Finals, Finally

Where to begin? So much to say about reaching the NBA Finals. I have so many people to thank and so many memories...

First of all, if the Mavs don't win another game this season, I believe the season is a success. I wouldn't have said that if they hadn't beaten Phoenix because the bar was set at a conference championship. That's one game better than the franchise has ever done and I think that's what Dallas was expecting out of this team. I also think that they've come far enough this year that if they lose the Finals, contrary to my earlier post, they still would have a good chance to win it next year. But still, I think their best chance is right in front of them right now.

No offense to Brad Davis or Rolando Blackmon, but I'm so glad that the Mavs finally have a real reason to hang a banner in the AAC! Our first real banner!


I haven't been following the Mavs for all of their 26 years, but I've been a fan long enough that this year's success feels well-deserved. Let's take a moment to thank all of those Mavs who helped (or didn't help) along the way. Remember when we used to hang our hopes on the likes of Gary Trent and Eric Strickland? When Gary Trent was our bruiser inside? And we relied on Calvin Booth to his a last-second bunny to win playoff games? I was at the game at Reunion when A.C. Green broke the record for most consecutive games played. And I rolled my eyes with the rest of Dallas when Cuban signed Dennis Rodman. Christian Laettner, Robert Pack, Kurt Thomas, Raef LeFrenz all carried our hopes along the way and, often, dropped them like a Suns second-half lead.


Some of those former Mavs (most notably and sympathetically Michael Finley) have been on the losing end against their former team this year. This playoff run has knocked our Finley, Steve Nash, Nick Van Exel, and Raja Bell. And next up is the "volume shooter" Antoine Walker. I felt for Fin and Nash when we beat them. I'm going to love beating Walker. I was never his fan.

That's enough Mavs Musings for today. Tomorrow, we'll tackle the Shaq factor, American Airlines, and what Vegas has to say.

Peace, out.