1 year ago today the Dallas Mavericks were NBA champions

The 2011-'12 Dallas Mavericks may have been Thunder food in this postseason, but one year ago today they were America's Favorite Team after they prevented Miami Heat G/F LeBron James, G/GM Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh from winning the first of their 15 consecutive NBA titles.

On June 12, 2012 the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Heat in Miami 105-95 to win their third consecutive NBA Finals game and end the series, 4-2.

It was Jason Terry, not Dirk Nowitzki, who led all scorers with 27 points. Dirk had one of his worst games of the playoffs; he was 9-of-27 from the floor, and 1-7 from 3. But he finished with 21 and 11, and was named the Finals MVP.

Of all the developments that occurred during these Finals, the most memorable was Terry calling out LeBron after the Game 3 loss and then out-playing the King the rest of the series.

Take a look at how dramatically different the box score from the Mavs' final game of the 2011 season compares to the final game of their 2012 season.

Mavs 105, Heat 95 June 12, 2011
Shawn Marion, F      35 min, 12 points
Dirk Nowitzki, F      39 min, 21 points
Tyson Chandler, C   30 min, 5 points 
Jason Kidd, G        36 min, 9 points
JJ Barea, G           30 min, 15 points
Bench
Jason Terry G       34 min, 27 points
Brian Cardinal      12 min, 3 points
DeShawn Stevenson 13 min, 9 points
Ian Mahinmi         11 min, 4 points
Peja Stojakovic  - dnp, coach's decision 
Brendan Haywood  - dnp, coach's decision
Corey Brewer  - dnp, coach's decision 

OKC Thunder 103, Mavericks 97 May 5, 2012
Shawn Marion, F        35 min, 9 points
Dirk Nowitzki, F         40 min, 34 points
Brendan Haywood, C   25 min, 4 points
Jason Kidd, G        38 min, 16 points
Jason Terry, G      43 min, 11 points
Bench
Vince Carter, G      20 min, 8 points
Delonte West, G     18 min, 3 points
Ian Mahinmi, C         14 min, 10 points
Brandan Wright, F    6 min, 2 points
Brian Cardinal  - dnp, coach's decision 
Kelenna Azubulke  - dnp, coach's decision
Yi Jianlian  - dnp, coach's decision
Roddy Beaubois - dnp, coach's decision 

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Even with Deron Williams, here are the numbers why the Dallas Mavericks should fear the Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder made my earlier prediction of another Spurs' NBA title look stupid by winning four straight in the Western Conference Finals for their first ever NBA Finals appearance.

Seattle must be thrilled with these developments.

Watching the Thunder methodically destroy the Mavericks, Lakers and Spurs in this playoff run it seems that Oklahoma City could have the league's nexty dynasty.

David Stern must be thrilled with this development. His New York Knicks can't win a game yet the flea-market Thunder are rolling.

Even if your Dallas Mavericks can sign Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams this offseason and put him next to Dirk Nowitzki, we should all be scared to death of the Thunder for the next few years.

Here is why:

Kevin Durant, age 23, signed through '15-'16 (unrestricted fa in 2016)
James Harden, age 22, signed through '12-'13 (restricted fa in 2013)
Serge Ibaka, age 22, signed through '12-'13 (restriced fa in 2013)
Kendrick Perkins, age 27  signed through '14-'15 (unrestricted fa in 2016)
Thabo Sefolosha, age 28, signed through '13-'14 (unrestricted fa in 2015)
Russell Westbrook age 23, signed through '16-'17 (unrestricted fa in 2017)

Can the Thunder afford to keep this nucleaus together? Having Durant and Westbrook locked in are the keys, now the trick will be able to convince James Harden to stick around. It does appear, however, this team is loaded for an extended run at the top of the Western Conference.

 

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Report says Deron Williams prefers Nets, Lakers & maybe Mavericks

This is not offical, New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams hasn't signed anywhere, and I am too big (fluffy?) to say told you so but ... the reports keep surfacing that DWill is not coming to the Mavericks this offseason.

The Lakers are the new twist to this scenario. According to this report from Sports Illustrated, DWill is more tempted at the idea of going to the Lakers than he is the Mavericks. But his preference is to remain with the Brooklyn Nets, and build from there with guys like Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace.

I have thought from Day 1 WIll was never coming to the Mavericks, which leaves this cap-clearing previous season left to look at guys like ... Steve Nash.

Maybe Michael Finley can come back.

