Self-destruct. This is where Finley would have excelled. Worst trade ever in their franchise. This is their last time in the Finals. Put a fork in the Cubans.
wasn't a trade, it was part of the "Allen Houston" exception. and yes, this was probably their best shot, they had in the bag last week, but blew it and momentum has shift since.
I hope this puts to rest all this thinking that you have to be a small, quick, fast-breaking, high-scoring team to win in today's NBA. Dallas got to the finals playing defense, but couldn't finish because nobody lead them. Dallas will be back to normal next year...they'll win a round or two in the playoffs and then choke it away again.
The Dallas Mavericks will trade all their players to the Houston Rockets so we can become the Houston Mavericks.
This was Dirk, Avery, and Cuban's last shot at the finals much less a championship. They'll be good for years to come because of those three but not championship good.
If Nitwitski keeps choking whenever a big game is on the line, Dallas fans are going to be in for a lot of heartbreak over the next few years. And that's a good thing. I mean, c'mon, you're the team's superstar and not only do you not find a way to take the last shot, you throw a crappy pass to the worst offensive option you have on the floor? Suh-weet!
That was the play... Dirk played an average series for him overall considering the defensive attention, and he finished with 30-15. He just doesn't have the killer instinct as a finisher, but he can get you right to the top, just needs someone to push him over.
C'mon guys. I'm as happy as anyone the Mavs lost but this team has a bright future. Next year, they should have the same nucleus and Josh Howard & Devin Harris will be improved. I expect them to be better than the Spurs and contend again for the championship. But it is sooooooo sweet they fell short this time. The only guy I feel sorry for is Avery Johnson. He had a great year in his first full season as a head coach but he couldn't get his squad to close out an inferior team. Wade is Wade but the Mavs should have won this series.
I think some of ya'll are underestimating the Mavs (I can't believe I just wrote that). They aren't an old team and they will most likely be bringing back most of their players. They still knocked off the defending champs and well, if it wasn't for an insane Wade, they would have won it all. They really need a leader though. I actually think the Spurs will be the team on the decline. Manu is nowhere near the player he was 2 seasons ago, Horry is old, Finley is old, NVE is old, Brent Barry is old, Duncan could possibly be on the decline. The Rockets could really have a shot at winning big next season if we can stay healthy.
they continue being second rate has-beens. dallass sucks something fierce. they deserve nothing less than this.... and i love it.
Does Dallas learn from this loss and go on to overcome this obstacle... like the Pistons did in the early 90's, and the Sixers did in the early 80's.... Or are they a re-incarnation of the 90's Orlando Magic or the mid-80's Houston Rockets... teams that looked like they were on the cusp of a possible dynasty, but only got one good shot at it.
This Mavs fan gave us a hint to the answer of the thread starter's question ... Dallas is going to trade for Yao...
I love how fans of a lottery-team that has hasn't been out of the first round in 9 years is calling a team that went to the NBA finals "second rate has-beens". Great logic, there. Anybody here would love the success the Mavs have had the last 5 years. Their worst season has been better than our best over that period.
IMO, the play of the series was when Jason Terry hit the shot that put the Mavs up by 13 with ~6:30 left in game 3. That is the signature moment I will always remember from this series. The Miami crowd got quiet as they realized their team was about to go down 0-3. That jump shot "sucked the air right out of the building". Then we had the biggest choke job in the history of the NBA Finals that I can remember right now. As I sit typing this, I still cannot believe the Heat actually won 4 games. They should have been down 0-3 instead.
I would have loved to have the Mavs success too... but not if it meant I had to give up the title runs in the 90's. If you're looking at Rockets fans, they still have those 90's titles to flash... that's much better than simply having a good 5 year run with nothing to show for it.
