Maybe there is something to be said for the Dallas Mavericks.
A team with a history of performing in the playoffs with one hand wrapped around its throat, the Mavericks climbed back to the NBA Finals on Wednesday night with yet another out-of-character comeback, rallying late for a 100-96 victory over Oklahoma City that clinched the Western Conference finals, four games to one.
Once again front and center was Dirk Nowitzki, the franchise bellwether who delivered again — this time a 3-pointer with 1:14 left that gave the Mavericks the lead for good.
But when he stepped to center stage — literally — to accept the silver conference championship trophy afterward, Nowitzki was more stoic than satisfied.
"We can enjoy it for a day, but we got one of those trophies already, and it didn't mean anything in the end," Nowitzki said later, explaining his emotions. "I think once you get to the Finals, there is no second-place finish."
That is a point that will not be hard to drive home.
If the Miami Heat finish off the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference, it would rather poetically return the Mavericks to the scene of their greatest calamity — blowing a 2-0 lead and a late Game 3 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals.
It would also set the scene for redemption, much the way the Red Sox — in winning their first World Series in 86 years — vanquished the Yankees with an epic comeback along the way, or the Peyton Manning rallied the Colts past their old nemesis the Patriots on the way to a Super Bowl title.
"It would be a good storyline for everybody, it would be good for our fans," said Mavericks guard Jason Terry, who, along with Nowitzki, is the only remaining player from that team. "As long as you keep talking about (2006), it's going to be hanging over. (But) for us, we sleep with it every night — Dirk, (owner) Mark Cuban, our fans, (assistant coach) Darrell Armstrong. Everybody else in this locker room is new, but again, they still have unique stories."
If Nowitzki and Terry will be central to the storyline, they are not alone in their quest. The Mavericks are the oldest team in the league and their experience has showed nicely during the playoffs. But for all those years, there is not a single player or coach on their staff who has won an NBA title.
They do, however, lead the league in heartbreak.
Jason Kidd, 38, has been to two NBA Finals but lost them both with the Nets. With Sacramento, Peja Stojakovic, 33, lost a crushing seven-game series to the Lakers. With Phoenix, Shawn Marion, 33, lost twice in the Western Conference finals, then saw his best hope waylaid by controversial suspensions against San Antonio. With New Orleans, Tyson Chandler, 29, lost Game 7 at home to San Antonio in the 2008 conference semifinals.
And then there are Nowitzki and Terry, who were also with Dallas in 2007 when they won a league-leading 67 games, then were bounced out in the first round by Golden State. They were also knocked out in the first round in 2008 and last season.
"People can play 15, 20 years and never get to the conference finals," said Marion, who will be playing in his first Finals. "I'm going to make sure I make the best of it."
Marion is one of many veterans who has taken on a reduced role with the Mavericks. But when Caron Butler was injured in January, Marion stepped in as a starter and helped thwart Thunder star Kevin Durant down the stretch in Game 4, then turned in 26 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in Game 5.
Still, the Thunder made Dallas work once again.
They led for much of the game, had a 92-86 lead with 4:27 left and still led by two points when Nowitzki missed a 3-pointer with 1:21 left. But Chandler knocked the rebound away from Russell Westbrook and into the hands of Terry. He passed to Jason Kidd, who fed the ball to Marion at the free-throw line, and he laid it off to Nowitzki, who let fly with another 3-pointer.
This one did not miss.
As he backpedaled, Nowitzki threw his hands in the air. The roar of the crowd, which had fidgeted through most of the game, reverberated throughout the building.
It had taken a while, but it was in keeping with the Mavericks' theme this spring. Everything, it is beginning to appear, may be well worth the wait
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