SenorSpur
06-21-2006, 02:11 AM
Ever since the Mavs took out the Spurs (why Ginobili, why) and eventually advanced past the Suns to the NBA finals, it seemed their level of cockiness rose at every level.
Of course, it starts with the owner - Mark Cuban. After the conclusion of the Western Conference finals, he could be seen or heard on practically every local and national media outlet taking congratulations, chronicling his road to wealth and the events that led to him becoming the owner of the Mavs. He went on talking about how he chose Avery as his coach and their road to success.
Then before the start of the NBA Finals, Josh Howard spouts off about Dwyane Wade "not being a good shooter". Wonder what he thinks now. Meanwhile Dirk Nowitzki is being praised and touted as the "REAL" league MVP.
Fast forward to the day between games 3 and 4 in Miami. Cuban is on David Letterman laughing and talking and cutting down Riley's style of coaching. He goes on to talk about how HE orchestrated changes to league rules, with the NBA office, to encourage more offense and basically open the game up to attract more fans. All the while, this guy is smiling and acting as though his team had already won the championship.
Meanwhile, the Mavs and their families and friends were "chillin" on South beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the atmosphere in between games 3 and 4. This led to Avery having to move the team out of Miami and away from their families in an attempt to regain their focus prior to Game 5. After that game 5 loss, Cuban begins bullying and insulting the refs and the commish, claiming "your league is rigged" simply because he felt there were not enough calls in favor of his team. He then gets fined a quarter of a mil for his antics.
While they were busy being praised and adored by the media as the deeper, tougher, quicker team and the next NBA dynasty, the Heat "dialed in" and proceeded to slowly and methodically "outmuscle", "outphysical" and "outplay" them in the remaining four games en route to their first championship.
My point in all this is that it seemed as though there was an extreme level of cockiness that permeated both that team and that organization. They started celebrating too early - after Game 2 to be exact. Somehow the Mavs must have got it in their heads that this NBA Finals would be a cakewalk based on the outcome of games 1 & 2. Although, no team has ever been issued a trophy after just 2 games.
The Mavs and their fans can bitch and moan all they want about officiating and blame everyone from David Stern to Bennett Salvatore for their failure. They were expected to win. Maybe they were supposed to win. The fact is they ran into a more experienced, more focused and more mature team with a superior superstar (Wade) and a superior coach (Riley) that knew how to win.
Now, they are left to ponder what they did wrong. Fortunately for them they have all summer in which to do so.
Of course, it starts with the owner - Mark Cuban. After the conclusion of the Western Conference finals, he could be seen or heard on practically every local and national media outlet taking congratulations, chronicling his road to wealth and the events that led to him becoming the owner of the Mavs. He went on talking about how he chose Avery as his coach and their road to success.
Then before the start of the NBA Finals, Josh Howard spouts off about Dwyane Wade "not being a good shooter". Wonder what he thinks now. Meanwhile Dirk Nowitzki is being praised and touted as the "REAL" league MVP.
Fast forward to the day between games 3 and 4 in Miami. Cuban is on David Letterman laughing and talking and cutting down Riley's style of coaching. He goes on to talk about how HE orchestrated changes to league rules, with the NBA office, to encourage more offense and basically open the game up to attract more fans. All the while, this guy is smiling and acting as though his team had already won the championship.
Meanwhile, the Mavs and their families and friends were "chillin" on South beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the atmosphere in between games 3 and 4. This led to Avery having to move the team out of Miami and away from their families in an attempt to regain their focus prior to Game 5. After that game 5 loss, Cuban begins bullying and insulting the refs and the commish, claiming "your league is rigged" simply because he felt there were not enough calls in favor of his team. He then gets fined a quarter of a mil for his antics.
While they were busy being praised and adored by the media as the deeper, tougher, quicker team and the next NBA dynasty, the Heat "dialed in" and proceeded to slowly and methodically "outmuscle", "outphysical" and "outplay" them in the remaining four games en route to their first championship.
My point in all this is that it seemed as though there was an extreme level of cockiness that permeated both that team and that organization. They started celebrating too early - after Game 2 to be exact. Somehow the Mavs must have got it in their heads that this NBA Finals would be a cakewalk based on the outcome of games 1 & 2. Although, no team has ever been issued a trophy after just 2 games.
The Mavs and their fans can bitch and moan all they want about officiating and blame everyone from David Stern to Bennett Salvatore for their failure. They were expected to win. Maybe they were supposed to win. The fact is they ran into a more experienced, more focused and more mature team with a superior superstar (Wade) and a superior coach (Riley) that knew how to win.
Now, they are left to ponder what they did wrong. Fortunately for them they have all summer in which to do so.