OMG if the Mavs win the west that would suck so bad because i would have to hear all these Dallas people talk and yap and it wouldnt be go. So I will definitely be rooting for every team in the playoffs to beat the Mavs including the Jazz.
I would think they would stick Odom on Dirk. I would think he's the most capable of guarding him... I am aware that it would still be a mismatch, but Dirk has a mismatch to just about every defender.
They certainly can. Denver-Dallas will be a mighty interesting second round series. The Mavs would have a tough road to get through the Nuggets and Lakers, although they should have home court over Denver if they keep playing this well (the winner of the game in Dallas on March 29 gets the tie break). Could they topple the Lakers without homecourt? I don't know if I'd bet on it, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out. I don't even think I would count it as a colossal upset. Dallas could also sneak into the #1 spot, giving them a much easier road to the Finals. But I don't consider that likely. They're 3 back and likely lose the tie break (conference record) to the Lakers. LA hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire lately, but 4 games is a lot to make up with only 17 left. I'm sure LA will get their act sorted out by the Playoffs, but they haven't exactly been setting the world on fire lately.
I'm actually shocked that most people in this thread would pull for Ron, Phil, and Kobe over Dirk, Cuban, and the Mavs. We lost the 7 game series to the Mavs, but the Lakers have handed us 2 playoff losses over the past 10 years. And Kobe, Phil, Fisher, and Vujabic were way vilified after last year's loss. And seriously Ron and Kobe are pricks. He might flop, but I've always liked Dirk's game. And yes, he's whiny, but Mark Cuban is probably the best owner in basketball. I don't know if I'd put money on the Mavs over the Lakers, but I would totally root for the Mavs over the Lakers.
But then how will I enforce the argument that the Mavs organization sucks because they have never won a championship? If the Lakers win it's just another title in LA...
I can respect that argument. I guess the same goes for the Suns, Clippers, Kings, and who's that other loser franchise? Oh yes, the Jazz.
The trade they made in my eyes put them in the top in the western conference I do belive these guys are going to win the west.
I live up in the DFW area now, so I hear about the Mavs nonstop on the sports talk shows here. So I hear some minute details that the rest of the league may miss. I also hear a ton of homer talk, which I try to filter out. I do think that the trade put the Mavs way up the totem pole in the West. They got much more than they bargained for with Haywood, who is a legit center starter and much better than Dampier. Some of the homers contend that Haywood is the best center the Mavs have ever had, and I'm inclined to agree for now. They are a legit contender, much more so than the Nuggets. The aren't as soft as they were before the trade. And as much as they annoy me, I would pull for them against L.A. any day. The only team I would cheer LA against at this point is the Jazz.
Their starting 5 is strong, their bench is strong and they have a superstar. I think with the lakers there bench is pretty weak other than LO.
Kobe vs. Dirk... wow... is it wrong for me to just assume the fetal position if it comes down to that?
HELL NO, are u ppl serious? lol those poll results are laughable the mavs cant even beat the Nuggets, too many good skilled big men to throw at Dirk, theres Nene, KMart, Birdman etc dallas will fold, same ol squad at the end of the day it comes down to Dirk and hes as soft as they come.. ppl are too swayed by the consistent REGULAR SEASON success of the Mavs but come playoffs, Dirk shrinks
Most likely not due to their defense but anythig can happen. I have the nuggets winning it all this year
I would never ever root for Mavs, Jazz or Lakers. If Mavs goes to the Finals(believe me, it's very hard for them) I'll do what I did last time, just stop following NBA for 2 weeks, pray Mavs to lose and just log into Clutchfans and read about Rockets. If Jazz somehow reach into Finals i'll quit following NBA forever. If they win the trophy(no way) I'll kill myself.
