Dirk Nowitzki gets a little too excited after an alley-oop dunk by one of his teammates.

It appears that Dirk Nowitzki has not been able to shake off the hangover from the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 championship party because the way he reacted after an alley-oop dunk by teammate Brandan Wright against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 25, Dirk sounded like a college student partying at Oktoberfest.

On a night when the Mavericks got their 2011 championship rings, Nowitzki was helping with TV commentary when Jason Terry picked up a loose ball and dished it off to Wright for a spectacular slam. That play not only got Dirk off his seat, but he started screaming “Shut it down! … Let’s go home!” His teammates were probably listening because the Mavericks did shut it down, and the Timberwolves went on to spoil the Dallas party with a 105-90 victory. Watch and listen:

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Heat star LeBron James (right) punish Vince Carter and the Mavericks for 37 points and 10 rebounds on Christmas Day. (REUTERS)

The Dallas Mavericks celebrated their 2011 NBA title with a spectacular ring ceremony and unveiling of the team’s first championship banner on Christmas Day. Then, they got their bell rung by a Miami Heat squad that looks extremely motivated and primed for a huge run in 2012. Here are five observations from opening day in the NBA:

LEBRON, HEAT LOOK SCARY GOOD

You never kick a man when he’s down and that’s what everyone in the basketball world did when LeBron James melted down in the 2011 NBA Finals. LeBron went into the offseason with one thing in mind: have more fun. It’s a simple approach but it could mean a world of difference for the two-time MVP because he simply didn’t do a good job of playing the role of villain. LeBron admitted he wasn’t himself last season and vowed to return to his old self by . . . smiling and joking more.

Micky Arison and Pat Riley were all smiles on Christmas Day after watching LeBron go for 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Heat’s 105-94 demolition of the Mavericks, spoiling Dallas’ championship banner day. The Heat have all their main parts intact, with some key additions in rookie point guard Norris Cole and reliable forward Shane Battier, and Dwyane Wade and LeBron appear to be in midseason form already. Both promised to post up more this season and they delivered in a big way in the opener, punishing the Mavs in the paint.

MAVERICKS HAVE SOME WORK TO DO

Entering the 2011-12 lockout-shortened season, the Mavs will have a brand new look. Tyson Chandler is off to New York, reliable backup point guard J.J. Barea (who absolutely killed the Lakers) is now in Minnesota, forward Caron Butler is now an L.A. Clipper, and sharp-shooter Peja Stojakovic has retired.

The Mavericks did add Vince Carter and Delonte West, and stole Lamar Odom from the Lakers. But one game into their season as defending champions, Carter was exposed on defense and Odom hasn’t gotten over the fact that he’s no longer a Laker. The Mavericks are a work in progress and will take time adjusting to their new pieces. The biggest difference is in the middle as Brendan Haywood proved he is not Tyson Chandler, especially on the defensive end where Chandler made his money last season.

NEVER COUNT OUT KOBE AND THE LAKERS

We already know about Kobe Bryant’s legendary pain threshold, having endure many, many injuries in the past only to overcome them all and thrive. But he took it a step further in the opener against the Chicago Bulls when he started the game and showed little effects of a torn ligament in his right wrist. Medical experts predicted such an injury required a 3-4 week rest period, but Bryant completely destroyed that recommendation. Just another chapter in the ever growing legend of Kobe Bryant.

Bryant finished with 28 points against the Bulls and his jump shot looked good. OK, so he did have eight turnovers and none bigger than the miscue with 16 seconds left in the game that allowed Derrick Rose to nail the game-winner. But in terms of the wrist and the chronic knee problems he’s had in the past, Kobe looked refreshed and was active on the court, especially on defense where new coach Mike Brown will have his most influence on this team.

