NBA Finals

Forgetting About Last Night and Entering Must-Win Mode: Texas Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 4 Preview and Open Thread

St. Louis CardinalsAlbert Pujols joined Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game. He also became the third player to have six RBI and the second player to have five hits in a World Series game. Oh, and he set a record for total bases as well with ... More >>

Defending Champion Mavericks are Now Must-See TV

​The champagne isn't quite dry and the NBA lockout is just getting started, but how good does it sound to be already talking about the defending champion Mavericks? Once a soft, underachieving team that nobody outside the Metroplex gave a dang about watching, the Mavs are now natio ... More >>

The 2011 Mavs Vs. the '88 Version, In a Battle of Smooth Vs. Smothering

The Mavs are NBA champions, but are they the best team in franchise history?

Ed-die's Bet-ter ... Clap-Clap-CLAPCLAPCLAP!

We've seen the Rangers in the World Series and the Mavs win the NBA Finals, and on Tuesday I was reminded just how great a Stanley Cup run can be when former Stars' goalie Ed Belfour and current GM Joe Nieuwendyk were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. They'll officially be in ... More >>

The Mavericks Finally Fought Back, and They Have the Title to Prove It

Mark Cuban, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs shed labels and the Miami Heat on the way to their first NBA championship.

2011 Dallas Mavericks' NBA Playoffs: My Top 10 Observer-ational Moments

​10. It was a simple offensive rebound and putback layup off the glass, but when Shawn Marion produced it at the end of the third quarter on April 25 it gave the Mavericks a 14-point lead over the Blazers in crucial Game 5 of the first round, and it restored confidence in the Mavs two days af ... More >>

Dirk's Legacy: The All-Time Top 7 NBA Power Forwards

​10 All-Star Appearances. 1 NBA MVP. 1 Ring. 1 NBA Finals MVP. 4-time All-NBA First Team 3-Point Shootout Champion Soft. Clutch. With Sunday's victory over the Miami Heat Dirk Nowitzki filled in the final void of his Hall of Fame resume. Only things potentially left that would improve his leg ... More >>

The Champion of Championships: Where Does the Mavs' Title Rank?

​Great. But is it the greatest? When Dirk Nowitzki accessorized his lefty layup in the final minute with private tears of joy and accomplishment last Sunday night in Miami, the Dallas Mavericks symbolically threw Don Carter's 10-gallon hat in the ring. After years of sheepishly having B ... More >>

2011 NBA FINALS GAME 6 -- Mavericks 105, Heat 95: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. You knew it was going to be an intense game ... even before the game. During shootaround at American Airlines Arena this afternoon neither Dwyane Wade nor LeBron James would respond to Dirk Nowitzki calling their mocking video "childish" and "ignorant." Their response: "We have no comment." B ... More >>

Whitt's End: 6.10.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *In 31 years of basketball, the Dallas Mavericks have won a combined (regular season and playoffs) 1,349 games. One more in Miami either Sunday or Tuesday and they are NBA Champions. *Histor ... More >>

Mavs Fans Deserve a Title, and Have the Scars to Prove It

The Mavericks have too many noble causes to not produce one last comeback

Dirk's Fever > Miami's Heat

​Fittingly, sitting courtside at American Airlines Center last night: Emmitt Smith. What he witnessed was perhaps Dallas-Fort Worth's gutsiest individual performance since, well, his own masterpiece 17 years ago. Yep, on a night when he fought a 101-degree fever, Dirk Nowitzki will ... More >>

The Top 10 Wins in the History of Your Dallas Mavericks

​With any luck we'll be re-writing this list in the coming week. But for now, last night's pulsating win at American Airlines Center certainly is among the best in Dallas Mavericks franchise history: 10.  6.2.88 -- Mavs 105, Lakers 103: Led by Sixth Man of the Year Roy Tarpley's 20-point ... More >>

2011 NBA FINALS GAME 4: Better Bench. Or Else.

​Simple. If their reserve players don't perform better, the Mavericks will lose the NBA Finals. And that starts tonight in Game 4 at the American Airlines Center. Jason Terry has to be more productive than the player who has shot only 38 percent and failed to produce a 20-point game. But who ... More >>