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Mavericks' Shawn Marion gets no love: Not on any NBA defensive teams

Despite repeated lobbying efforts from both team owner Mark Cuban and head coach Rick Carlisle to convince the NBA nation otherwise, Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion apparently isn't a good defender.

Never mind the fact that the league's defensive player of the year isn't even a first ballot all-league defensive player. What the what??!!!

The NBA released its all defensive teams today, and "Trix" didn't make either.

First Team
LeBron James, Heat
Dwight Howard, Magic
Serge Ibaka, Thunder
Chris Paul, Clippers
Tony Allen, Grizzlies

Second Team
Tyson Chandler, Knicks
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
Luol Deng, Bulls
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Kobe Bryant, Lakers

The voting was completed by 30 head coaches, who could not pick players from their own team. This is the first time the league's defensive player of the year (Chandler) wasn't a first-team all-defensive player since 1995 when Dikembe Mutombo was a second-teamer.

As far as Marion? He was asked to guard as many as three positions per night and did it well. Apparently not well enough.

 

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Is Kevin Durant, not LeBron, the best player in the game?

After watching the OKC Thunder kick the defending NBA champion Mavericks to the curb in the first round of the playoffs it was quickly apparent the Thunder are all grown up.

While LeBron and DWade are getting killed nationally for their performance against the Indiana Pacers, Kevin Durant has become as clutch as any player in the league. He is a very bad, bad man.

On Saturday night in L.A. with the game tied at 98 against the Lakers, Durant calmly drilled this monster 3 against Metta World Artest to win the game.

 

Not sure if the Thunder will have enough to get past Los Spurs, but the series should be compelling.

 

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Lamar Odom explains himself, sort of, in 140 characters or less

I miss Lamar Odom. He provided so much material.

Just in case you don't follow former Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom's Twitter account, @RealLamarOdom, the man has finally returned to the world of 140 characters or less.

Beginning on May 3, Odom has Tweeted: 

"being the best basketball player i can possibly be will allow 2 become the next P.Diddy . i know whats fly! Dis the Year . ThecomeBackKid!"

"puffs designs name is Sean John. i want the people 2 pick mine! Joseph LaMar or Joseph London. miss that Court ! Olympics here we come USA!"

" it was hard 4 me 2 get the picture of my cuz who at 24 was shot in the head"

OK, so by this we can deduce LamLam:

a. Wants to design his own line of clothing
b. Wants to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics in London
c. Was really bothered by his cousin's death
d. Plans on a comeback to the NBA
e. Is not "All In" with the Dallas Mavericks' playoff theme

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Dallas Mavericks 2012 playoff slogan: "Who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky ..."

Actually, your defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks' playoff slogan is "All In". Ironic because in the shortened offseason their management was anything but all in for this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are going with "Team is One" for the playoffs.

The Spurs? Don't appear to have one, but something like, "We're the only team in this town, we win a lot, and we don't need no stinkin' gimmicks".

The Lakers are slogan-less. Usually "We're the Lakers and You're Not" works.

The Clippers are going with, "What Do We Do Now?"

The Nuggets could use, "This Is Going To Be Quick".

Your Mavericks are the seventh seed, and  will face the NBA's scoring champion in former Texas star Kevin Durant. Game 1 is Saturday night in OKC at 8:30 p.m. CT. 

If you don't recall, the Mavs defeated the Thunder in the West Finals last spring. The teams are just a bit different this year. The Thunder won the season series, 3-1.

12/29/11 OKC, 104-102 in OKC Here is the ending of that fun game:
  

1/2/12 Mavs, 100-87 in Dal

2/1/12 OKC, 95-86 in Dal

3/5/12 OKC, 95-92 in OKC

The Mavs have a chance if:

a.) They can rebound with the Thunder. In the four game series, the Thunder out-rebounded the Mavs, 44.8 to 39.8. This stat has to be at least even for the Mavs.

b.) Durant is going to get his, but Thunder guard Russell Westbrook must shoot a lot, and miss. This worked in last year's playoffs as Westbrook was a black hole. Westbrook averaged 22.8 points on 39% percent shooting against the Mavs this season.

c.) Dirk is the best player in the fourth quarter. Dirk's biggest transformation last spring was his ability to become the best player in the fourth quarter of every playoff game. If he is driving and attacking the rim, the Mavs have a shot. If he is settling for off-balanced jumpers over 6-foot-3 defenders, no way. 

d.) Prayer. Who knows? Can't hurt, right?