The Lakers may have lost in the opener but they came away feeling pretty good considering Kobe was supposed to be out four weeks and starting center Andrew Bynum is serving a four-game suspension. The Bulls had the best record in the East last season and they were extremely lucky to leave Staples Center with a one-point win.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS LOCKED IN AND LOADED

After a disappointing loss in the Western Conference finals last season, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and the rest of the young and lively Thunder have been itching to get back on the court flying across the country and seemingly playing in every exhibition game possible.

The 66-game lockout-shortened season is tail0rmade for a team such as Oklahoma City because the core of the team stayed intact and it’ll get a full season with Kendrick Perkins as the man in the middle. Perkins may be limited offensively but his defense is top notch, as he proved Sunday night against the Orlando Magic when he frustrated Dwight Howard to just three points in the second half and 11 total points.

Durant poured in a game-high 30 points while Harden and Westbrook combined for 35 points. The emergence of Harden as a bonafide producer off the bench will be huge because that affords coach Scott Brooks to sit either Durant or Westbrook without missing a beat. Look for the Thunder to grab the No. 1 seed in the West.

NO QUIT IN THE CELTICS

Put a hold on that 401K plan for Kevin Garnett and Co. because the Boston Celtics are not ready to collect their severance package. Despite a roster full of guys on the other side of 30 years old, the Celtics gave the New York Knicks and their much-publicized frontcourt of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler all they can handle in a 106-104 close win for New York. The Celtics can still defend and have added a little more scoring punch with the addition of Brandon Bass and Marquis Daniels.

Bass had the first 20-point, 10-rebound game of his career and he is an upgrade from “Big Baby” Davis. Daniels gives coach Doc Rivers more flexibility because he can play shooting guard or small forward. Once Paul Pierce returns from his heel injury, the Celtics will have a solid seven-man rotation. If Rajon Rondo, who had 31 points and 13 assists in the opener, can become more of a consistent offensive threat Boston will challenge the Bulls, Knicks and Heat for the best record in the East.

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Tony Parker leads France to an impressive win over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in pool play at EuroBasket 2011. (FIBA EUROPE)

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker appears to be in midseason form as he poured in 32 points and dished out six assists in leading France to an impressive 76-65 victory over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in pool play of the 2011 European Championships in Lithuania.

Parker made 11 of 20 shots from the field in 32 minutes, including both of his 3-point attempts. He also converted eight of nine free throws and grabbed four rebounds from his point guard position. Nowitzki led the way for Germany with 20 points.

France improved to 3-0 in Group B, while Germany fell to 2-1. France also defeated Germany in EuroBasket 2009.

Parker, who endured a disappointing first-round exit in the NBA playoffs last spring, currently leads the tournament in scoring with a 28.0 average and is making 59% of his field goals. He is also averaging a tournament-best 7.0 assists per game. Parker was rumored to be on the trading block last season, but if he can stay healthy and play at a high level, it will be very difficult for San Antonio to get rid of him.

The 2007 NBA Finals MVP had some help on the offensive end, as Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum had 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah contributed eight points and seven rebounds. France also boasts Boris Diaw (Charlotte Bobcats) and Mickael Gelabale (formerly of the Seattle Sonics but now plays in Belgium), making this year’s French squad a serious contender for the EuroBasket title. The top two teams receive an automatic berth to the 2012 London Olympics.

Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman, arguably Germany’s second-best player, struggled from the field in his much anticipated matchup in the middle against Noah. Kaman made just four of nine shots and netted eight points.

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Each year, OneManFastBreak.net ranks the five best players in the NBA. The ranking system is based on ONE MAN’S opinion and doesn’t conform to the All-NBA format where you have to pick one center, two forwards and two guards. It is strictly based on last season’s performance, regardless of position, with more weight placed in how each player did in the playoffs. Last season’s top five: Kobe Bryant (1), LeBron James (2), Dwyane Wade (3), Chris Paul (4) and Dwight Howard (5).

