I really wish the Lakers were in the finals right now. As far as Lakers fans go, my sentiments are not so unique. I expect to win, I expect success. So much so that I have created a scenario that, for me, morphs this years’ NBA Finals into the grudge match, Lakers vs. Celtics that I’d hoped it would be. The Mavericks and Heat are not only the two teams that dismissed the defending Eastern and Western Conference champions from the playoffs, but they are two teams specifically built to compete with the Lakers and the Celtics.
I explain…
Obviously the original “Big Three” inspired the new South Beach version, but the process began years ago when they knocked LeBron out of the playoffs in 2008 and 2010 and eliminated Wade in 2010. (Note: The Celtics faced Wade, LeBron, Dwight Howard, and Kobe last year, 4 out of the top 5 MVP candidates, saved the best for last and came up short. Suck it Boston.) The Mavericks added two seven-foot centers in Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood to combat the Lakers giant front line.
I’d like to think they strategically added JJ Barea but I’m not going that far.
If Lakers fans didn’t already have a good enough reason to cheer for the Mavs over the Heat, now they do. Think of it as a team built to beat LA vs. a team built to beat Boston. Our style vs. their style. West vs. East. No matter how it is spun, GO LAKE—I mean Mavs!
Jim Buss Heroes 