State of the AL East

It is a weird feeling being a Yankee fan this time of year. Going into the season, especially with the new rotation (We'll dominate the league in 2002!), I expected this to be a rebuilding year, getting younger players better and ready to take over some of the positions that the fading stars will soon give up. Even though it is only mid-June, the Yankees are in the thick of things at the top of the American League East. While worry will always exist for me this season (1-8 to Boston? Really?), I suppose having a season with this kind of start is a little better than wondering about the improvements of the top young prospects (Catchers Jesus Montero, Gary Sanchez, and Austin Bromine as well as pitchers Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances).

I will admit, I am on hold in regards to my Yankee and Major League Baseball fanhood until the NBA season ends, but the Finals are over (sadly) so it is now time for my Yankee faithfulness to come into full effect.

As it stands now, the Yankees are 1.5 games back in the AL East to the Offensive Juggernauts, also referred to as the Boston Red Sox. In a way, this is still promising, because I still do not think that the best Yankees are playing to their full potential. I expected a bigger season from 3B Alex Rodriguez this season, but A-Rod still has yet to have a real hot streak this season. 2B Robinson Cano has had some great weeks, but he is not hitting like 2010 Robbie Cano. CC Sabathia has been solid, but he hasn't given me the confidence I expect from him when I watch his starts. A lot of his wins have been shaky at best, and he has had a tendency thusfar in 2011 to get himself into trouble early in an inning. Swisher is still taking pitches as he always does (one of the best in the league at extending the plate appearance), but he has hit terribly this season and does not look completely comfortable at the plate. On the other hand, some Yankees are surprising me with the starts that they have accumulated. Curtis Granderson has obviously worked on his swing in this past offseason. His 21 homers are tied for tops in the league with slugger Jose Bautista, and wouldn't you know Mark Teixeira! Granderson has shown a lot more patience at the plate and waits for his pitches, instead of the attempts to crank every ball out of the park that we saw in large doses last season. Teixeira is also surprisingly off to a much better start then the ones he has posted in the last few seasons. He seems much more comfortable under the spotlight of New York City media than the past putrid Aprils and Mays we have seen from him. An uplifting surprise for the 2011 Yankees has also come from the bullpen. I have never been entirely confident in the Yankee bullpen leading up to the 9th inning, but Dave Robertson has done his job to create sighs of relief for the team and fans of the Bombers. Although he will offer a share of hits at times, Robertson strikes opposing batters out in bunches. His 1.23 ERA reflects a big increase in confidence from his nervousness last year.

Still, a trade for a starting pitcher seems necessary to keep the Yankees fight with the Red Sox alive. The aforementioned abundance of catchers in the farm system seem to show promise that this could happen. Montero is viewed by many as the best prospect in the league. He is one of the more skilled hitters to play within the Yankees system in the last 15 years. His problem is that he doesn't really have a position: he cannot play catcher very well. This prospect is one that the Yankees will likely keep. The other two are the Yankees more likely options as trade bait. Gary Sanchez is a promising hitter that many other teams have shown interest in. Austin Bromine does not have the skills at the plate that the other do, but plays the position of catcher to perfection.

There are other things to look forward to with this Yankees team this year. I was at Yankee Stadium when Derek Jeter left with the tweak in his calf last week (yes, you can blame me for that, I only bring bad luck when I go to see my teams play).When he does come back, and is able to continue his quest for 3000 hits, it will bring a lot returns to the team for a lot of reason. The pride of the Yankee Faithful will pick up and they will be right behind Jeter in every at-bat he has leading up to it. When the Yankee fans are behind the team, they always play better (as opposed to when the Yankee fans turn against their team, sending them into a gloomy whirlwind). Jeter will have a new sense of confidence and understand his worth to the team even with the regress in his ability and the drop in his step with the added years on the field. Jeter's value this year to the Yankees is much more as a leader and the captain of the team. He needs to get to a place where he is inspiring his teammates and instilling more confidence into their bats and gloves. Jeter's temporary absence also helps Eduardo Nunez's confidence. Playing every day and getting into the grove of hitting and fielding the demanding shortstop position will improve his worth as one of the most important backup position players the Yankees have.

