I used to hate Dallas

And it was all because of this guy. I mean look at this tool making us all hate him with his doucheyness. Now I realize it is pure jealousy that made me hate him. After my Jazz didn't make the playoffs, I had to invest my fandom in something, and just being a fan of the NBA in general wasn't cutting it, so I toyed with the idea of liking the Mavericks. Once I realized what I disliked about this team, I realized my irrationality. As I said earlier, Cuban was because of envy. Got over it and respected the guy for his hard work to get to where he is. And you have to respect someone for doing what he loves. Dirk. Why did I hate Dirk? He was too good, and German. After I admitted half of why I didn't like him was borderline racist, and the other half was his incredible talent, I was able to embrace his quest to win himself a championship. He's another example of a hard worker. 6 years ago when he faced the same team, he lacked the extra skills to pull his team to a victory and they got beat. Those six years gave him the chance to put in the hours perfecting his shot, improving his floor play, and Cuban's guys then put the team around him to give him the edge he needed, and this was his year. They brought in Kidd to give some young guys the experienced leader. Barea got good, real good, and came through in a big way. Terry was hot and cold, but mostly hot, and when he got cold at the wrong time Dirk tactfully called him out on it and Terry stepped it up. Marion followed Dirk's example and worked hard underneath, cleaning up the boards, pressuring the D and shooting those weird looking J's that kept going in.

Yup. This team earned it. And they did it beautifully. They had to go through Portland, battle with the young legs in OKC and sweep the defending champs in LA. Then they got their shot at Miami, led by D-Wade and muscled (sometimes) by Lebron and Bosh. Miami had a real fancy team this year, and I think that's what did them in. They knew they were good, and they would get complacent, allowing Dallas to comeback in the final minutes in games they should have had locked in for the win. Congrats to Dallas. Watch out for Miami next year, and keep your eyes on Durant and his friends in Oklahoma. They got a sampling of what it takes to win it all and they're coming back with experience and determination.

The draft is coming up, and the analysts are all saying its weak. That shouldn't matter. The draft more than just getting a star. You can't have a Lebron/Carmelo/D-Wade lineup every year. The draft is more about recognizing talent and potential, and having the staff that can develop that potential into something big. Or sometimes that potential doesn't get drafted, so he walks on to practice with a team, works his ass off, gets picked up and plays a key role, where he then gets a huge offer in Portland and says adios and goes on to help lead his Blazers to the playoffs while his newly Sloanless Jazz struggle for, what was it, 10th in the West? Still miss your tenacity Wesley Matthews. Here's hoping for a good draft, and a continuation of Sloan's ability to develop young players into solid NBA competitors.

"I'm not clutch." - Kobe Bryant.

Memphis eliminates the formerly dominant old men. Kobe/Gasol choke in the final seconds. OKC continues to dazzle.D-Rose clinches the seemingly unanimous MVP. Randolph makes a statement for the finals MVP early (granted they're able to continue winning through the finals, which I don't think will happen. OKC aught to take it in 6 or 7, but if it does Z-Bo's locked in my vote). LeBron, D-Wade and I suppose I should at least mention Bosh we want to hate so badly, but continue to put together some highlights that make us love this game. And Danny Ainge worries he made some bad, albeit probably necessary considering the fate of the old men of San Antonio, moves.

I can't remember ever caring about every single game, every single match-up, and my Jazz aren't even in this one. Utah was out of the running a long time ago, and now I don't have to watch them get eliminated by LA. Already having been let down in the regular season has left me to enjoy the playoffs without the usual emotional involvement. Jerry, we miss you, and I hope you're enjoying your tractors.

The first round is barely over, we're getting halfway through the second round, and I don't know how much better it could get. Remind me, have we even seen a 7 game series yet? I don't think we have, yet the excitement has been too much to handle. Tonight, after the newly crowned MVP tries to even up the series with the Hawks - the Hawks! Where did that come from?! - I'll be cheering, probably for only the second time in my life, for another Mavericks victory in Los Angeles.

Does school really have to start next week? Can't we postpone it for another month or so?

One more thing. If you haven't read this already, do yourself and your coffee table a favor and pick one up.