Before people jump all over this list and start screaming for LeBron James, the biggest reason why LeBron is no longer in the top five after being rated No. 2 last year is simply because he gave up his top-five ranking when he signed with the Miami Heat and become Dwyane Wade’s sidekick. LeBron’s decision to leave his Batman status in Cleveland and settle for the Robin of South Beach was a stunning admission by the self-proclaimed king of basketball that he doesn’t want to be the leading man and is perfectly content playing a supporting role. If LeBron leads the Heat to a championship and wins Finals MVP then he regains his status as a top-five player. But for the time being, he’s at No. 6.

OneManFastBreak.net rates the five best players in the NBA in 2011.

5. DWIGHT HOWARD
Orlando Magic, Center

Superman II remains the most dominant big man in the game today. Though his statistics were not-so-super in 2010, he redeemed himself by increasing his scoring (22.9) and rebounding (14.1) in 2011. His shot-blocking remains superb (2.4 per game) and he has added a few post moves to his offensive repertoire. The extra moves boosted his scoring average from 18.3 in 2010 to 22.9 in 2011. He also averaged more field goal attempts (13.4) while maintaining his high-percentage shooting (59%). Even though the Magic had a disappointing run in the postseason, losing to the Hawks in the first round, Howard did everything but sell popcorn in the series, averaging 27 points and 15 rebounds. Howard has very little competition at the center position so he should be able to lock up first-team status for the next five to 10 years.

4. DERRICK ROSE
Chicago Bulls, Point Guard

Since becoming the face of the Chicago Bulls in 2008, Derrick Rose has been nothing short of sensational. He has managed to carve his own stature for a franchise that housed the great Michael Jordan and the incomparable Scottie Pippen. Rose is different from other superstars. He is quiet and humble, and always quick to point to himself whenever he makes a mistake. That is quite refreshing when you think about it, especially since the majority of stars in the NBA rarely blame themselves for anything. Rose’s game has evolved so much that he went from not being ranked last year on OMFB to No. 4, jumping over Dwight Howard. In just three seasons, Rose has become the league MVP and unquestioned leader of a team that reached the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. He jumped his scoring average from 20.8 in 2010 to 25.0 in 2011, and his improved his shooting from the 3-point line (from 26% to 33%) and free throw line (76% to 85%).

3. DWYANE WADE
Miami Heat, Shooting Guard

Some thought D-Wade’s status as one of the five best players in the game would come down a peg with the arrival of LeBron James and Chris Bosh in Miami. Well, not only did Wade find a way to coexist with two other superstars with a spectacular regular season but he enhanced his reputation as a big-time performer with a very good series against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. Without a doubt, Wade was Miami’s best player in The Finals. Through the first five games of the series, you could argue that Wade was the best player in the series and was on his way to a second NBA Finals MVP until his buddy LeBron failed to support him in the last five games. Wade scored 22, 36, 29, 32 and 23 points for the Heat, but somehow disappeared in Game 6 as the Mavericks clinched the championship on the Heat’s home floor. Nonetheless, Wade reaffirmed his place in the game with another outstanding postseason.

And now, for the top two. Drum roll please ….

2. KOBE BRYANT
Los Angeles Lakers, Shooting Guard

The Black Mamba has been the best player on the planet (according to OMFB) the last four years, but age and tons of mileage on his body finally caught up with No. 24. The two-time NBA Finals MVP and five-time world champion still had a decent season, but “decent” is not a word normally associated with the always driven Bryant. He suffered through a very average series against Dallas in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals, and without his usual explosiveness Bryant was pinned to the floor and barely had any lift on his legs. The most telling statistic in the L.A.-Dallas series was Bryant’s inability to get easy buckets. He went to the line just 15 times in the four-game sweep, and didn’t have any dunks. At this stage of Kobe’s career, he’s not into statistics or individual awards. It’s all about The Ring. He knows his Lakers are built for the long haul and he doesn’t have to carry the load night after night. Besides, the soon-to-be 32-year-old star understands that he needs to start preserving his body. Although when challenged, he can always put on his Black Mamba game face and devour anyone who tries to get in his path. He knows his legacy is secured and his Hall-of-Fame pass is waiting for him at the doors of Springfield, Mass. About the only thing missing on his checklist is the No. 7. That’s the number championship rings he needs to win to surpass Jordan.