PREDICTION: This happens with all good young teams as they grow: They go "through" some veteran team en route to the top. The Thunder have been through the playoffs now, got their teeth kicked in, and are mature enough to defeat a Mavericks team that just is not the same as one year ago.

The Mavs are older, tired, and clearly are fighting a case of "Been there, done thats". These guys know the score. Last year's team had energy whereas this team appears to be fighting itself to be interested.

Thunder in six.

 

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Dear NBA: More compressed 66-game regular seasons

DALLAS - Where/how can the NBA fan sign a contract extension for another few years of this compressed 66-game regular season?

This NBA season was unique because of the lockout and the hurried nature of the entire league year, but I have loved it. Give me more four games in two nights, please.

Pretty much everyone associated with the teams from the players to the coaches to the support staffs are gassed because they aren't used to this baseball-style pace. 

It has made for better theater. A fewer number of games increased the level of importance on each one, and you could watch your team play pretty much all the time. Did the quality of player suffer? Yes, but ... it didn't seem to bother the viewer/fan/customer.

There is an added level of unknown going into the playoffs that is normally associated with the NCAA tournament. The Heat, Bulls, Spurs, Lakers and the Thunders are the favorites, but it is easy to envision of these teams losing before the NBA Finals.

"I am enjoying this season because you have to have the mindset of making the best of whatever the situation," Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle EXCLUSIVELY TOLD ME! recently. "But come next year, we'll have certain realizations about the NBA regular season. It's not going to seem as busy as it normally does. That's probably a positive thing. And we'll learn from this going forward that will help us, and me, too. 

"But as far as what my preference is? With a veteran team, if you had to spin a wheel or push a button, you'd want a regular type of season with a month-long training camp," Carlisle said. "That's not in the cards. We have to make the best of this."

Soon enough the NBA will return to the 82-game regular season, complete with only a smattering of back-to-backs and plenty of days off in between.

Boooo!

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Dallas Mavericks' 1st round opponent could be Metta World Peace-less

The Dallas Mavericks have looked nothing like a defending NBA champion against the Los Angeles Lakers this season going 0-4.

As it stands right now, the Mavs are the 7 seed and would play the 2-seeded OKC Durants in the first round. But there is a decent chance the Mavs could move up to six and face the Lakers in the Western Conference quarterfinals.

If they do, don't be surprised if Lakers forward Metta World Peace isn't playing. Mr. World Peace went Ron Artest on OKC guard James Harden today and you have to be thinking a big-time suspension is coming. The Lakers defeated the Durants in double OT this afternoon.

 

 

BTW - Mr. World Peace averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds against the Mavs this season.

 

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WHAT?! Lamar Odom says "it's too bad it couldn't work out" with the Dallas Mavericks

Former Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom couldn't be bothered with trying for his former employer, so instead he's making the rounds at film festivals.

Lam Lam was recently spotted at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival in his hometown of New York City and he was asked about his time with the Mavericks, and the "sudden" departure.

In typical Lam Lam fashion, he was not bitter but took the Lam Lam Road of Philosophy. He told ESPN's cameras:

“It was short lived, too bad it couldn’t work out but things happen for a reason. My life has been so crazy the last couple years, as far as issues with my family, as far as going through personal tragedy. And I felt like God was saying, ‘You know what Lamar, I’m going to give you a little time. A little time to step back and soak everything in….”

I love the complete lack of self-awareness; this has nothing to do with the player himself.

He added in response to Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban's assertion that the two had a blowup at halftime of a game against Memphis shortly before he was cut, Odom said:

“It’s too bad. It’s one thing I’m not going to do is play that game… if somebody wants to take we’ll shot let them take a shot. Be a professional, be a gentleman about it and I wish them much success.”

Especially after his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, the first word that comes to my mind when I hear the name "Lamar Odom" is "professional".

A gentleman? Yes.
A professional? No. More like professional thief.

This does not diminish some of the real issues he has faced off the court. That's his deal. But he also had a job to do, just like the rest of us. He chose not to do it.

This is a clear case of the overly-enabled, multi-millionaire, uber talented pro jock who has so much cash he simply does not have to play by the rules the vast majority of us do.  He was recently paid millions just to go away; good work if you can get it.

Some NBA GM will sign Lam Lam in the offseason because this is a very talented man, but by doing so it ensures there is no real penalty to this type of behavior.

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