Another Day, Another Opportunity

We're baaaack...

Man, are they already playing preseason games? It's true, the NBA season is upon us, and our beloved Dallas Mavericks are primed to make up for last year's collapse.

And it was a collapse.

Up two games to none, and up 13 points with 6 minutes to go in Game 3 of the NBA finals, and we found a way to give it all away. Don't give me that crap about Miami picking it up and getting it done. Miami had one guy--Dwyane Wade. That's it.

But it was enough.

Dallas was overcome with the moment, unable to find the character and will to put Miami away. They found themselves struggling against an unseen demon, unable to find their normal game. Honestly, aside from their Game 4 non-showing, did Dallas just get beat in any game? No.

Certainly the officials helped the issue, and lent support to the conspiracy theorists nationwide. The comments from the national media and many news organizations and websites were hilarious, and sad at the same time. Dallas got screwed.

But it shouldn't have mattered.

Opportunity

Yes, a fresh chance is here. Business has been taken care of. Every Dallas player arrived in training camp and immediately took the stress test to determine physical conditioning. Every one passed.

Josh has his new deal. Dirk has his new deal. Jet has his new deal. The Little General has his as well. Marquis is gone, as is the disappointing Keith Van Horn, who played more like Keith Van Halen much of the playoffs. Maurice Ager is a promising draft pick, and Austin Croshere is an upgrade from Daniels.

The core has stayed together, and is a year older, and presumably much wiser. Unfortunately, the Spurs made some good moves, as did the Rockets, and the Clippers and Grizzlies are not far behind. Minnesota is a joke, so no threat there. My bet is that this year everyone finally figures out that Kevin Garnett is a team-killing cancer who will never be a franchise cornerstone, a fact I have known for years. Remember, he and Stephon Marbury were best friends, and Marbury metastasized a long time ago.

As for Dirk, this year is his opportunity to show the rest of the league that last year was the standard, not the exception, inasmuch as Dallas should be contending for the West title annually, not only on occasion. He has some work to do to restore the reputation and legend that he had begun to establish, only to see it break down with his Finals disappearance.

Opportunites.

I moved my season tickets closer this year.