Requiem for a Championship

Tweet Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks organization and fans of the Mavericks for winning the 2011 NBA title!  Let there be no questions; Dallas was the best team this year and fully deserved the title.  On a roster where no players had won a championship previously, its almost hard to believe that they were the best team in basketball this year.  Not the best collection of individuals, but the best TEAM.  NBA championship teams are often defined by qualities.  Detroit is associated with Defense, Lakers with showtime and flare, the Celtics with toughness.  For the 2011 Mavericks, the best quality I can think of is: teamwork. 

When you reflect on Dallas's run to the title, you will be able to point to everyone doing something (with apologies to Caron Butler, Beaubois and Jones, who were inactive for the playoffs). Whether it was Corey Brewer sparking a comeback in Staples center, Brendan Haywood playing excellent defense, or Jason Kidd hitting a dagger 3 against Portland, this team always gave their superstar the help he needed.  Big shots from Stojakovic against the Lakers, key minutes by Mahinmi and Cardinal in the finals, and Shawn Marion's willingness to guard Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James in consecutive series.  Not to mention J.J. Barea's heart, Tyson Chandler's toughness throughout the playoffs, and De Shawn Stevenson and JET backing up their words against Wade and James.  It is truly remarkable for a team to have this many players contributing in big ways but coach Carlisle made it work.  As for Dirk Nowitzki, I'm sure everyone will have a different opinion on his best moment of these playoffs but for me, one stood out in particular: the last 30 seconds of game 6 against Miami. 

As Dirk Nowitzki took a pass from Jason Kidd on a beautiful cut to the hoop with thirty seconds remaining in game 6 and put the ball in to the hoop it began.  He raised his fist high in the air and took in the moment, he seemed to take it all in, relishing every moment of his first NBA title.  Then, after a stoppage in play, he put both hands on his head and seemed distraught.  Emotion overcoming him to the point where he did not want to be seen, he left the court as fast as he could once the buzzer sounded and headed in to the locker room crying.  If there is any question as to how much this title meant to him, those images should tell you how much it did.  In various post-game interviews he talked about how seeing all the hard work he put in over the years pay off caused him to break down.  Finally Dirk was able to get even with Wade after the latter had won a title at his expense in 2006.  Finally Dirk can forget about 12 seasons of disappointment.  Finally, his resume as an NBA player is complete.  No longer will anyone question his toughness, leadership, or ability in the clutch.  If there is one thing we learned tonight, its that Dirk Nowitzki is a true champion.

Why Dallas must win

Tweet Lets examine this year in the NBA as a whole, starting of course with the decision.  Now, everything that needs to be written about the decision has been written, I will not waste your time by re-hashing it, I will simply skip right into the start of the regular season.  I found that with each night in the NBA, there was something compelling to watch, every game had some interesting sub-plot, or performance worth following.  We wanted to see how a team (Miami) with 2 out of the top 5 players (some may even argue 2 of the top 3) along with a top 25 player would co-exist.  We wanted to see if Phil Jackson could go for an impossible-seeming fourth 3-peat.  We wanted to watch young stars breaking out (Kevin Love 30-30 anyone?) Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Brandon Jennings, Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Steph Curry, Monta Ellis and a slew of other exciting players were putting up ridiculous numbers, making every night mean something in the league.  It was the first time, in a long time that every team had something going for them (except Cleveland, which is a whole other story).  It was the first season in over 20 years that games such as Knicks-Celtics or Bulls-Knicks mattered again, all the big market teams were going to make the playoffs, and the league never seemed healthier.
By the time the NBA all-star weekend and trade deadline passed, the general thoughts were that the Bulls, Celtics, Lakers, Heat, Thunder, or Spurs were on the short list to win the NBA title.  Few disagreed with this view.  These were the best teams on paper, had the most stars (old and new) and were playing championship caliber basketball.  Fast-forward to the start of the playoffs. Miami suddenly looked invincible as teams discovered that Wade and James could destroy them as scorers, passers, or defenders.  The Miami team suddenly looked like the juggernaut that everyone expected them to become, and fans everywhere feared that title 1 of 7 was on the way.
If this were a movie the script would be brilliant, picture it:
                                               

***cue the star-wars introduction***

...It is a period of great despair to NBA fans outside Florida

The Evil heat Empire has conquered the Bulls and is on the cusp of greatness

Emperor Pat Riley sits on his throne counting his NBA rings

while loyal servant coach 'Spo' leads the mighty heat onwards

It seems as if nothing can stop this Miami team However,

In a not-so-distant conference, a scrappy challenger to the Heat throne rises

Dirk Nowitzki, leads a group of unlikely heroes into Florida

Though they know the mission is unlikely, they also know that NBA fans everywhere are counting on them...

                                                              ***end of introduction***

Kinda catchy isn't it?

And on that note we get to the Dallas Mavericks.  They have made a habit this year of shocking everyone. No Caron Butler? No problem.  Too old? That's OK. 
This resulted in the unlikeliest of re-matches: Heat Mavs II.  On one side: Lebron, Wade, Bosh and the 'Heatles'.  Throwing a champiionship celebration before a pre-season game was played, arrogantly proclaiming that they would win 7 titles, and carrying themselves as if someone already crowned them.  On the other side: Dirk Nowitzki and his Mavericks.  Few people remember that Dirk was a free agent last year, lost in the hoopla of the decision was his loyalty to his Mavericks, who (at that time) did not look like getting to the finals.  He understood this.  He knew that if he left, the slim chances Dallas had would be reduced to 0.
So he went to the gym, he worked on his game, and he gave it his all hoping for the best.  Then something happened, and though no one knows how or when it happened, there is no question it did.  Dallas was tough, Dallas played D, and Dallas, most importantly of all: believed.  You can see it in their team huddles, they are united, they play hard, and they never give up.  A group that seems like its going for a 5th title rather than a 1st, they exuberate a quiet confidence which spurs them on.  In the book 'When the Game was Ours' an account of Bird and Magics impact of the NBA, Magic lamented that guys in today's league take things for granted and do not work hard enough.  Reading between the lines, it seems that if players (not just stars but everyone) started to care and busted their asses every day, that the league could return to the glory of the 80's.  There is no better finals match-up to drive that point home.  Hard work, toughness, and the hard path vs. talent, fame, and the easy path.  This is why Dallas must win.  To encourage players to work harder in the future rather than latch on to a winner.  If Dallas wins, there will be proof that if you work hard enough, and believe in your team mates, you can beat anyone.  Best of all, it would be ultimate karmic justice for 06' and for the decision.