In the northeast, a frightening semblance of players exists to haunt every win and step forward that the Yankees make. The Boston Red Sox are rolling right now and the offense seems to put on a clinic every time they step into a ballpark. With apologies to NESN, this Red Sox offense is not the 1927 Yankees, but it still gives pitchers nightmares and has the potential to put up 10+ runs every game. Adrian Gonzalez has taken over this offense. He does not seem to have a weak spot in the zone and continues to drive ball after ball into the outfield or over the stands. David Ortiz is feeling strong currently, reverting back to the mid-2000s David Ortiz, sending out momentum-building home runs that the rest of the team feeds off. For me, Kevin Youkilis is still the most terrifying Red Sox hitter. Better than Swisher at taking pitchers far into an at-bat, he extends innings and keeps pitchers on their toes while sending them into a psychological frenzy as to what kind of pitch they should throw and where to put it. Josh Beckett is playing the way his contract almost mandates he plays, contrary to his dismal 2010 season. Every time he gets on the mound I feel like he will play as shakily as last year, but he continues to impress me the way he did in 2007.

Injuries, again, are a concern for this team going forward. Jed Lowrie, although his play has declined, has fit in well in the lineup and fielded the shortstop position excellently. Hopefully for Beantown, his stint on the Disabled List will hamper his flow into the game and the improvement he has shown this season. Clay Buchholz, who seems primed to become one of the most effective pitchers from the league, will have to work to get back into form and make this rotation as effective as its been this year. Dustin Pedroia in seasons of late has consistently shown concerns of being able to stay of the field. Pedroia, along with Youkilis and Ortiz, is the glue of the team and crucial to maintaining momentum for this team.

Despite the play of the Tampa Bay Rays to this point in the season, I believe this division is a two-horse race. We will continue to monitor the positions of these two teams and their place in the league for the rest of the season. We also will not be so naive to doubt that injuries, surges, and swoons can have a lot to say to shake things up in this sport.

Top 10 Questions for the 2011-12 NBA Season (if there is one)

The most exciting NBA season in recent memory has come to an abrupt end. The city of Dallas and their beloved Mavericks have some time to celebrate, but then its back to work. Unofficial work for the time being, however, as the players union and the NBA and its owners try to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement. Fans of the NBA would love for a full season to keep the momentum going for a sport that saw its best ratings and highest following in some time. For those of us nerds who never stop talking about the NBA, hears some questions to ponder:

10. Can the Grizzlies continue to play as well with Rudy Gay?

One year ago, this would have seemed like a funny question. Rudy Gay was regarded as the leader and best player on the playoff-fringe Grizzlies before his season-ending shoulder injury. But as the rest of the season played on and the Grizzlies clinched their first playoff berth in 5 years, it was not clear who the leader was. You could make arguments for Zach Randolph, who focused and became an ultra-effective (and largely un-stoppable) post-presence and rebounding machine, or Tony Allen, who's pedigree and superior defense inspired the rest of the team. Regardless of what your opinion is, these Grizzlies could ball, and they were not afraid of anyone. Drawing the-top seeded Spurs in the first round who boasted the west's best record, the Grizzlies refused to back down, putting the Spurs' backs against the wall and ultimately knocking them out in the first round. In the second round, this old-school, wear-'em-down Grizzlies team went back and forth with the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder, before falling short in 7 games of an absolutely thrilling series. AND THIS WAS ALL WITHOUT RUDY GAY! Their 80 million dollar player. Point Mike Conley played like the seemingly fat contract he was given the year before, Randolph continued to dominate and Allen continued to inspire, Marc Gasol helped Randolph crashed the boards and added offense (and stayed in the playoffs longer than his brother Pau), and 2-guard OJ Mayo played strong defense and drained momentum-building threes. (I guess I should mention Greivis Vazquez poured his heart into the playoffs, which surprised even Terps fans.) They played so cohesively as a unit and brought out the true meaning of team. Following the team's elimination, Grizz owner Michael Heisley made public comments stating that the team has no intention of trading Gay and that Gay's future is in Memphis. And I say good decision by Michael. The Grizzlies got smacked in Game 7 against the Thunder. What was missing was another threat. Conley can drive and shoot, but those skills are not superior and they are not always on. Randolph may be the best offensive power forward in the league, but he needs a sidekick, and someone who can slash while Randolph draws the double team. Gasol has a little finesse down-low, but he is young and has some raw talent. OJ Mayo may not be back next season, but his shooting lends a big hand to the Memphis offense. Gay is that missing offensive piece. He is near the top of the league and creating his own shot, and he has some pop from the outside. Look for the Grizzlies to move higher into the conversation of contenders next year (if Randolph doesn't party too much).

