BFFs I like Dwight Howard and I kind of genuinely hope he makes it to the point that he's a world champion in this league. He plays like a man's man and, yet, fully realizes it's a boy's game.
However, I refused to believe any thoughts that the Magic were any better this year than they were last year. Case in point: Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter.
Those two are about the biggest "losers" in professional sports. Not that they're not talented and good on most nights. The fact is, you're not winning anything of significance with them on your roster. It's a fact.
Then they pulled off the trade to get rid of both of them and the millstone known as the Marcin Gortat contract (do you realize how close he came in becoming a Maverick?) in a trade to get Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu.
Now, give this squad a month to come together and then we'll talk about the Magic being better.
Notes:
1. At 23-5, the Mavs are the best second-place team ever. San Antonio still has the lead by 1.5 games.
2. San Antonio is ridiculous.
3. The Mavericks are a phenomenal 10-1 on the road. They're also 9-2 against the Eastern Conference. Their last road loss came Nov. 17 against New Orleans.
4. Dirk Nowitzki passed Larry Bird for 25th all time in scoring. Quite the accomplishment for a guy who once had this picture taken.
5. Got to see our ol' pal Brandon Bass. Still love his game. But it belongs on the bench as a sixth or seventh man. He's a 6-8 man who plays a 7-0 game.
6. I daresay Jason Kidd has his best game of hte season: 13 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, one turnover.
7. Caron Butler's gotten a lot better. Shooting 50 percent in December compared to 42 percent in November.
8. DeShawn Stevenson is shotting 49 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three-point line.
9. Tyson Chandler's shooting a sick 66 percent from the field. He went 7-7 against Orlando.
10. Why is Dirk great? “As of now, I am still chasing my dream and trying to bring a championship to Dallas. That is where my focus is right now.”
