't for sports, he'd be pumping gas in East Keokuk."

NBA Finals Game 2

Okay, so game 1 was pretty bad. Not that the Mavs were blown out or fell apart, but they lost. To make matters worse, Dirk has a torn tendon in one of the fingers of his left hand. Even so, he still had 27 points. But where was the rest of the team? Dirk can only carry them so far. Tonight's game is critical, yet I believe there is still a lot of pressure on Miami. If they lose, it will be more "LeBron can't win the big one." If the Mavs lose, the media will offer consolation by saying it was to the greatest team ever (a questionable proposition if there ever was one).

The NBA Finals

So, the Dallas Mavericks are in the NBA Finals. They will be playing the Miami Heat which brings back memories of the nightmare of five years ago. Up 2-0, and leading in Game 3, the parade was already in the planning stages. Then Dwayne Wade caught on fire and Dirk disappeared and the Mavericks lost. Of course it helped that Wade went to the charity stripe nearly 100 times in the last four games.
Now comes the rematch. According to ESPN, it is all about LeBron James. In fact, ESPN acts as if it is a foregone conclusion. All this should do is make the Mavericks mad. We will see come Tuesday what wins championships, hype or heart.

You Heard It Hear First

On February 27 of this year I posted an entry on the Dallas Mavericks, calling them "the Stealth Team" in the NBA this season. After sweeping the Lakers, the two-time defending champions, I do not believe they are a stealth team any longer. Go Mavs!

The Stealth Team

There is a team that is absolutely tearing up the NBA right now and nobody even notices it. It is the Dallas Mavericks. While all the people who should know better are waxing eloquent over LeBron, D Wade, and the other guy in Miami, or looking at Carmelo as the second coming of Willis Reed, others are talking up the Lakers and Kobe or the Celtics. Yet the Mavs have won 16 of their last 17. They have 43 wins and nobody mentions them, nor the other "stealth team" ahead of them in the standings, San Antonio, whose record is even more fantastic. The Spurs have Duncan, Ginobli, Parker, and that's it. The Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd and the best and deepest bench in the Association. I think the Mavs will still be around in June. Will anyone notice them then?