9. What will happen with Deron Williams and Chris Paul?

The words and actions of this pair and Dwight Howard are so puzzling that many questions will just have to be answered at next year's February trade deadline or at the season's end. Deron Williams is the league's most powerful and strong  point guard. Also, with the game on the line, any coach would trust the ball in Deron Williams hands to get a good shot. Chris Paul, despite some lost speed and strength from his knee issues, still has the quickest eyes and hands and can run an offense to perfection. Deron has said that he is happy in New Jersey after his half season there after Utah surprisingly shipped him for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and draft picks. However, he will not stay there without help. The Dwight Howard drama will have coverage as intense as the LeBron and Carmelo situations, but Deron's future could be largely decided by the conclusion to that. New Jersey has lost valuable assets in acquiring Dwight and that hurts the likelihood for Mikhail Prokhorov and the Nets management to land a mid-season trade. Chris Paul has said that he would like to leave New Orleans but later retracted that, signing a short extension and stating his loyalty to the city of New Orleans and its Hornets. But the media will never believe that, or does not want to believe that, and have made huge deals out of small things such as Chris Paul wearing a Yankee hat in public. The truth is, you couldn't blame CP3 for salivating at the thought of being able to set up offensive forces such as Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire for the New York Knicks. Paul's future could also hinge on Dwight Howard's future, which will be discussed later.

8. Are the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs done?

Charles Barkley, controversial but insightful NBA analyst, has said that the signs of Kevin Garnett's age and miles are starting to show, citing his 1-10 from the floor in Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals after a strong 28 points and 18 rebounds in Game 3 of that series. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have defied age in the length of their astounding careers in the ways Pierce still gets to the foul line and Ray still continues to drain 3-pointer after 3-pointer. But all good things come to an end. Rajon Rondo, tough and bruised and arguably the team's best player, provides the youth for the team's young stars. But are they buried by the starpower of the Heat and the physicality of the Chicago Bulls? With Doc Rivers' surprising extension to stay with the team for a few more years and the grit of the players, you can never count the Celtics out. But the likely answer is yes, they are done. The prospect for Dwight Howard is still on the table, which would answer the glaring hole the Perkins trade and the Shaquille O'Neal retirement have left in the middle of the Boston lineup, but that prospect is still dim. The likelihood of the old C's getting passed especially the youth and energy of the Heat is also dim.

The Spurs' glory years seem to be over. Tim Duncan's glorious career and ascent to the top 10 basketball players of all-time is dwindling after four rings and 13 all-star seasons. He cannot hold his ground on the defensive post against quicker players (showcased in Round One of the playoffs against Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies) and he no longer draws double teams. Manu Ginobili continues to fear opposing teams as he drains increasingly difficult shots, displays pretty spin moves down the lane, and executes the infamous Manu flops to draw offensive fouls, but he has trouble staying on the floor with injuries. Tony Parker is now being outplayed by the part of the game that he dominated, getting to the rim faster than the eyes can believe, by Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook; and he gets bullied by stronger point guards such as Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo. The youth of the team, DeJaun Blair, George Hill, and James Anderson, are talented but do not look quite good enough to continue the legacy that Duncan, Ginobili and Parker will leave from their time in San Antonio. This team is not strong enough to contend with Oklahoma City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Memphis, and even the athleticism of Denver out in the West.

