The fact that Dirk won without a true #2 is amazing

I'm almost afraid to post this. As much as I hate the Mavs, I don't want to take away from what Dirk accomplished. He's a truly great player. But, I think what the Mavs have is akin to what the Pistons had when they were winning - a near all-star caliber player at every position. Spending 90 million dollars on your team salary will do that. Only whereas the Pistons had no true Superstar - the Mavs have at least one.

 

The 2004 Piston team had Ben Wallace, Rasheed, Billups, and Prince. These are all star players.

 

Jason Kidds contribution has been really underrated

This is a first ballot hall of famer who led the Nets TWICE to the finals. If you watched the finals and the way he played on both ends of the court, he absolutely was as valuable as those other guys you mentioned.

People who dont know basketball are ridiculously fixated on just scoring

I would say he is definately the second "superstar of the Mavericks" on this team

 

I think that Otis Thorpe was Hakeem's #2 on that 94 team. Losing him in the Drexler trade was really tough for me.

 

That's a good observation. I was picking them because I felt that their bench was vastly superior to Miami's.

 

First, Richard Hamilton has been an All-Star too.

But the Mavs have Nowitski, Kidd, Marion and Butler who are also all All-Stars for sure (has Chandler ever made it?). Chandler and Terry are definitely borer-line All-Star talents. And Brendan Haywood is probably the best back-up center in the league.

 

Clutchfans, stop the rational discussions please we're here to be rabid fans. God.

 

Jason Terry is a legit #2 although he came off the bench.

 

Not to diminish anything Dallas or Dirk did but in fairness this was a relatively weak year - lots of parity, but no real juggernaut like the old Lakers, or Spurs. There really wasn't a dominating team like you have seen in the past. it made it an entertaining playoff year, but I think Dirk's achievement as a winner without a traditional #2 all star caliber player reflects on the league being in a bit of a transition between the teams of the past(SA, Lakers, Bos) and the teams of the future(OKC, MIA, Chi, Mem, etc).

 

Dirk has the best team in the NBA. Look around the league buddy from 1 to 5 do you see any team as complete as these Mavericks? With that said unless a guy has a incredible long reach a guy at less than 6'11 trying to guard Dirk without fouling is a fail situation.

 

Historically, not for any team aspiring for a championship.



The Mavericks are a team full of players nobody wanted anymore.

Anyone remember the reaction to the Harris Kidd trade?

Marion disappeared for a couple of seasons... Peja... Barea had a nice little run, but he's a spark plug, that's it.

Haywood, Cardinal, etc., they are a great team only because of Nowitzki, without him that team just doesn't work.

Oh and Chandler and Terry, to me their second and third best players - in that order - but not any better than other best second and third best players of past championship teams: compare them to Gasol, Odom, and Bynum; Garnett, Pierce, and Allen; Ginobilli and Parker...

This was special, we probably won't see this happen again in a very long time if ever, especially against a team as top heavy as the Heat.

 

I'd like to also add, that Dirk is the best shooter in the league and just about the most mobile 7 footer walking on Earth with the best handles.. Heck the just good NBA guard can have a free for all and play off of Dirk because the defense has to worry about Dirk so much. He's simply the best player in the league right now when you consider all the facts.

 

I'd take a team with 1 superstar with great role players than a team with 2 superstars with mediocre has beens and that one superstar disappearing when it matters. When you really think about it, the Heat pretty much played with Dwade, sidekick Bosh, and mediocre has beens in the finals.

With that said, the Custodian was so good he was basically the #2, 3, and 4 for Dallas.

 

You guys ever look at how perfect Dirk is constucted? Only way a lankier 7 footer could operate like Dirk is if he was super skinny like Durant. He's got the perfect torsoe to leg length where the torsoe is long enough to give better footing and movement than say his teammate Haywood. I think Chandler is built alot like Dirk.. shorter limbs and longer torsoe but too bad he doesn't have the skill set to go with the anatomy. Guys with too long a reach general have a poor shot and Dirks arms are just the right length for better control.

 

Yep, I said that right before the playoffs started.

They had firepower at every position and had some excellent defenders in Marion, Chandler, and Kidd.

 

The Mavs played superb basketball similar to the championship Spurs or Pistons. They almost always had perfect execution on every play. This is why I think the Thunder will never reach that level if they either keep Westbrook or Scott Brooks. I hate plays that revolve around ISO plays.

 

Mavs win further proved that basketball is a team sport.

I don't think what he did was amazing, he got a solid team, if terry haven't made all of those basket in the first half, we might be going to game 7.

 

Hmm I guess no argument here also. They were deeper. Still pretty amazing on what dirk was able to accomplish as the leader of that team though.

 

I agree about the Mavs but I think Westbrook/Brooks(and even Durant) will eventually "get it". Your judging them pretty harshly for their first major run. Very few players/teams/coaches get it when they are that young - like NEVER.

 

I think on paper it may look that way but Jason Terry had some unbelieving shooting games. In the two closing games vs Miami & Lakers he was unbelievable.