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.