7. Do the New York Knicks have more to bring to their starving fans?

This question is tough to answer. While I believe Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire will learn to gel together more in their offense and they will certainly make the playoffs barring injury (like Amar'e's uninsured knees) this is an organization with a lot of questions. The departure of Donnie Walsh is frightening (Isaiah's return notwithstanding). Walsh brought the Knicks out of the depths of hell that Isaiah Thomas's tenure. He got rid of all the bad contracts and made New York a desirable situation for Amar'e, and, in effect and in addition to the lights and draw of the city, led Carmelo to state this as his destination. But he's gone now, and so doubt creeps in that the organization can bring in more chips to put together more of a monster. The most positive thing that exists with this team, however, and something that gives any team a chance no matter what, is Carmelo Anthony's ability to score any time. He gets to the line and besides Dirk, is the guy I want with the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, D'Antoni is not a good fit for this team. The fact that in his defense sets he could have all players walk off the floor and be just as ineffective is not the issue. He got far in a loaded West in the playoffs with his Suns teams. The problem is that he cannot create an offense that helps Carmelo and Amar'e coexist. Carmelo is a ball-stopper and is more effective in a slow-down game. The ideal offense is the triangle offense, but any other offense would help this team more. Brian Shaw and Rick Adelman are better fits for this team. Let me put it this way, if D'Antoni is gone (and the Walsh departure helps that because of their close relationship), I feel a lot better of the Knicks prospects in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference.

6. Can the Thunder fix their chemistry problems and harness their potential to control the West?

Questions came from every media angle concerning the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook dynamic and chemistry offensively for the Thunder after their trouncing in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of the eventual championship Dallas Mavericks team. Is Durant getting irked by the number of shots Russell takes? Does Durant have command of his offense? Can Scott Brooks coach these two together? Here is my answer to all of that. SHUT UP! This is another instance of the media blowing a situation out of proportion. Let me give you the ages of the Thunder's most important players going forward. Durant, 22. Westbrook, 22. James Harden, 21. Serge Ibaka, 21. This was each of these players second ever playoffs and fourth ever playoff series. They made the Western Conference Finals at these young ages. The defending champs, the Lakers, didn't make it that far, nor did the defending Eastern Conference champs, the Celtics. This young team dominated the athletic and dynamic Denver Nuggets, and ended up on top in a 7-game war with the Grizzlies, one of the best series of the playoffs. They imploded, but this team still hasn't come close to reaching their ceiling. James Harden was let free by the Jeff Green trade. He increased his stock heavily after these playoffs. He got to the foul line, made game-changing threes, played great defense, and faked some hits to give his team calls (that's not as important, but he's approaching the Manu/JJ Barea threshold of expert flopping). Serge Ibaka will only get better. He will almost certainly become the league's best shot-blocker and continue frighten opposing players going to the rim while he plays free safety. Add to that his electrifying dunks and the still-improving 18-foot jumper. Eric Maynor may be the best backup point guard in the league, and could start for many other teams (the Heat and the Lakers would drool if he was on their squads). Kendrick Perkins, much maligned by much of the media for his playoff performance, is still so valuable for the little things he can bring for his team, including his championship pedigree, pushing opposing players slightly off the block to get them out of position in the post, and that blood-curdling scowl that keeps officials up at night. Nick Collison was an underrated re-signing. Collison played the best defense Zach Randolph and Dirk Nowitzki saw throughout the playoffs. He brings an energy and veteran presence unseen through the rest of the team. Durant and Westbrook will play better together. Westbrook is still learning to play the point guard position and as he grows older will learn the spots his teammates need to be in to have the best opportunity to score. Durant is already a two-time scoring champ and will always find ways to score, getting to the rim on back-door cuts, drawing the foul (he rarely misses free-throws, running out on the fast-break, and the three-pointer can still see improvement. The Westbrook/Durant pick-and-roll is so effective, baffling defenders on whether to switch or whether to fight through the screen. Thabo Sefalosha probably needs to be dealt, as his role (perimeter defense) was not seen in the later rounds of the Thunder's playoff runs. But with all the pieces in place, put your money on the Thunder to win the West a bunch of times in the next decade. They will get their chance to fight for the Larry O'Brien trophy.

5. What to the Chicago Bulls need to do to get to the next level?

This answer is a little more simple. The Bulls need desperately a 2-guard to go to war with at both ends. Kyle Korver can find nylon on an off-ball screen three point shot, but he couldn't defend Erik Spoelstra if he was on the floor. Keith Bogans' confidence is higher than his ability, and is certainly expendable. Ronnie Brewer can play defense but struggles to find his shot. If the Bulls could have made a play at OJ Mayo at the trading deadline, the team much more complete from top to bottom. Hopefully for Chicago fans the organization can fill that void. Rose will get better, Noah is the second-best defensive center in the league, Deng is a great second scorer, and Taj Gibson provides a ton of energy and length off the bench. Boozer will play better. He had trouble getting into the groove of the season after his energy and filling in comfortably with his new team. He is less of a worry than one may think. But back to the topic of age, Rose, their unquestioned leader and best player, is only 22. The Bulls have a high ceiling as well.

