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. They probably propelled themselves into worst collapse in NBA history territory. Refs? Yeah, they were bad, but so was the Mavericks shooting.

When the pressure got on, I saw Dwayne Wade become something more than his normal self. I saw Dirk do this occasionally in the previous 2 series, but he obviously wasn't up to the task against Miami. I predicted the Mavs in 5 in the beginning, and that was not a homer pick. They are a better team...........or were. After the first 2 games I was thinking I pretty much had my 5 game prediction wrapped up. The better Mavs would drop ONE game to the inferior heat and seal things up in 5. Then Dwayne Wade became Dwayne Wade..............and his more than numerous free throws only helped.

It was a tough series. 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.

I think the Mavs have a better chance of being back than Miami does. It's hard to imagine Mourning and Paytong contributing like they did, and for that matter, Shaq. I believe he busted his butt in these Finals. I was watching him move and it has been a long time since he played defense and hustled like that. 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.

The West will be tough. The Clippers will be better, the Suns will have Amare, and the Spurs will have revenge on their mind. If the Mavs can sign Jason Terry, they should be in just as good shape as anyone else.

Did you notice the pictures of Dirk two days after the last game at the locker cleanout? Shaved head. 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. He has come out of the summer improved every year so far, and has never had the kind of fuel he does now. I can't wait for October.