1. DIRK NOWITZKI
Dallas Mavericks, Forward

First, I’d like to apologize to Dirk for not including him on the list last season. But even after his stupendous performance in the 2011 NBA playoffs, leading the Mavericks to their first NBA title and winning the Finals MVP, I still have a hard time figuring out how in the world did Dirk did it. I mean, this was a guy who, in the previous 12 years of his career, has been labeled “soft” or “can’t win the big one.” All of that changed once the playoffs began as Nowitzki went on an incredible run that saw him destroy Kobe, Kevin Durant, LeBron and D-Wade. Winning a championship certainly solidified Dirk’s place in history, and removed all doubt about his ability to rise to the occasion. It began in the Portland series in which the Mavericks used a devastating playoff loss to fuel a turnaround that is not usually associated with a Dallas team. Then, in the Lakers series, Dirk and the Mavs seemingly had answer for anything Phil Jackson threw at them. In the West finals against Oklahoma City, Nowitzki outgunned Durant, including two 40-point games. Against the star-studded Heat in The Finals, Nowitzki exorcised his demons with two game-winning baskets – one against Bosh and the other against Udonis Haslem, his old nemesis from 2006. Dirk also showed tremendous grit by playing almost the entire series with a torn tendon in his left finger. Not many picked the Mavericks to win the championship, but it’s a testament to Dirk and the resilient Mavs for proving to all those so-called basketball experts out there (including the editor of OMFB) that perception and history are overrated. Dirk Nowitzki finally shed the poor perception about him and rewrote history. With exception of a few occasions, the MVP of the NBA Finals should be considered the No. 1 player in the game. And, without a doubt, Dirk Nowitzki has earned the right to be called THE BEST PLAYER IN THE GAME.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak. (Photos courtesy of Getty Images and US Presswire)

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Mavericks guard Jason Terry is ready for takeoff, especially in the fourth quarter. (GETTY IMAGES)

TNT’s Kenny “The Jet” Smith has said on more than one occasion that Jason Terry got his “Jet” nickname not because of his game, but because it stood for his full name: Jason Eugene Terry.

After Terry’s performance in the 2011 NBA Finals, Smith may have to revisit his little jab at the Mavericks guard. And Terry may have picked up a new nickname as well: The Closer.

When Mavericks franchise player Dirk Nowitzki struggled in the early part of Game 6 in Miami, it was Terry who shouldered the load with 19 points in the first half. Once Nowitzki regained his shooting touch, the Mavericks took off and shot their way to a 105-95 victory to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

It was Dallas’ first championship as an NBA franchise, and although Nowitzki was named MVP of The Finals, it was Terry who complemented Dirk and took some pressure off him when it mattered most – the fourth quarter.

“That’s my job. All season long and every since I’ve been a Maverick I’ve been a guy that in the fourth quarter they’ve depended on either make plays or make shots,” Terry said. “I really relish in that role, and regardless of what’s going on for three quarters of the game in the fourth quarter I know I’m depended on to come through.”

Nowitzki was absolutely magnificent down the stretch in each of the games. He scored 62 points in the fourth quarter in the six games, tying the combined total for Dwyane Wade (44) and LeBron James (18). But right behind Wade in fourth-quarter scoring is Terry with 31.

“He was unbelievable,” Nowitzki said of Terry, who finished with a game-high 27 points in the series-clinching Game 6. “He watched me struggle early and he took it upon himself to really attack and look for his shot, and get going early. Oh man, he kept coming all night long and he was phenomenal.”