4. Can the Lakers situation be fixed?

The Lakers showed that they have more problems than meets the eye. If you were to tell me that they would be swept in the second round of the playoffs during their incredible run after all-star break, I would have told you you were crazy. But their flaws manifested themselves while they fell to the Mavericks. While Kobe is old, he is still Kobe Bryant. He just needs more help. Lamar Odom is still the NBA's best sixth man and will still help this team, but if I were Lakers management I would be happier if he spent less time on the Entertainment Network and more time shooting jump shots. But what happened to Pau Gasol, the artist formerly known as the Savant of the Offensive Post? He played scared and made costly turnovers and put up bad shots. He looked lost on the floor. As already mentioned, he was severely outplayed by his brother Marc in the playoffs. Maybe it was the personal problems off the court and the story of his girlfriend allegedly sleeping with a teammate (Shannon Brown?). But Pau needs to be Pau. And the Lakers will surely benefit from that. Derek Fisher is obviously old and, through his playoff heroics, needs to have a better replacement that can stay in front of opposing guards. In that respect, I do not know who is on the table for the Laker's to acquire (is Roddy Beaubois still untouchable? Wait, do we even know if he's any good?). Ron Arest (or what's left of Ron Artest) should not be an issue, because the new CBA may allow the Lakers to dump his contract. Corey Brewer may be able to fill that void should he be available. Andrew Bynum needs to grow up. Although hard fouls can be good for a team defensively if opposing teams believe they can drive to the rim at will, his late season fouls were unnecessary and dangerous. Do the Lakers trade Bynum and other assets for Dwight Howard? It is certainly a possibility. Dwight needs a new cast if he can enhance his legacy, and he would love to play with Kobe. Obviously, so much of what is going to happen next year in the NBA depends on where Dwight Howard is going to end up. The Lakers situation is another example of that. The Lakers, as presently constructed, are growing old and the youth of other teams in the West are catching up, namely the Oklahoma City Thunder. The dominance of the conference throughout the last decade will not come nearly as easily as it has in years past.

3. Can the Mavericks repeat?

Nothing is sure with the competitiveness of the league right now for what the outcome will be. But with Dirk Nowitzki at the helm of this ship, anything is possible. Dirk is part of the new generation of stars that even when you think their skills will decline, they continue to get better at different parts of the game. He will still make eye-opening shots fading away on one foot. He will still be practically flawless from the three point line, and he will still find all his spots. Jason Terry, in his role, can still play until his late thirties. A jumper like that is valuable to any NBA team, and is perfect for this contender. Jason Kidd may only have a little time in his career, but he's found out how to play the point guard position as effectively as possible, as shown in my last post. Chandler, also mentioned in my last post, does so many things so effectively, but his contract has to be worked out for the Mavericks to keep him. For many of the reasons mentioned in my last post, this team can win an NBA championship, but they have a great number of teams only getting better that lay in their way.

2. Where the hell is Dwight Howard going to be?

Carmelo and LeBron all over again. The media loves this sort of situation and it feeds off of it. Dwight, like Deron Williams and Chris Paul, have confused people who have tried to understand what he wants. At the base of this problem, one of his desires is outwardly clear: he needs better teammates to compete. And not what Otis Smith supplied him with in those trades early last season. Hedo Turkoglu, although not the Hedo on the 2009 Eastern Conference Champion Magic team, provided some energy and effective pick-and-rolls with Dwight. And Jason Richardson was a great piece from those trades. But Gilbert Arenas turned out to be a failure. Whatever Gilbert did well in his best days in Washington he could not carry over into Orlando, and the "Gilbert off the bench" project did not return dividends for the Magic. That huge contract is an ugly thing for Orlando management to look at as they look towards the future. This newly constructed team could not get passed the first round of the playoffs, despite Dwight's monster numbers, and it was easy to see how frustrated he was throughout it. In recent comments, Dwight said that he wanted to start his own path and not leave town for other stars (while taking a shot at Shaq). However, the max contract is on the table, so it is clear that Dwight is staying he definitely wants to stay in Orlando. It would be more accurate to say he wants to try to get CP3 or Deron or another star to come play for the Magic on his side. This problem will not be settled for Dwight unless he plays with someone he believes can help him win a championship. My hope is that he would be traded to New Jersey to play with D-Will, but it is not safe to say that will happen. This is one of the bigger mysteries going into the new season.

