An era is finished. Peja Stojakovic, long one of the NBA’s greatest outside shooters, is calling it quits. The former All-Star in Sacramento is retiring on top after a championship last season with Dallas because of a string of back and neck problems. While I didn’t exactly rejoice in the Mavs finally getting over the hump, it was great to see a few of their more noteworthy vets get a ring. And yet, no one seems to be talking about Peja. Read More »

The first task for fantasy owners looking at the Dallas Mavericks is to take extra care to separate reality from fantasy. Yes, the Mavs were the underdogs-turned-NBA-champions in June, but that means absolutely nothing for fantasy basketball purposes. Assuming the team can reassemble itself into something resembling the 2010-11 champs, the Mavs will have one first-round stud and a handful of other usable parts, many of whom will be well into their 30s when the next season starts. Get those coughs out of your system and read on to see what the Mavericks can offer to fantasy owners next season. Read More »

Brian Cardinal is the definition of a journeyman. With his sixth NBA team, the man affectionately named “The Custodian” finally got to the Promised Land, hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy with the Dallas Mavericks this June. On a team where every player had a specific role to play, Cardinal played his to perfection, coming in and making life miserable for Chris Bosh and LeBron James in the paint. Cardinal also made the most of his opportunities with the ball, knocking down some huge three-pointers in Game 5 and 6. Recently we caught up with Brian to talk about whatever was on his mind. Read More »

Early in the first quarter of a Dec. 21, 2007 matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers, Dirk Nowitzki became the highest scoring German-born player in NBA history. Nowitzki took a pass from Devin Harris 16 feet from the basket with 6:35 on the clock and nailed the jumper, giving him 15,763 career points – two more than former Sonic and Pacer standout Detlef Schrempf. Read More »

As quickly as it opened, the Dallas Mavericks’ championship window is closing. With the Big German turning 33 this Sunday, Jason Terry nearing 34, and Jason Kidd closing in on 40, Mark Cuban is starting to look like the supervisor of a retirement home. Meanwhile, the rest of the NBA’s championship contenders are on the up and up. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka is entering its prime. Led by 22-year-old point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls should be primed for another championship run. Read More »

The Mavs may be the big winners and the Heat the big losers, but it’s the little things that count. For the last time of the 2011-12 season, here are your Game 6 winners and losers. Read More »

I watched Game 5 in a bar full of my anti-Heat friends. When Jason Terry sank that off-balanced, are-you-kidding-me three, a “U-S-A!” chant broke out first amongst my friends, then throughout the entire bar. When I asked why that started, I was told that what Miami did this offseason was “un-American.” So congratulations, Dallas, for winning America’s heart. Now to the rest of the winners and losers. Read More »

So apparently we have a series. When LeBron James cites an elbow injury today, don’t be surprised. And when Dirk eventually contracts pneumonia, expect him to score 40. Obviously LeBron was last night’s biggest loser and Dirk it’s biggest winner, but there are some other people of note who deserve some recognition. Read More »

Just like that, it’s all tied up. In response to some mix-matching with the Mavericks lineup, Rick Carlisle got some help for a sick Dirk Nowitzki in helping Dallas climb back to a 2-2 series tie. And before you ask, yes, this post is going to come across a little LeBron-haterish.

In Game 4′s tweets, we learn who the T-Mobile girl is and rave over a sighting of The Custodian. And of course, us media are going to go crazy on LeBron James after he shrunk in Game 4, but before reporters made him sweat after the game, the Twitterverse was already ragging on the King. Read More »

Before I unveil Game 3’s winners and losers, let’s get one thing straight: the Miami defense, and not Dwyane Wade, closed out that game. Sure, D-Wade knocked down some jump shots, but that’s exactly the point. He took jumpers. For those of you keeping score at home, LeBron went the same route in Game 2, except he missed. So Erik Spoelstra and Dwyane Wade, you are this week’s first official losers. You got lucky this time, but history has proven that end-of-the-shot-clock heaves are not the answer. Read More »