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Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:30 pm EDT

Cuban: Current Mavs better than '06 Finals squad

By J.E. Skeets

Want a bold statement necklace? Check out this chunky twisted-silver-luxe-necklace.

Want just a bold statement? Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes his team is as good — nay, better — than the one that went to the NBA Finals in 2006.

The Dallas Observer and Dallas Basketball spill Cuban's blue and green Kool Aid:

"The feeling and the buzz in our locker room is off the charts, literally the best it's been in a good five years," Cuban told Richie Whitt and Newy Scruggs on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas Tuesday morning. (Note: Mavericks talk starts about a quarter of the way in.)

"Every guy here that was a part of that Finals run thinks we have a much better team. It's not even close. If you compare rosters we're a far better team than that Finals team. We're deeper. More athletic. Defensively and offensively we have more flexibility. This year it's like 'Oh my goodness.' Guys are fired up. It's a whole different feeling. I'm excited."

He wasn't kidding.

"Trust me, Mavs fans," Cuban warns at the end of the interview. "If we stay healthy, this is a good, good, team. I never make predictions. But our top 12 guys are off-the-charts compared to where we've been in the past."

While I don't doubt this year's Mavs are more talented (on paper, at least) than the '06 version — quickly, '09-10 team: Dirk, Josh Howard(notes), Terry, Kidd, Marion, Gooden, Quinton Ross(notes), JJ Barea, Dampier vs. '06 Finals team: Dirk, Josh, JET, Stackhouse, Marquis Daniels(notes), Devin Harris(notes), Diop, Van Horn — Cuban forgets to mention that the rest of West has gotten better over the years too. Much, much better.

In '06 it was the Spurs, Suns and Mavs. That's basically it.

Today, it's the Lakers, Spurs, Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers, Rockets, Hornets, Mavs and, well, maybe the Suns.

Has Dallas done enough to contend for the title once again? I'm not convinced. But what do you think?

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151 Comments

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  1. Justin V
    1. Posted by Justin V Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:52 pm EDT

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    they're a darkhorse. if marion can add a lot and howard can stay healthy, they might be able to upset someone in the playoffs.
  2. Artemas W
    2. Posted by Artemas W Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    it all depends on marion. FIRST!
  3. Artemas W
    3. Posted by Artemas W Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

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    i'm not drafting any for my fantasy team btw...
  4. Julian
    4. Posted by Julian Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

