2013-2014 NBA Preview: Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

2012-2013 Record: 41-41 (10th in West)

Key Additions: Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Monta Ellis, Devin Harris, DeJuan Blair, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, Fab Melo

Key Losses: Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo, Chris Kamen, Mike James, Elton Brand

Projected Starting Lineup: Jose Calderon, Monta Ellis, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Samuel Dalembert

Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion. Those are the only two players left on the Dallas Mavericks from their 2010-2011 championship season. The team has seen almost a complete turnover in the last two seasons. With Nowitzki, 35, coming to the end of his career, the Mavs hope to make one final run to the Finals with him as the centerpiece. The main players who are hoping to help the team make a playoff run behind Nowitzki are relatively playoff inexperienced. Newly acquired Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis will compose the starting backcourt that hopes to keep Nowitzki rested until playoff time. The two guards, in a combined 16 years in the NBA, have only made the

Mavs Win 2011 NBA Finals

Dirk

          That’s all he needs, one name and now you’ll recognize it forever. The greatest European players to ever play in the NBA has now proven himself by finally winning his first NBA title. I could have started this article out with how much I hate LeBron, as you may have seen in my past articles, and how he continually choked in the 4th quarter but that would not give enough credit to the great Dirk. That would not be fair to Dirk nor the Mavs, so I am starting with the NBA Finals MVP. Dirk carried this team throughout the playoffs and finally gets the recognition he deserves.

          Up until winning it all, all Dirk was known for was losing the 2006 NBA Finals to the Heat after the Mavs took a two games to zero lead and being named 2007 NBA MVP after having his top seeded Mavs bow out in the 1st

2010 NBA Playoffs Recap

What we learned from this year’s playoffs:

Kobe’s Not Done Yet

First of all, congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers for not only winning back-to-back championships, but also beating the rival Celtics in the process. To all the people who said that Kobe was past his prime and that it wasn’t his league anymore, how do your word’s taste? Because Kobe just fed them to you. Kobe Bryant just proved to everyone out there that not only his is still in his prime, but that no injury too severe can stop him. Playing with almost every injury known to man: a broken finger, a spastic back, a bad ankle, and whatever else that we don’t about, Kobe still managed to win his 5th NBA Championship and 2nd NBA Finals MVP. He is now tied in the championship category with Magic Johnson and one, yes one, behind Michael Jordan. He may not have had his best shooting game