Nowitzki added, “On one timeout, he kept pushing me and kept telling me, ‘Remember ’06! Let’s not let it happen again.’ ”

In the games the Mavericks lost in the 2011 Finals, Terry was shutout in the fourth and was ineffective. In the games the Mavs won, Terry was a total play-maker and made big-time shots, especially in the pivotal Game 5 in Dallas.

There was a stretch in the final two minutes of the game in which Terry carried the Mavs. When the Mavs went down 100-97, Terry buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 100. On the next Mavs possession, he found Nowitzki on the baseline for a dunk to give Dallas the lead. Then, with 1:33 remaining, he drove to the basket, blew past LeBron, drew three defenders and kicked the ball out to Jason Kidd for a 3-pointer to build the lead to five. He delivered the dagger shot when he drilled a three from the American Airlines Center logo right in the face of LeBron to give Dallas a 108-101 lead with 33 seconds left in the game.

“During periods where Dirk was out of the game, we were going to him and he was delivering,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of Terry after Game 5. “It’s the total game that we’ve all been preaching to Jet really since the playoffs began.”

When the season began, Terry inked a tattoo of the Larry O’Brien Trophy on his right bicep. It was bold and very brash move for someone who has only been to the NBA Finals once in his career. When Terry was asked what he would do if the Mavs don’t win the NBA title, he said he’d remove the tattoo. Fortunately for Terry and the Mavs, that won’t be necessary.

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Dirk Nowitzki was not amused by the stunt Dwyane Wade and LeBron James pulled prior to Game 5 of the 2011 NBA Finals. (US PRESSWIRE)

Dirk Nowitzki saw the video of Dwyane Wade and his buddy LeBron James mocking him before a Miami Heat shoot-around and the Mavericks star didn’t find the whole bit amusing. In fact, Nowitzki was a little offended.

During Saturday’s news conference, the Mavericks All-Star said Wade and James were “childish” and “ignorant” to mock his illness, although he didn’t say that it would add more motivation for him. “I’ve been in this league for 13 years. I’ve never faked an injury or an illness before,” Nowitzki told reporters.

“It happened. It’s over to me,” he said. “It’s not going to add anything extra to me. This is the NBA Finals. If you need an extra motivation at this time of year then you have a problem. We’re one win away from my dream, what I’ve worked on for half of my life.”

In the video, Wade and James appear to be faking a cough and covering their mouths when cameras were following them as they left Dallas’ American Airlines Center. Both Heat stars claim they were joking, but it was an obvious shot at Dirk who suffered through a bad sinus infection after Game 4.

“First of all, it wasn’t fake coughing,” Wade said. “I actually did cough. And with the cameras being right there, we made a joke out of it because we knew you guys were going to blow it up. You did exactly what we knew. We never said Dirk’s name. I think he’s not the only one in the world who can get sick or have a cough. We just had fun with the cameras being right in our face about the blowup of the incident, and it held to be true. You blew it up.”

James, on the other hand, avoided the whole issue. “I’m not feeding into that,” he said. “If you guys want to feed into everything that not only myself or D-Wade or the Miami Heat do, I think that’s a non-issue. There’s bigger issues in this series than that.”

James is right about one thing. There are bigger issues in this series than pretending to be sick. However, anything Wade and LeBron do on and off the court will be scrutinized, whether it’s real or not. And why add more fuel to the Mavericks’ fire? Though Nowitzki said he has already moved on, you know deep down he is steaming over this and will be extra fired up for Game 6. Any great athlete is always looking for an edge, and in the end the joke may be on Wade and LeBron.

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Dirk Nowitzki is four victories away from finally winning that elusive NBA championship ring. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

For the majority of Dirk Nowitzki’s career, he’s been labeled soft. Why? Just look at his body of work. There’s nothing about him that looks imposing or intimidating.