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    yeah, i think they have. marion is the x factor
  5. Lukasz K
    5. Posted by Lukasz K Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    Huh? This team is not even better on paper. You're saying that you'd prefer to have a 3 year older Dirk, an over-the-hill Kidd, a bored and ankle injury plagued J-Ho, a quickly aging Marion and Terry, and Drew Gooden over Devin Harris, 3 year younger Dirk & Jet, a motivated J-Ho, Daniels, and a still slightly productive Stackhouse? I think not...
  6. Paul S
    6. Posted by Paul S Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    OMG im first! haha
    I don't think they have a good enough team to contend for the title this year... I believe they are a tier 2 team behind the Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Cavs, Magic, nuggets... they probably are on par with the Jazz, Blazers, Hornets... Rockets and suns are done and need to rebuild....
  7. Cjoij
    7. Posted by Cjoij Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    Eh, who ever gets out of the West is losing to the Magic anyways
  8. THE GR8 ONE
    8. Posted by THE GR8 ONE Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    no
  9. Joey
    9. Posted by Joey Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    no doubt theyve gotten better, but theyre not even a top 4 team in the west. lakers, spurs, portland, denver and utah are all better. i think people should wait a lil bit to jump on their band wagon.
  10. Varun
    10. Posted by Varun Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Paul you aint the first.
    Anyways.
    Mavs have a tremendous team, but not a great one. If they by however means get to pass the 2nd round, i think it will be relevant to who wants it more kinda thing. All it takes is one good strech of solid games, not the ones won by 2 or less points, but solid games, then we are right there with everyone.
  11. Geoff H
    11. Posted by Geoff H Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Dallas is going to be a great team this year. Marion is back to the run and gun style that gave him the big bucks. I wouldnt be surprised if they finish 2nd/3rd in the West.
  12. Daniel N
    12. Posted by Daniel N Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    I still think that devin harris made that 06 team....he was such the x factor and he is my boy!!!! im pissed bc im a mavs fan....i wish they kept him
  13. nets1fan102290
    13. Posted by nets1fan102290 Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    The only difference Mark is that The leauge is much stronger now then in 2006. The lakers weren't as good. The Cavs weren't as good ECT. The Mavs have an old man at center. Kidd still has it but they are much older at PG. Josh
    Howard is injured often and his natural position isn't sg. This team will make it to the second round at best
  14. Hitman
    14. Posted by Hitman Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Got to sell those tickets. I liked Cuban more when he was charting the refs. And you can see where that got him.
  15. jimmyboycollins
    15. Posted by jimmyboycollins Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    1. Anyone, except Magic fans, who says they predicted the Magic would make it to the finals last year is full of it. So, it's not unreasonable to expect a darkhorse, like the Mavs this season, to come out and contend. It's a long shot, but that's why they play the games.
    2. This team is good enough to beat Denver last year. So assuming they produce similar results in the regular season, it's reasonable to expect another visit to Denver. I like the Mavs odds in that matchup.
    3. EVERYONE is going to have to beat the Lakeshow to get a shot at the title. EVERYONE is a longshot to do that. I like underdogs. Now, lets play some ball.
  16. Walter E
    16. Posted by Walter E Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Yep marion can change things for the Mavs just like the way he changed things for the heat last year... LMFAO!!
  17. Buck in Dallas
    17. Posted by Buck in Dallas Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    I'm definitely with Tony Cubes on this one - definitely better, definitely deeper. Harris was good, but at the same time - he needed the NJ system in order to fulfill his potential. He wouldn't have been half the player if he remained in Dallas. He was never going to be the first or second option offensively on the Mavs. But Dirk, Marion and Howard have me amped for this season.
  18. MAX_IN_MISSOURI
    18. Posted by MAX_IN_MISSOURI Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    Ah, they'll do alright....they're prob top 5 in the West. They may even make it to the conference finals, but that would be the absolute furthest they go.
  19. fidelo
    19. Posted by fidelo Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    I got the 2K10 game, and if the Mavs can play as good as thier videogame counterparts then their a darn good team, maibey not the greatest or best but darn good.
  20. oLLie BoomBayay
    20. Posted by oLLie BoomBayay Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    The health of Gooden, Marion, Howard will be the determining factor. Health is a major factor for every team of course, but Howard, Marion, Gooden have had their problems the last couple years. The major difference is that Howard is not nearly as good as he once was with his leg injuries. As far their competition goes you only have to beat 3 West teams in playoffs, not the other 7. Make it to the Finals and you are playing Magic, C's, or Cavs, not all three.
    Spurs are amazing on paper. Manu, Paker, or Duncan go down and they are beatable. Celtics embarrassed LA when they had KG. Without KG they were just pretty good. LA is tough when they are at their best. If Pau Gasol re-injures his ankle then they are knocked down a peg. How good of a record will Nuggets have with Billups for a whole season? Or will Nene get injured again?
    If I was a Mavs fan I would be excited because Cuban at least made attempts to improve the team.
  21. nadeem_nba
    21. Posted by nadeem_nba Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    The Harris/Kidd trade took the franchise down from perennial Finals team to 1st/2nd round playoff team. Hated that trade then and Cuban's desparation move (getting an old Kidd) keeps looking worse. An East team will win this year, just from playing each other and being more battle tested than the Lakers.
  22. Dana
    22. Posted by Dana Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    All they've done was insured themselves of another 2nd round exit. Mavs suck.
  23. Rashema S
    23. Posted by Rashema S Thu Oct 08, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    For the first time ever, I actually agree with Cuban. This team is definitely better!

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