1. Can LeBron James get it together and win?

LeBron is going to win the championship in the next few years, and maybe he will win more than that. But needless to say, he has work to do. This year it was his to win. With Dwyane Wade putting together an unbelievable series, Chris Bosh having a few great games himself, Udonis Haslem battling Dirk, and Mario Chalmers showing he was not afraid of the moment (for better or for worse, but in this series, better), LeBron just needed to score and get to the rim more for his team to have a better chance. But he was afraid of the moment and uncomfortable in the fourth quarter especially. Late in games, he continually deferred to his teammates when he had open looks. He was tentative to exploit glaring defensive mismatches, like when Berea was caught in a switch, or when Terry or Kidd guarded him. LeBron could not get it together. He needs to focus more on his game getting better and less on shooting commercials and increasing his brand awareness. LeBron, you have the highest selling jersey of the 2010-2011 season. You are showcased on billboards and advertisements throughout the country. We have all seen your bad acting in State Farm commercials. Now please get in the gym and develop a go-to move. LeBron is the most talented athlete I have ever seen in my life. He has the size (6 feet 8 inches, 275 pounds). He has the speed and quickness. Now please put that all together so I don't have to see that talent wasted. If he had a go-to, greatly effective post move, that would elevate his game to where it matters more than just putting points on the board. It establishes an intangible that makes him a better player whether he has the ball or not. It puts fear in the defenders' minds. Fear is what has made so many players and teams better through the years. Michael Jordan's opponents feared his driving and his low-post moves, so he pulled up and hit the mid-range shot. Opponents fear Kobe's mid-range shot, so he drove around the defender if he got too close. Hakeem Olajuwon made opponents respect him in the paint, so he kicked it out to his perimeter players when he got open. Every time an opponent adjusts to their fears defensively, it opens another hole for the offensive player to exploit. LeBron needs that. But he also needs to do what he does best and what Wade did throughout the Finals, and that is drive to the basket and take contact. Getting to the line is critical for LeBron's success. No matter that he doesn't shoot from the line as well as Steve Nash or Durant or Dirk. The number of times he gets there outweighs the misses when he is on his game. He needs to get back to that when it matters. That will be the difference between hoisting the trophy and having a parade throughout the streets of Miami, and walking into the tunnel without shaking the opponents hands. So please LeBron. We are all waiting.

2011 NBA Finals: Series of Destiny

It was Dallas's year.

Destiny seemed to be on the sides of the 2010-2011 Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Ultimately, and in many ways surprisingly, the Dallas Mavericks got to this point very convincingly. Through so many people involved in the organization, a fan of the game can easily say, "It was just [insert Dallas Maverick]'s time."

Jason Kidd has been as close as many players can get to taking it all home at the end of the season. He was the unquestioned leader of unquestioned contenders in the start of the millennium, bringing the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals in consecutive years, before losing convincingly to both Shaq and Kobe's Lakers team in 2002 (Phil Jackson's third and last three-peat) and Tim Duncan's Spurs team in 2003. After that New Jersey team started to fade, many would say the road ahead looked bleak for one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. Mark Cuban, Mavs' owner, desperate for a championship of his own, traded for Kidd a few years later. As Kidd grew older, nature called, and his athleticism began to wither. That athleticism had an inverse relationship with many of his intangibles, as well as his jump shot. To get to that coveted goal, he had to execute those facets of his game to perfection. He had to continue to make those perfect passes, will his team with his toughness late in games, and hit the open threes. The things that Kidd brought to that team proved to be more valuable then the explosiveness and scoring abilities that Devin Harris possessed.
With the championship won, there has to be a different historical perspective on Kidd. Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and Oscar Robertson are the best point guards in NBA history, but Kidd's championship shakes up the rankings after that. He passes Steve Nash and John Stockton because of the ring, and now, in my opinion, has passed Cousy on the list. Cousy was never the best player on his team, and the competitiveness and amount of contending teams is greater now than it was in the 1960s. To add to that, this has been one of the most competitive playoffs in the history of the game, ranking with 1993 and the great playoffs in the mid to late 1980s. Kidd has improved his legacy mightily with this championship.