He is a 7-footer who prefers to play away from the basket and settle for jump shots rather than drive in for power dunks. He goes down faster than Michael Spinks on the first sign of physical contact, and he doesn’t seem interested in pushing back. And when Nowitzki goes to his patented fadeaway jumpers, he looks like a baby horse trying to walk for the first time and is about as graceful as Master P in “Dancing With the Stars.”

What compounds matters is the fact that Nowitzki experienced two epic failures in the NBA playoffs: blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals and getting knocked out by eighth-seeded Golden State in the first round of the 2007 Western Conference playoffs. It wasn’t because he lost in the postseason, it was the way he lost. Both times Nowitzki and Mavs were bullied physically and they folded like tents. Those two major collapses, more than anything else, have defined Nowitzki’s career so far, and the only way he can erase them is to win an NBA title.

“The year after went to The Finals, we won 70 games and then we ran into a hot team that was a bad matchup for us. Next thing you know, you’re a first-round exit,” Nowitzki said. “In this league, you never know. It took a long five years to finally get back to this stage. It’s good to be back and hopefully we can make the most out of it.”

Nowitzki added: “A lot has been made about my legacy. I’m not worried about all that. I’m trying to be on the best team; I trying to win for this organization, for the owner, for myself and for the team. That’s really all I’m worried about. I’m not worried about my legacy without a ring, or with the ring. I live in the moment.”

Dirk may say he’s not worried about his basketball legacy, but let’sget real here. Any NBA player who strives to be the best is absolutely concerned about his legacy. It’s all about the ring, and that’s the reason why Dirk is still pushing himself because he’s still chasing that elusive ring. It’s the very reason why he has elevated his game to new heights this season – his 13^th in the NBA – and has gotten better as a vocal leader and playoff performer.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade, the MVP of the 2006 Finals, has been impressed with Nowitzki’s evolution as a player during the past five years especially the way the Mavericks star has risen to the occasion when it matters most.

“I thought he was good then. Now he’s phenomenal,” Wade said of Nowitzki, who is 10-0 against the Heat in the regular season since the 2006 Finals.

“Obviously, his shot-making ability, it’s one of the best this league has seen. What he has gotten better at is taking over games in the fourth quarter,” Wade said. “What’s phenomenal is he’s very efficient. You’ll see a game with Dirk when he’s 8-for-14, but it seems like he’s taking more shots. He just makes big shots. I think he’s a smarter player, I think he’s a hungrier player and even more efficient player than he was in ’06.”

Nowitzki has carried the Mavs back to the NBA Finals with a postseason comparable to the game’s greats. In 15 playoff games in 2011, Nowitzki averaged 28 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 51% percent from the field and from 3-point range. Nothing “soft” about those numbers.

His two 40-point games in the conference finals against the Thunder was stuff of legends. He saved his best in the fourth quarter of Game 4 in Oklahoma City when his team was down by 15 with under three minutes left. He swished 3-pointers, dropped off-balance fadeaway jumpers even with Nick Collison draped all over him and buried crucial free throws. Simply, he refused to lose that game and he willed his team to victory.

Nowitzki is a man on a mission and now standing in his way are Wade and the Miami Heat, the team that basically slapped the “soft” label on his face. What better way to conquer demons than face the devilishly good and red-hot Heat.

“We have another chance and I’m going for it,” Nowitzki said. “Everything after that will fall into place. Next couple of years we can talk about my legacy when my career is over. But I’m really just focusing on winning and being on the best team.”

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter at: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak.

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Heat guard Dwyane Wade (right) drives on Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki during a regular-season game in 2010. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Dallas Mavericks are back in the NBA Finals, a feat very few people outside of Texas considered a possibility.

Dirk Nowitzki will get another opportunity to win that elusive ring, and he’ll have to go through Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat yet again. This time, Wade has some good company. He’s got wingmen LeBron James and Chris Bosh along for the ride. James and Nowitzki are six regular-season MVPs who’ve never won an NBA championship. One of them will breakthrough this season.