Mavs are Down 2-1 in The NBA Finals Because They're Playing 1 vs. 3

​For the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh hit a clutch jumper in Game 3. Dwyane Wade scored 39 points in Game 2. And LeBron James made the big-time 3-pointers in Game 1. For the Mavericks in the NBA Finals, it's Dirk ... or defeat. In last night's kick-to-the-crotch, 88-86 loss in American Airli ... More >>

2011 NBA FINALS GAME 2 -- Mavericks Adjustments

​I know he and the Mavericks and even LeBron James are downplaying it, but I'm worried about Dirk Nowitzki's finger entering tonight's Game 2 of the NBA Finals here in Miami. Just because it'll be different. "I'll be fine," Dirk says. "It'll be okay." But he loves to dribble left. He needs tw ... More >>

Final Destinations: 2

Mavericks revenge is a dish best served with Heat.

What Went Wrong for the Mavericks in Game 1? Let's Start With the Non-Starters

​On Mother's Day, the Mavericks' reserves combined to score 86 points. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Mavs' entire team managed only 84. Granted the Miami Heat are a bitch defensively. They are quick and fast and long and they did a fantastic job of chasing the Mavericks off the 3-point li ... More >>

The Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat: Game-Watching Parties

​The Mavericks will face the Miami Heat tonight at Miami's American Airlines Arena in game 1 of the NBA Finals. While some Mavs fans will be there sporting their Dallas pride, those who didn't make the trek down to the Sunshine State will be able to catch the game at bars around town. Special game ... More >>

Chokelahoma!

The Thunder's performance reminiscent of yesterday's Mavs.

Let's Go Bulls! But Let's Never Forget the Heat!!

​We're rooting for the Chicago Bulls in tonight's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Right? I know, in the regular season the Mavs were 2-0 against the Miami Heat and 0-2 against the Bulls. But the longer the series goes -- it's currently 3-1 Miami -- the more rest the Mavs will ge ... More >>

Mavericks 4, Thunder 1: A Review of My Preview

​After last night's Game 5 door slammer against the OKC Thunder, your Mavericks are now 12-3 in the playoffs and awaiting an opponent in the NBA Finals. Not bad for a team that about 50 percent of prognosticators picked would lose to the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. I picke ... More >>

The Greatest Individual Playoff Performance in the History of Dallas-Fort Worth Sports. Is Dirk's Dominant?

​The Mavs can play better than they did in Game 1 of the NBA's Western Conference Finals. For the first time in the playoffs they allowed 100 points, 112 to be exact. The Thunder grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and, according to Mavs' coach Rick Carlisle, corralled 13 of the game's 20 loose bal ... More >>

Mavs in the West Finals: We've Done This Before

​The Mavericks haven't lost an NBA Western Conference Finals series in five years. Of course we all know what happened Dallas advanced this far -- in the 2006 NBA Finals. The come-from-ahead loss to the Heat sent the franchise into a pyschological spiral from which it is just n ... More >>

Beat L.A.? The Mavs Might Replace Them on the Mountaintop.

Sharp shooting and shoddy predictions on the Mavs' road to the NBA Finals.

Dirk Nowitzki a Top 10 NBA Player of All-Time? Yes, But Only Among Players Without a Ring

​You know me, the biggest Dirk Nowitzki homer in town. But Rick Carlisle even made me cringe earlier this week by tabbing the Mavs' star as a top 10 NBA player "of all time."Carlisle has been great in these NBA Playoffs. Keeping his Mavericks mentally together after the Game 4 Portland Pratfal ... More >>

Those Same Old Mav-Wrecks

Another humiliating collapse has even the most loyal Mavs fans bailing before the inevitable crash and burn.

Blazers' Anger at Brian Cardinal is Silly ... and Good for the Mavs

You know it's a series when the towel-wavers are going at it. Mavs-Blazers has been relatively friendly. Portland coach Nate McMillan snapped at the refs after Game 1. Mavs owner Mark Cuban was hit in the face by a plastic straw during Game 3 and Brandon Roy pissed off all of Dallas with his ... More >>

What If Dirk Nowitzki Weren't White?

His critics wouldn't call him soft, but his teammates would still lead the Mavs to another early exit.

