Goodbye Lakers, Hello Dallas Mavericks!

[skrilla]

Umm, is it me or are Dallas Mavericks the new favorite to win the West this year? The additions of Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson were arguably the best trade deadline accusations in the league. Butler and Haywood combined are averaging 26 points and 15 rebounds per game since their arrival. Not only do they give Dallas yet another offensive threat in Butler and an offensive upgrade from Dampier in Haywood down low, but most importantly they take scoring pressure off Dirk. Don't forget about Jason Kidd, who's shooting bananas from behind the arc this year - in fact, the best 3 point percentage of his 15-year career!

Combine that starting lineup with a bench that seats reigning 6th man of the year Jason Terry, Barea, Najera, and the newly acquired Von Wafer, who provided Houston with some huge minutes off the bench in last year's playoffs, I smell a Western Conference title brewing in Dallas.

[MCP313]

I liked Dallas even before they made this trade but I still dont think they are better than the Lakers or Denver.

FWIW I think Denver is going to go to the Finals this year and possibly win it.

I like their home court advantage. I also think they have the playoff experience and lastly I think they have become capable of winning on the road.

But a 2nd round Dallas/Denver series might be suicide leading up to the Lakers if its a troublesome 7 game series.


West playoffs lately have been better just becuase they present better matchups......in the East everyone knows who is going to advance really up until the East Finals. Been that way it seems for the last 25 years in the East lol.

[Bisket]

its easy to look good in the regular season.......think Denver would take Lakers to 7 games, Dallas can beat them if Dirk continues to be the closer that he's been. We'll see if he does that in the playoffs.

[rjb1816]

favorites over lakers lmao

[bigsportsguy2006]

i agree with MCP ... nugs might take it this year!!

p.s. dont sleep on OKC either