Here are five things to watch in the 2011 NBA Finals:

Mavs try to exorcise their demons from 2006
Five full seasons have already gone by and yet Dirk still gets asked what happened in the 2006 NBA Finals when his Mavericks were up 2-0 and lost the next four to the Heat. If the Mavs lose again to the Heat, Dirk will never be able to live down his failures, which is probably unfair because he’s a future Hall-of-Famer and maybe the best shooting 7-footer the league has ever seen. It’s quite obvious the loss in The Finals in ’06 still stings. Owner Mark Cuban hasn’t gotten over it, Dirk brings it up seemingly every year, Donnie Nelson said the Mavs need to “exorcise demons” and even former coach Avery Johnson becomes bummed whenever the subject of the ’06 Finals comes up. The best way to overcome a fear is to come face-to-face with it and deal with it. When Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals tips off on May 31, the Mavericks will be facing their worst fears in the form of the Miami Heat and it’s either they run away from it or overcome it.

Dallas’ bench mob
It’s safe to say that the Mavs wouldn’t be in The Finals if not for the great play of their bench, led by point guard J.J. Barea, Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic. Terry and Stojakovic have been lights out from 3-point range,  while no one has been able to contain Barea on pick-and-rolls. Just ask Andrew Bynum and Lakers. Barea has made Roddy Beaubois an afterthought, and his energy off the bench is the perfect complement to the walk-it-up style of veteran Jason Kidd. The Heat will counter with Mario Chalmers, but it is highly doubtful he’ll be able to check Barea. Throughout the Western Conference playoffs, the Mavericks killed teams by raining 3-pointers at a record rate. They averaged almost nine 3-pointers made each playoff game and much of their 133 threes came from the fingertips of Terry, Barea and Stojakovic. One way Miami can take control of this series to run Terry and Stojakovic off the 3-point line and make them shoot off the dribble. As for stopping Barea? This may be Miami’s biggest challenge (other than stopping Nowitzki) on defense because Barea is capable of scoring off the dribble or spotting up behind the 3-point arc.

Who will guard LeBron?
Shawn Marion should get the assignment, but don’t be surprised if Mavs coach Rick Carlisle calls DeShawn Stevenson’s number to guard LeBron. It won’t matter. LeBron should dominate this matchup. Right now, James has his jumper working, which is a bad sign for Dallas. James is getting better with his mid-range shot, and has shown a post-up game.

Who will guard Nowitzki?
Ditto for the Heat. Expect Bosh will start on Dirk and then Haslem, who did a decent job on the Mavs superstar in the 2006 Finals. Then, in the fourth quarter, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra should assign LeBron to put the clamps on Dirk – something no one has been able to do in the playoffs. Nowitzki is playing the best basketball of his life, and LeBron and Co. will have their hands full.

Heat vs. Mavericks’ zone defense
The Heat will play their usual air-tight man-to-man defense, but the Mavericks will try to slow down the LeBron, Wade and Bosh using a matchup zone defense. The zone was extremely effective against the Lakers and Thunder, so look for Carlisle to use it against the Heat as a change-of-pace scheme and also to force the Heat to make jump shots and prevent LeBron and Wade from getting to the paint. The Sixers, Celtics and Bulls were unable to keep LeBron and Wade from getting to the free throw line as the Heat made 349 free throws in the Eastern Conference playoffs. One way to keep the Heat from getting to the foul line is keeping LeBron and Wade from driving to the basket and make them make tough jump shots. Expect Spoelstra to use 3-point specialists James Jones, Mike Miller and Mike Bibby to attack the Mavs’ zone defense and space the floor, helping create driving lanes for his two superstars.

Prediction: Heat in six.