Jason Terry has been viewed widely as a one-dimensional player for his entire career, starting with his days on bad Atlanta teams and through his time as Dirk's sidekick. Opposing defenders played him close, not fearing the dribble drive, and athletic (and even semi-athletic) wing-players and point guards blew passed him to the rim. Terry, however, developed an excellent pick-and-roll chemistry with Dirk through the years that made Dallas difficult to impossible to defend late in games. Jason Terry has climbed historically to the Mount Rushmore of irrational confidence players, a concept developed by Bill Simmons, among the ranks of Vernon Maxwell and Robert Horry. He knew he could make his shot, and never backed down in taking it. That was manifested in his shot over LeBron James down the stretch in game 5, a dagger that proved its worth in the series and the season.

Shawn Marion was seen as washed up and overpaid from his days thriving in the run and gun offense in Phoenix. Many thought, after Marion's flameouts in Miami and Toronto, that Steve Nash had created the all-star and great player that he was able to become for the Suns. However, Marion became a role-player on this Dallas team, and what a pivotal role he played. Marion concentrated on the things he did best, defense and second-chance opportunites on offense for his team. Marion played suffocating late game defense on the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. How's that for a playoff run? He may not be a perennial all-star and scorer that he was able to become in Phoenix, but he played a role to perfection on a great team and gave a superb supporting performance in this year's playoffs.

Dominant force in the center position, but never putting it together to make a difference on his team. Not meeting his full potential and allowing himself to become the player that he can beThat is exactly what executives in Chicago, New Orleans, and Chicago thought about Tyson Chandler, leaving them to abandon the tough 7-footer. After all these stops, Chandler ended up on a playoff team with a lethal superstar in Dirk Nowitzki. He found his own. Throughout these playoffs, Chandler made players such as Andre Miller, Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade think twice about driving to the rim as many of them were so accustomed to doing with ease. He stood toe-to-toe with Lamarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Chris Bosh and kept them from giving their teams a better chance to win. He scrapped after lose balls and offensive rebounds again and again and again, keeping possessions alive and swinging momentum with these bursts energy and toughness. And to think, if he passed a physical he could have been playing for Oklahoma City. I will go bang my head on a wall for a bit.

Rick Carlisle has always been a coach on competitive playoff teams. He is, if not the best play-caller, one of the best play-callers the league has in having his team run effective plays that always end up in points. An extremely smart and methodical man, some analysts say Carlisle is too smart for his players. He set up and developed a great Detroit team, and then lost to that Detroit team as the coach of the Indiana Pacers in the 2004 Eastern Conference finals. Now with the Dallas Mavericks, Carlisle has his team executing in perfection all the way to the promised land of the NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki has solidified his legacy in the game. Continually haunted by the 2006 Finals after the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead to the Heat, Dirk continued to work on his game and specifically his difficult circus shots with his longtime personal shooting coach. In the last three years, Dirk has proved himself to be the best one-man closer in the game, better than Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant in creating his own shot and making tough ones towards the end of close games. When you watch him play, his approach to offense is so meticulous, but he continues to do things that completely amaze those who watch him. He gets to his spot on the left side of the key or the foul line and faces up against his defenders, holding the ball high and over his 7-foot body, and hurls up his shot, one-foot, fading away, the defender's (or defenders') hands all over him. It doesn't matter. It gets to a point when you are surprised if it doesn't go in. Yet he goes back down the floor the same way, lifting up the left side of his jersey as if its too big on him, bearing his big German teeth with some sort of a menacing and maniacal grin. For every minute of every game, Dirk is focused on his team and the game. After the game ends, he is focused on winning the next one. Now he has won the championship. Although in post-game interviews and his press conference he looked like he needed a long night's sleep, he still seemed focused on winning the next game he plays, whenever the 2011-2012 season begins. Congratulations to Dirk. One of the most fun players to watch and a player, if you are a Dallas fan, that you could never lose faith in.

The Miami Heat probably will not win not 4, not 5, not 6, or whatever LeBron said in their famed pre-championship celebration last July, but they will likely get there. Not this year. This year is Dallas' year. This team got it all together at the right time and got their complicated cast of characters to rise up and bring the Larry O'Brien home to Dallas. It was all amazing to watch.