Round 1: Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors

Most likely yes. But it all depends on the next game.

 

Relatively new fan? I guess you could put it like that. I've respected the Mavs organization since they got that new arena. I never rooted for them though. Back then I was still young and living in Houston. Rockets were the only team I watched and cared for. I wasn't even a fan of the NBA. It was just the Houston Rockets. My last year in Houston we still had Francis and we just got that new coach JVG. I didn't like that move from the beginning. It was frustrating. Even after an impressive game I would still tell everyone I hated him. I absolutely hate JVG. We lost to the Lakers in the first round and I thought next year would be our year. That following year I moved to Dallas and still managed to watch every Rockets game via streamtv.net. I say managed to because I didn't like the trade for Tmac. I didn't like him in Toronto, I didn't like him in Orlando, now why the hell should I like him just because he is a Rocket. I didn't mind getting rid of Mobley, but giving up Cato had me going crazy. He is my second all-time favorite Rocket behind Matt Maloney. I didn't watch a single Mavs game that year (besides the ones they played against Houston). We ended up playing Dallas in the first round. I COULD NOT stand the Mavs. I don't know what it was about them, I HATED them just like everyone here. Every player was ugly, they played cheap, fans were so damn stupid, etc. During the playoffs that year, I broke a 37'' TV and lost a 500 dollar bet. It was unbelievable. Anyways, I was still a fan, though I was definitely pissed off. Everyone in Dallas was laughing in my face.

Anyways, I got over it pretty fast and thought they'd come back next year with an improved roster. They started off well by trading for Alston. I didn't know anything about this guy except for the fact that he played on the streets and was a pure pg. I hated seeing James go, but if it was going to help Yao out, I thought I'd give it a shot. It didn't work out to my liking. This was also the last time I listened to anyone. I now think for myself. I hated JVG even more. Yao & Tmac went out and I just stopped watching because it was so brutal. Wesley as a started isn't going to cut it. At this point I still didn't like the Mavericks - mostly because all my damn roommates did nothing but talk about the Mavericks. I used to love when they would lose a game becasue these guys wouldn't say a word and looked like they were about to cry. It's kind of like how you guys act after a loss. It's humorous if anything. Back to the Rockets, I knew it was a lost season and I couldn't blame anyone for their poor record. So basically I didn't watch any NBA last year, not even the playoffs. I was in Houston for the summer and some friends from work who went to school with me used to host Mavs viewing parties during the playoffs. I was insulted when they invited me over because they knew I hated them so much. Why the hell would I want to watch the Mavs. I was exuberant when they lost in the finals. I thought it was a bit of payback because Rockets were in the same situation when they lost. (I guess Tmac and JVG aren't the only ones who could lose being up 2-0)

The following year would be this year. It started off great. I'm living alone and have nobody to b**** at me. I still didn't watch the Mavs and got League Pass just to watch the Rockets. They were a good team. My friend is a Red Rowdy and everytime I went home he would take me to a game. It was great fun. I loved it. We were playing great defense, blowing teams out, and I couldn't be happier. Even when Yao went out, I knew it wasn't going to be that big of a deal (mostly because the initial ETA was only weeks). That happened during Winter Break. I pretty much went to every home game during that 5 week span.

I came back to Dallas in January and found myself flipping through channels at night. I came across a Mavs game. I watched the game just to root against them. They didn't lose. I said I'll watch tomorrows game and see if this was a fluke (they were blowing teams away). Exact same thing happened. I kept doing this for about 2-3 weeks. The team started to grow on me slowly. Instead of saying "F you Mavs!" I would say, "Wow what a shot!" Next thing I knew, I was smiling after every win. I don't know what happened. At this point I was still watching every Rockets game. When both teams played on the same night I would have them on side by side. But my eyes were always glued to the TV that had the Mavs playing. At this point, Rockets were still doing well. They stopped entertaining me though. That's basically what it came down to. The only players on the Rockets I liked were Yao, Battier, and Hayes. Out of 12 people, that was it. I came back to Dallas in March after a week in Houston (at this point Rockets were 40-25) and that was it, I was a converted Mavs fan! I realized how much I missed them when I was in Houston, I felt empty not being able to watch them. So I came back and took off my Rockets decal and threw it away. There was just hate in the air from that moment. I hated the Rockets. I can't stand JVG and Alston. I don't care how well they play. They both just piss me off. Ever since then, I've been rooting against the Rockets. They are just boring as hell. I even stopped watching them on LP. It was nothing but Mavs for me from that point on.

Even Thursday night when I met up with some Dallas people to watch the Rockets, I was essentially rooting for the Jazz to win. Of course, I'm not the in-your-face, Rockets suck, let me laugh at you now type of guy. No way! I've got some class. Ask them, I didn't even make a big deal about it. But I was definitely delighted when only 4 players scored that night. It's just hate, that's all. Kind of like what happens when you find a new girl who is prettier, smarter, and more fun to be with. You just find a way to hate the old one. At least that's how it works for me.

There's definitely more to this, but I got the basic story line down. This is no way in hell a definition of a bandwagon fan. Here's the thing, Rockets have the 4th best record in this league. The only reason you think I am a bandwagon is because Mavs have the number 1 record. Sure, I can see your point. But you'd be a dumba** if you thought I wasn't going to be happy with the Rockets this year if you told me they would win 52 games at the end of the season. I'd be ecstatic. If I was living in Houston, then it's another story altogether.

Mavs could go down the next 2 games for all I care. I'd still be a fan. I wouldn't watch any more of the playoffs this year. There's no point for me to. Mavs did their job by entertaining me this year and that's all I could ask for. GS has our number and there isn't anything that will tell me otherwise. Clippers are a stupid POS and they had to go on that huge losing streak. But I got to give GS credit. They worked hard and they are determined to win.

That's all I got to say. It's not like Rockets suck, I'm a Mavs fan, now Mavs suck, I'm back to being a Rockets fan. No, I don't work that way!

 

What are you talking about? I've never been happier in all my life. I even bought one of those MFFL shirts on mavgear.com