I picked the Mavz to win the west last year and I see no reason to change my mind this year. As far as these guys kicking the P's butts, the P's were on an eight game winning streak and that loss was needed to guage thier actual progression. But if their were 2 teams I would worry about, it would be Dallas and Cleveland.

luckily between the spurs and the mavs, we only need to face one of them.

cleveland? I suppose. indiana is a wash. Miami? They've been doing well lately.

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Dallas is a very good regular season team. However, in the playoffs that's quite a different story. I don't think that they are quite ready to hang with the big boys yet. I will give them another season or so, in a seven game series, they won't make it.

If by some miracle the Mavs make it to the finals, the Pistons will obliterate them in a 7 game series. We won't have to worry about that because they won't get past San Antonio.

Nothing to Fear but Fear itself. I want Detroit to play the best in the Finals and if it is Dallas so be it. The Pistons are the team to fear and if we think Dallas is more Dangerous than the Spurs than lets play Dallas I want no excuses I just want results.

Play the Best because Detroit is the best, bring on the best can I say it anymore.

With the defensive improvement of the Mavs this year and the drubbing they put on us on the infamous 11/19 date earlier this season, they IMO would be the only team we should be concerned about. The next encounter with them in late March should answer any questions about how we can handle them. Note that we lost to them in two preseason games too.

The meeting with an improving Heat via a healthy Shaq in about 10 days and the end of the month back-to-back with the Cavs should, if we are successful, erase any doubts about us taking the east. Right now the players and the team should fear no other team so that when they do play them they take care of business....just don't be so cocky and play down to the level of an inferior team.

Nicely said. I like the confidence. However, I'm wondering if Dallas is afraid of the Pistons? Why should they be?


Interesting aside: I looked up some Vegas odds for the NBA Finals. According to one site (updated Jan 29th), San Antonio is still the favorite at 7/5. Detroit is next at 2/1. Miami comes at 5/2. Dallas comes in at 8/1. Phoenix is 4/1.

So it goes:

Spurs
Pistons
Heat
Suns
Mavs

And Atlanta's at the bottom at 450/1. Here's the funniest part: Charlotte is 400/1. Someone tell me how the Bobcats have a better shot at the title than the Hawks?

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I don't know if they have a chance of making it out of the West, but so far, the Jazz seem to have the Pistons number as well.

Detroit would sweep the in a play off series!!

I haven't watched much Mav ball this year. Reg season D isn't the same as playoff D. It will be interesting to see if they are able to take away more and more of what an opponent is trying to do as a series progresses.
One thing is for sure, the Spurs can take away enough to leave you nearly naked by game 7. To be sucessful the Mavs will have to find ways to win without use of their top five offensive plays.

Interesting how "drubbing" and 11/19 seem to coincide here?