Dirk and the Mavs are facing the Spurs in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs
It’s that time of the year again. Since late October last year, 32 teams battled it out. There was a fantastic All-Star game in Dallas half the way. There was spring coming up and the wrap-up of 82 regular season games. Yes – it’s that time of the year again – the NBA Playoffs are here! And the Dallas Mavericks are in the show again. For the tenth straight year, the Mavs are in the NBA postseason. Ultimately, with all the season’s good, the bad and yes – for a dedicated Mavs fan sometimes just outright ugly – it all comes down to this. Win or go home!
I’m excited, because I believe the Mavericks and all fans have reason to be hopeful. The deadline trade in February worked out greatly. The team is deep. The team has good chemistry. The new guys fit in well and have shown more than once they are a great addition to the team. I’m excited about Caron Butler and Brandon Haywood completing what I think is one of the most complete lineups in the entire NBA.
And then there is Dirk. What can you say about him. He’s as determined as it can get. Sometimes he looked a bit tired in late March, but in the past couple weeks of the regular season he’s been phenomenal again and carried the team the way we’ve seen him do so many times before. Jason Kidd obviously is our great ball distributor and one of the keys if we will fare well or not. I am just excited and can’t believe how well he is playing and what an inside view he’s got into the game. Last but not least it’s fantastic to have Dampier and Jason “JET” Terry back healthy. I think this is crucial.
I’ll admit I’m not a basketball expert, but I feel really, really excited about the Playoffs this year. The Mavericks may be the oldest team in the league, but they are hungry. The determination is there. The experience is there. And this will ultimately help them defeat the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs – one of the most experienced playoff teams of the past decade.
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. I believe the Mavs can go all the way this time. But let’s take it one step at a time. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The big question that everyone is obviously brings up right now (basically all season) is: Can anyone (read: the Mavs) beat the Lakers? If the Mavs and Lakers are to meet again, it will be in the Western Conference Finals. And I truly believe if everyone is healthy, the Mavs can take it up to them and get to the Finals. Of course we don’t know yet how the Lakers may improve throughout the Playoffs, if they make it out of the first round (I don’t necessarily see this happening, the Thunder are pretty good, and they got Durant!). The Lakers are still the Lakers, but let’s believe!
So, I want to encourage all the Mavs fans out there: BELIEVE! I know I do. GO DIRK! GO MAVS! The time is NOW.