Mavericks 101, Blazers 89: My Top 10 Observer-ations

The Game 2 Hero: Peja​10. When the Mavs play with emotion and efficiency, they are tough to beat. Last night the intensity was there courtesy of Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler and the spunky J.J. Barea. And so was the execution, to the tune of a franchise-record low six turnovers -- including ... More >>

Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​Game 1   at Dallas       Sat.                    8:30 (ESPN) Game 2   at Dallas       Tue.    &nb ... More >>

Mavs Win, Clinch 11th Consecutive Playoff Berth

​I know the big news over the weekend for the Dallas Mavericks was another home loss to another potential playoff opponent - this time to the San Antonio Spurs - but the fine print after last night's blowout of the lowly Golden State Warriors was a clinched playoff spot. Some of you say ho-hu ... More >>

The Dallas Mavericks are teasing us again with hopes of a championship run.

At the NBA Trade Deadline, Mavs are All Good. No ... Thanks?

​I don't expect a Dallas Mavericks' deal before this afternoon's 2 o'clock NBA trade deadline. Couple of reasons. First and foremost, the Mavs are 41-16 after last night's thumping of the short-handed Utah Jazz and have won 14 of 15 since Dirk Nowitzki's sprained knee healed. ... More >>

The Los Angeles Boy-Toys

Avery Johnson Returns: To Boo or Not to Boo?

​He led the Dallas Mavericks to their 30-year apex. He Instilled defense and discipline into a franchise that had forever languished with an offensive philosophy. He orchestrated the best regular-season in team history. He was the NBA's Coach of the Year. And he took  ... More >>

FC Dallas is the latest proof that the metroplex can host everything without winning anything.

2010 World Series GAME 5 - Giants 3, Rangers 1: My Top 10 Observer-ations

To the victors ... the celebration.​10. Not sure what manager Ron Washington was doing going to closer Neftali Feliz in the 8th inning of a game the Rangers trailed 3-1. If the Rangers had forced extra innings it would've been an interesting mix-'n-match bullpen. Unfortunately, Texas' bats ... More >>

Do-or-Die in Dallas: How Our Teams Fare in Elimination Games

​To the Texas Rangers, tonight's do-or-die game is unprecedented, uncharted territory. But as metroplex sports fans, we're accustomed to these elimination scenarios. And, you know what? We're pretty damn good at them. While the Rangers take their pathetic 3-11 playoff pedigree into toni ... More >>

Will the Dallas Mavericks Bore Their Fans To Death With Another Winning Season?

Your Dallas Mavericks 2010-11 Schedule

Vomit.​ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy -- who I like, by the way -- thinks the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade/Chris Bosh-led Miami Heat will be the best team in NBA history. He says the Heat, a team he predicts will be "unguardable," will in 2010-11 never lose two games in a row, flirt with the NBA re ... More >>

The Top 10 Best Character Names in Sports Movies That I Could Think of Off the Top of My Head

Jesus saves. And shoots.​Why did the Los Angeles Lakers lose Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday night? Because they turned their back on Jesus. Boston Celtics' guard Ray Allen - who played "Jesus Shuttlesworth" in Spike Lee's He Got Game - went off on L.A. He hit a Finals-record eight 3-pointe ... More >>

Mavs Star Dirk Nowitzki Will Never Change Some Minds Until He Changes The Color Of His Skin

The Top 5 Coaches in the History of Your Dallas Mavericks

​Mavs got a no-brainer, must-win last night over the Memphis Grizzlies to remain tied for second place in the NBA's Western Conference with four games remaining. While Dallas jockeys to stay out of the Los Angeles Lakers' bracket and while owner Mark Cuban fired a strange, but strong war ... More >>

Loveable Losers or Successfully Consistent?

​Dirk did it. Again. As he's done for the last decade around here, Dirk Nowitzki snapped out of ugly shooting night just in time to lift the Dallas Mavericks to an improbable, pulsating victory. This time - mired in a 3-for-16 night - he hit two 3-pointers late in regulation and and then ... More >>

Mavericks-Nuggets: Biggest Game of the Year. So Far.

​Tonight at American Airlines Center is the biggest Dallas Mavericks' game of the season. In the coming weeks, there will be plenty more. Fighting for the NBA Western Conference's No. 2 seed and a possible sidestep of the Los Angeles Lakers until the conference finals, the Mavs host the Denve ... More >>

Let's Go, Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks Go for Broke, But Where Is it Getting Them?

I Love Josh Howard

...And great basketball

Heat Don't Fail Them Now