Let’s play a game.
Close your eyes and imagine the Dallas Mavericks starting the playoffs without one of the top two seeds out West, then running through some of the league’s all-time great players and franchises en route to an NBA championship.
Do you see Dirk Nowitzki or Luka Doncic?
Are you thinking back to the legendary 2011 run that the Dirk-led Mavs team had, or are you picturing what the 2022 Mavericks are eight wins away from accomplishing?
You’re not wrong, either way. The similarities between what those Dallas teams did back in 2011 and what the 2022 team has a chance to do are crazy.
Luka and Dirk share a moment after the @dallasmavs Game 7 victory to advance to the Western Conference Finals! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/o2G94xdft7
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2022
Let’s start in Round 1. In 2011, Dallas dusted off the out-matched Portland Trail Blazers in six games. The series probably should have gone five but Brandon Roy had himself a moment. A similar thing just happened 11 years later, just substitute “outmatched Portland Trail Blazers” for “deteriorating Utah Jazz” and ta-da.
Brandon Roy carries the Trail Blazers to victory when the Mavericks were up as much as 23 points in the third quarter with less a minute remaining. (2011) pic.twitter.com/UXqbmzPHL5
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) May 17, 2019
Western Conference Semifinals? Nobody gave Dirk’s Mavs a chance against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers who were led by the late, great Kobe Bryant. Not only did Dallas beat them, but they also swept and embarrassed them, which may have been the moment that everyone realized this team could do something special.
Can we say the same for Luka’s Mavericks, a team that just went into a 64-win team’s home arena, led by Chris Paul and Devin Booker, and absolutely cooked them in Game 7? It’s not as impressive as what the ’11 team did by sweeping the champs, but it’s surely a good way to get the “why not us” vibes going.
Luka Doncic went off in game seven to eliminate the Suns! 😤 pic.twitter.com/Q2rt5rSTMa
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 16, 2022
And those vibes could become unmatched if they can get past the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. This is their 2011 Mavs-Lakers matchup — having to get by a multiple-championship winning trio and numerous future Hall of Fame players en route to a potential title.
From there, the obvious parallel between the two Dallas teams would be potentially running through the tape by beating a Miami Heat team in the NBA Finals. But a lot has to happen until then and the first order of business is Golden State, which is the toughest task of all.
Nevertheless, it’s worth noting how the stars are aligning.
#ValleyProud and #FearTheDeer have been eliminated and the field is wide open.
There are just four teams left in the hunt for #NBA75 champion status.
NBA title odds are now live in the @tipico📲 app. pic.twitter.com/37GHMS1OYa
— Tipico Sportsbook (@tipico) May 16, 2022
At Tipico Sportsbook, the Mavericks have +185 odds to beat the Warriors and +600 odds to win the championship.
That’s quite a steal for a potential “team of destiny” run.
