>>>>>My home town Mavs are in the NBA finals for the first time in their 26 year history.
>>>>>The Heat vs. The Mavericks.
>>>>>
>>>>>I love Shaq, but Dallas has too much dept. They'll wear Miami down like they did the Suns... plus, Dallas has the home court advantage.
>>>>>
>>>>>Dallas in six.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The NBA playoffs have been wildly entertaining so far. Most of the games and series have been close, new stars have emerged, and the most entertaining teams (like the Suns and the Mavs) have advanced instead of being bounced in the early rounds. I think it's great that the finals will be between two teams who haven't been there before. I don't know that I agree with your pick, though. Yes, the Mavs are deeper and have home court advantage. But they still have to figure out a way to stop Wade and Shaq. Everyone says this is Dwayne Wade's team now, and to an extent that's true. But Shaq showed the other night he's not dead yet. This could be his last appearance on center stage and I think he will make the most of it. The only way the Mavs are going to stop him is get him in foul trouble.
>>>
>>>Mavericks have enough big players with six fouls to give to keep Shaq on the foul line. He'll get his points, but he won't be the monster that he usually is when playing Dallas.
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>>If the Mavs win I will definitely turn off the TV before Mark Cuban grabs the trophy. He's like George Steinbrenner without the charm.
>>>
>>>Like him or not, he made this team. He is not afraid to spend money to keep good players and obtain new players. The Perot team that owned the Mavericks were a joke.
>>
>>Well, not to put too fine a point on it because for the most part I agree, but then why is Steve Nash playing for the Suns?
>
>Ok fair questin... but why is Dallas a better team without Nash?
>I think Nash is a very good player, but perhaps he didn't quite fit in. Although, still wish that Dallas had kept him.

I might question whether Dallas is a better team without him, but there's no way to know, so... I'd just say it's hard to imagine that any team is better off without a guy who averages double figures in assists, and who could lead his team as far as he did without Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas.

>Dallas is a better defensive team without him for sure....

That's probably true.