You know the dance routine to every Mavs ManiAACs performance
Whether they are performing a rendition of Thriller on Halloween or dancing around to a different song, Mavs fans know this group and what they bring to each and every game.
Whether they are performing a rendition of Thriller on Halloween or dancing around to a different song, Mavs fans know this group and what they bring to each and every game.
Whether or not you think he is a great player is irrelevant in this conversation. Every Mavs fan knows that there is no bigger cry-baby in all of sports than Tim Duncan. The minute the whistle blows and its a foul on him, you know Duncan is going to ask the question, "Who me?" as he looks helpless to the referee.
People around here know that Dirk has a very untraditional style of training and conditioning. If you watch a practice, you will often see the big German jumping around in the background like he's on a trampoline. The reality is these are training principles and practices he learned from his coach in Germany - Holger Geschwindner. Holger will usually fly in during the season at least once or twice.
Dallas had the luxury of Steven Nash, Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki all playing together during the early part of the 21st century. However, it seemed apparent that in order for Dirk to completely take control of this team, the other two pieces might need to leave. Nash left via free-agency to the Phoenix Suns. Finley seemed destined to remain a Maverick forever until they decided to waive him in order to take advantage of the one-time amnesty provision. Dirk took over as the true leader and never looked back.
The Mavericks were in the middle of a playoff series drought. After losing the 2006 Finals, the Mavs struggled with winning a playoff series. In 2011, Dallas got past the Portland Trailblazers but nobody gave them a shot against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were two-time defending champions and were the favorites to represent the Western Conference again. Dallas, however, not only stopped the Lakers but they did it in dominating fashion as they swept the Lakers out of the playoffs. This would be the greatest moment in franchise history until a month later.
The Mavericks had a chance to win an NBA title in 2006 when they played the Miami Heat. After winning the first two games, Dallas held a 13 point lead with 6:40 left to go in game three. The next 6:40, the entire Mavs family found out who Dwyane Wade was. Wade put on a performance that would make Michael Jordan proud as he almost single-handedly brought the Heat back to win the game and ultimately the series.
To make things worse for Mavs fans, Wade also won the MVP award during the All-Star game that was hosted in Dallas during the 2009-2010 season.
Dwyane Wade may be the person that scored all the points for the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals, but true Mavs fans know the reason Dallas lost the title was because of the name Bennett Salvatore. Salvatore was part of an extremely controversial ending in game five that helped give Miami the title.
Mavs fans know that if Dan Crawford is officiating a playoff game in which Dallas is involved, the chances of winning go down exponentially. At one point the Mavs were 2-16 in playoff games when he officiated.
If those two aren't enough reasons for why Dallas didn't win the title, throw Laura Miller into the mix as well. Miller was the mayor of Dallas during the 2006 season. Mavs fans started cringing on the Monday morning after their Game 2 victory over the Heat in the Finals. Dallas had a 2-0 lead and looked poised to win the title. However, the Dallas mayor announced they had a parade route already lined up and ready for when the Mavs won the title. Every true Mavs fan knows this was the start of the demise.
Dallas finished the 92-93 season with a dreadful 11-71 record. The next year, the almost became the first team in NBA history to lose at least 70 games in back-to-back seasons. This is the Dark Ages they should teach in history lessons.
For those of you who don't know, Mavs Man is a scary individual the Mavs try to use as entertainment in the arena during timeouts and such. The problem is that his costume is a bit scary. The attempt to make him look like a basketball and turned him into a Spiderman look-alike.
There was a point where Mark Cuban started realizing that offense alone wasn't going to get him to the promised land. There were rumors that Shaq might be on the market and the Lakers would be willing to deal the center. Lakers supposedly wanted Dirk in return, though. As much as I knew Shaq could probably help this team, it made me mad to think about trading Dirk for anyone. I was ready to start a "Keep Dirk at all costs Movement." Luckily I didn't have to bring out the picket signs.
Mark Cuban gets a lot of bad publicity around the NBA and in the press but as a Mavs fan, you get it. You understand his desire and his passion because you realize he's just a fan like you and I. Ok, so maybe he's a fan that has billions of dollars.
You are the ultimate MFFL. You have the shirt, the banner and you even hashtag it in all your tweets and Facebook posts. The rest of the NBA doesn't get it nor will they ever. Through thick-and-thin we are #MFFL (Mavs Fan For Life).
Tyson Chandler was the anchor that held this team together defensively during their title run in 2011. It's a shame that they couldn't find a way to bring him back again for one more shot. Rather, Chandler signed with the Knicks and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Makes me tear up just typing it.
Doesn't matter if you were watching it at home, sitting at a friends house or in a bar, you know exactly where you were when the final horn sounded and the Dallas Mavericks were crowned NBA Champions.
