Do the Mavs Have it for a Repeat?

In the wake of the Dallas Mavericks stunning victory over the Miami Heat in the NBA finals, more than a few kids might have traded in their soccer shoes and football cleats for basketball kicks. Mavs fever is in the air, and even the current NBA lockout can’t seem to cool down the dream of a city and a team to repeat their championship season. Assuming that there will be a season next year, the Dirk Nowitzki-sized question is, “Do the Mavs have what it takes to do it again?” Being that basketballs aren’t made of crystal, perhaps the future of the Mavericks can be found in the team’s recent past.

One of the great things about the NBA is that, given the grueling non-stop 84 game schedule—with 41 games at home and 41 away—on any given night pretty much any team, cellar or stellar, can beat or be beaten by any other team. We saw this scenario repeated last season, over and over again, and 2011 went down in the books as one of the best seasons in NBA history. As the season progressed into the playoffs, patterns emerged and paradigms shifted faster than Dwayne Wade’s pivot foot. In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, which marked the early exit of the #1 seeded San Antonio Spurs at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas put Portland on the postseason trail by taking the series 4-2. Then, in another stunning upset, the Mavericks swept the reigning champion Los Angeles Laker’s three-peat dreams from the floor in four.

Meanwhile the Heat beat the 7th ranked Sixers and 3rd ranked Celtics, each in a decisive 5 game series that showcased the formidable talents of Wade and LeBron and earned Miami some newfound respect as a team that had learned how to finish. And when they finished the favored Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals, featuring a dramatic 5th game that saw Miami come back with an 18-3 run to take the series (4-1), there was little doubt that Miami was destined for NBA greatness. Maybe “King James’s” pompous pre-season prediction that his arrival in Miami marked the dawn of a new basketball dynasty wasn’t so far-fetched after all. With Dallas closing out OKC (4-1) to win the Western Conference finals, the stage was set for what would prove to be one of the most exciting match-ups in NBA history. Trying not to think about that heartbreaking loss to the Heat in the 2006 playoffs, Dirk, Kidd, Terry and all of Dallas hoped that history was not about to repeat itself.

On May 31, the 5 game grind that would be the 2011 championship series began on Miami’s home court. Each game was a gritty back and forth battle, with most going right to the wire—decided by just 3 points or less. Although both teams had their moments, both brilliant and lackluster, a certain underlying pattern or strategy began to be revealed as the series wore on. For Dallas, it was a familiar strategy, the same source of inspiration and motivation that had gotten them to the playoffs in the first place—a strategy best summed up by three simple words, “never give up.” And it worked.

No matter how far down they got, no matter what the numbers on the scoreboard and the clock seemed to be saying, the Mavericks never gave in and they never gave up. And it’s in that strategy that we should look for the answer to the question, “Do the Mavs have what it takes to do it again?” With all the uncertainty of the 2012 NBA season, with the lockout, the labor disputes, and ambiguous rosters, one thing is certain for Maverick fans and NBA fans alike. When the new season begins, whether Dallas has what it takes to make history again or not, we’re in for another great ride.

About the Author: Alex Shelton is a freelance writer for Become.com. Become is a price comparison and product review site that helps consumers find the best product and great deals. From football cleats to Nike soccer shoes, you can find reviews and prices for pretty much anything.

Dallas Sports Fan – Mavericks Return To Finals, Hamilton Back For Rangers

Even Belmont Stakes betting will have to take a back seat to the Mavericks in the Dallas area right now, as the Mavericks are on their way back to the NBA Finals for the first time in five years. On the baseball diamond, Texas gets their slugger and MVP Josh Hamilton back in the lineup, and he returns with a bang.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks could very well be out of the NBA playoffs right now, but instead they came out on top in their Western Conference finals matchup against Oklahoma City, claiming a game 5 win to set up a return to the Finals. Game 4’s 112-105 overtime win wasn’t the series clincher, but it was the straw that broke Oklahoma City’s back as the Mavericks were down by 15 points with less than five minutes left, but they managed to claw their way back and force a slew of mistakes out of the young Thunder. Dirk Nowitzki continued to hit shots that no other big man in the league could hit, and once the Mavericks managed to take it to an extra period on the road, you could see the Thunder’s spirit snapping in half. Now, the Mavericks will likely face Miami in a rematch of the 2006 Finals, which some would compare to an episode of WWE Smack Down with the calls that Dwyane Wade was getting back then. With LeBron James now in Miami as well, it could be even worse.

Texas Rangers

MLB betting players watched the Rangers drop two of three in Philadelphia in a clash of World Series contenders, and they couldn’t get their offense going as they scored a grand total of six runs in three games, including a 2-0 loss in a reunion with Cliff Lee, who led the Rangers to the World Series last year before returning to Philadelphia. However, business started to pick up on Monday when Josh Hamilton came off the disabled list and hit a homer in his first at-bat in a 4-0 victory. Lost in the shadow of Hamilton’s return was Nelson Cruz coming back, and he also went deep in his first game back with the Rangers, who proceeded to win two of three at home against the White Sox. The Rangers will stay at home this weekend as they welcome Kansas City to town on Friday for a three-game set, and then they’ll head out on the road on Monday for a three-game set in Tampa Bay. The Rangers’ offense lacked pop while Hamilton and Cruz were on the sidelines, but with them in the lineup, they’re much scarier, which bodes well for their sports betting odds next week.

Lebron’s Decision = Implosion

In the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) no one ever dreamed that a free agency signing would be broadcasted on ESPN as a prime time special. That’s right, millions had the luxury of watching Lebron James announce where he will play next season on a one hour show titled “The Decision”.

After watching “The Decision” the following words came to mind: diatribe, debacle, mockery, a spectacle and most importantly disrespectful. We haven’t seen such a circus act since P.T. Barnum’s “Great Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome” was unveiled in 1875. Of course after 40 minutes of fluff, Lebron made his decision: the Miami Heat. The fan reaction in Cleveland was grim and full of despair. The reaction in Miami had band wagon fan written all over it. The entire scene was disrespectful to the Cleveland Cavaliers, their fans, and anyone who enjoys the NBA.

There is no sense in gripping about this. It’s a business plain and simple. The important question now is how this impacts the league and Lebron. Now that Lebron is teaming up with Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and a cast of other unknown characters, will they be successful? Is the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy returning to South Beach? Will Lebron be doused in champagne come next June?

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Questions about Lebron James Future

And now the most anticipated sports contract ever – finally upon us. After falling to Boston 4-2, NBA free agencies season has officially begun. Stay? Go? Are the tools in place in Cleveland? Move and build? Shaq did it. What about a change of scenery? New York? Chicago? Miami? Sacramento? Yes, apparently the Kings are on the radar. The sports world remains a buzz.

Win a championship in Cleveland this year and Lebron stays? Likely. Lose in the in the conference finals and Lebron stays? Possibly. Our world seems rocked that the Cavs lost to the Celtics in six.  Coming off the game 5 performance, James faced criticism for his lackluster 3-for-14 performance. In game six James responded with a triple-double (27-19-10), but during the final minutes remained somewhat carefree, emotionally spent.

Not to say an entire career decision rests on a week of poor play, or a series, but the larger factors need to be considered. Are the pieces in place? It seems every year Cleveland tries a new player here, or there. The plan changes, but the outcome remains the same. Back to Cavs, the real loser in this entire scenario is the city of Cleveland. This was supposed to be the year the Cavs won the title — or at least reached the NBA Finals. Now, it seems the Cavs’ poor showing against the Celtics will make it more likely James will sign elsewhere this summer.  One more win, one more series, and this might have had a different outcome.

July 1^st is right around the corner.