I want to talk basketball!  NT, Mavs, I don't care.  Let's get this rolling. 

The Mavs had probably one of the largest collapses in sports since the Red Sox/Yanks a few years ago.&nbsp; They probably propelled themselves into worst collapse in NBA history territory.&nbsp; Refs?&nbsp; Yeah, they were bad, but so was the Mavericks shooting.&nbsp; <br /><br />When the pressure got on, I saw Dwayne Wade become something more than his normal self.&nbsp; I&nbsp; saw Dirk do this occasionally in the previous 2 series, but he obviously wasn&#039;t up to the task against Miami.&nbsp; I predicted the Mavs in 5 in the beginning, and that was not a homer pick.&nbsp; They are a better team...........or were.&nbsp; After the first 2 games I was thinking I pretty much had my 5 game prediction wrapped up.&nbsp; The better Mavs would drop ONE game to the inferior heat and seal things up in 5.&nbsp; Then Dwayne Wade became Dwayne Wade..............and his more than numerous free throws only helped.&nbsp;

It was a tough series.&nbsp; It just shows how quickly things can get away from you in basketball, even over the course of a seven game series at the highest level of competition.<br /><br />I think the Mavs have a better chance of being back than Miami does.&nbsp; It&#039;s hard to imagine Mourning and Paytong contributing like they did, and for that matter, Shaq.&nbsp; I believe he busted his butt in these Finals.&nbsp; I was watching him move and it has been a long time since he played defense and hustled like that.&nbsp; And he still was not the major factor in the series, and he had guys guarding him in the past he would have absolutely destroyed.<br /><br />The West will be tough.&nbsp; The Clippers will be better, the Suns will have Amare, and the Spurs will have revenge on their mind.&nbsp; If the Mavs can sign Jason Terry, they should be in just as good shape as anyone else.<br /><br />Did you notice the pictures of Dirk two days after the last game at the locker cleanout?&nbsp; Shaved head.&nbsp; I would put money on him working hard all summer, pissed off at the things he is reading about himself despite his playoff heroics, and tears through the league next year.&nbsp; He has come out of the summer improved every year so far, and has never had the kind of fuel he does now.&nbsp; I can&#039;t wait for October.