Counter-intuitively, I think Nene may have a bazooka year, and finally play up to his potential. Maybe he has something to prove. I've always liked his game, but have wondered why he wasn't more dominant. If he can wreck up opponent's interior and stretch their wings with his (underrated) J, creating shots won't be such a problem. I've always liked the Nuggets, simply because I used to smoke weed, and we could talk about the Denver Nugg while smoking Denver nugg.
I put together my Finals prediction for my brother-in-law (who works on the Ben & Skin show on ESPN103.3 here in Dallas). I feel it should be heeded, as I called the Mavs over the Heat in 6 before the playoffs even began (and as a Dirk-era Mavs fan who watched every single damnable game in 2006, who truly believed it was the Mavs time, who planned on making an epic remix of the ABC Finals anthem that year, which might be the best sports anthem of all time, who wanted nothing more than to hang out with Stackhouse, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris - who made up a baller trio that should have starred in their own TV show, but not a shitty reality TV show, more like a variety game show - and who watched in shellshock as Terry bricked up 7 for 25 in deciding game 6, nothing in the sporting realm could be more satisfying) ...
Uhh, yeah, I nailed that shit, and you can run tell your mother.
Anyway, 2012 NBA Finals: Mavs over the Celtics in 7 as Age and Wisdom unexpectedly triumph against the hungry up-and-comers yet again. I don't think the back-to-backs and back-to-back-to-backs will be a huge deal (at least for these two squads) because their coaches are savvy enough to lean on their deep benches, slash their starters minutes and bomb games if necessary in order to give their All-Stars some rest. I reckon these Olde and Ancient Regimes will finish up in the middle to end of the pack, seed-wise, because in this truncated season the seedings will mean nothing.
KG will scream epithets at David Stern in game 5 live on national TV and become a cultural folk hero. Dirk will average 32 PPG and 7 dimes a game in the series. Seriously, he has too much length on the perimeter. I think Marion will eventually get into the starting lineup. Marion, Odom and Kidd added up probably equals a fucking Quetzacoatls wingspan. If Cuban can land Pryzbilla (and I also predict Mavs fans complaining loudly about the move, only to be proven ignorant), the combo at the 5 spot is massive. Heads are worried about the loss of defensive intensity with Chandler's exit (and I don't blame him for the move, he's going to play in the Garden, he's gonna get paid, and Cuban isn't going to have to worry about his contract when he loses significant games in the following seasons).
The Mavs have two ethereal mentalities in Odom and Terry (Terry, the Hidden Agenda, Secret Weapon and the forgotten element in Dallas' victory over the Heat), and keeping them grounded in Carlisle's system will be crucial. And a competently coached squad should be able to solve the Ninja Dallas Zone this year. It's going to be effort, effort, effort, with a bit of balance provided by fantastic depth.
So as to the question of defensive intensity, I believe Chandler ultimately won't be missed, because Dirk is going to take on that role. He has the hardware now. Before, when he became enraged and his inner Wotan erupted, it disrupted the team's identity. Dirk yelling at Marquis Daniels was an ugly thing, because it was an impotent rage. Dirk was never calmer than he was last year (and his state of mind was incredibly blasted during the infamous Golden State series, as his father battled a deadly cancer while having to battle his nominal basketball father-figure in Nellie while sick as a dog with his recurrent sinus troubles, which is something I sympathize with. Not enough people know these things about what happened against Golden State).
His drive to the rim in Game 4 to decapitate the Heat is one of the most cold-blooded sporting feats ever to be seen.
In order for the Mavs to be as good as they can be in the coming season, they need Dirk to combine his leadership from the finals with the rage and intensity that used to mark his mental game. Remember when he blew up the Suns for, what, 55 points because Tim Thomas called him a pussy? Dirk was mad. It elevated his game.
His game doesn't need that anger to elevate the Nowitzness crush level anymore. But his team needs it. I hope Geschwinder is filling Dirk's off-season with nothing but chess-gambits and famous military speeches. Nowitizki led the Mavs to the title through pure skill against the Heat. He will need to lead them with heart and intensity in order to defend the Squarejaw City Championship in 2012.