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When I think of signature basketball moves, the first one that comes to mind is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook. Kareem’s sky hook may be the most unstoppable shot in the history of the sport. It’s beautiful to watch, extremely deadly and that unique shot – many times replicated but never successfully duplicated – is the biggest reason why The Big Fella is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Other signature moves that give defenders nightmares are Michael Jordan’s fadeaway jumper, George Gervin’s finger roll, Isiah Thomas’ crossover dribble (or Tim Hardaway’s crossover depending on which era you grew up in), Earl Monroe’s spin move and Hakeem Olajuwon’s “Dream Shake.” All those moves mentioned are go-to moves that are nearly impossible to stop.

When it comes to today’s game, there are quite a few signature moves that are nearly impossible to stop. Former SportsCenter anchor Dan Patrick used to say: “You can’t stop it, you can only hope to contain it.” That line applies to these seven incredible basketball moves from seven amazing individuals:

KOBE BRYANT’S PUMP FAKE AND PIVOT
Opposing players know its coming, but they still bite on Kobe’s head, shoulder and ball fakes. Kobe has amazing footwork, and he uses it to his advantage. When he unleashes his pump fakes, he gets on his tip-toes which throws the defender off balance when Kobe is about to go up for a shot. And then he reverse pivots to get separation and a clear shot at the basket. It’s a move that requires tremendous patience, practice, smarts and amazing balance.

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CARMELO ANTHONY’S JAB STEP
If you’re putting together a video tape on how to execute the jab step from the triple-threat position, pop in one of Carmelo’s highlight highlight tapes. Melo is the master of the jab step. When Melo squares his shoulders to the basket, a defender has to respect two things: the jump shot and the dribble drive. Both are made possible because Melo can create space with his jab step.

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PAUL PIERCE’S STEP-BACK JUMPER
The name known as The Truth loves to set up his defender by bringing him to the foul line and then stepping back to gain separation on his shot. Pierce is adept at executing the step-back jump shot whether he’s driving left or right. A lot of players have the step-back jump shot in their arsenal, but Pierce has won multiple games for the Celtics with his signature shot. Once he gets his defender near the top of the key, all he needs is a slight breathing room and it is game over.

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DERRICK ROSE’S CROSSOVER DRIBBLE AND ONE-HAND FLOATER
Spurs guard Tony Parker was one of the first to use the “tear drop” in the NBA as a main weapon against bigger defenders patrolling the paint. Parker remains one of the best at throwing floaters or one-hand runners in the paint, but Bulls guard Derrick Rose has taken it to a whole new level and does it better than anyone in the Association. He uses his great quickness to set up his defender. Once Rose has his opponent on his heels, he utilizes his lightning-quick crossover dribble, stops on a dime, springs up and then floats a shot with his strong hand. Bucket! What makes Rose’s floater so tough to defend is the way he can contort his body when he attacks the rim. Because of that threat, his floater is extra tough to anticipate.

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MANU GINOBILI’S EURO STEP
Manu Ginobili introduced the Euro Step to the NBA in 2003. It has been imitated but never duplicated. Even though Ginobili is from Argentina, he made his mark in Europe and the Euro Step was a big part of his repertoire. The Euro Step is an effective way of keeping a defender guessing. Manu uses his long strides to avoid the charge, steps across from left to right (usually) and finishes with his left hand. Current European stars Juan Carlos Navarro and Ricky Rubio utilize this move, as well as NBA stud Dwyane Wade, but nobody does it better than Ginobili. Pay attention to the instructional video below on how he executes the move off of a pick-and-roll.

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JAMAL CRAWFORD’S CROSSOVER DRIBBLE
Jamal Crawford has the best crossover dribble since Isiah Thomas and Tim Hardaway. The man known as The True Essence at Rucker Park, Crawford has amazing handles and plays the ball like he has strings on them. If you don’t believe me, check out this jaw-dropping move against the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan.

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DIRK NOWITZKI’S FADEAWAY JUMPER
The Dallas Mavericks superstar has amassed more than 22,000 points during his soon-to-be Hall-of-Fame career and 15,000 of those points most likely were produced off of those fadeaway jumpers. Dirk starts his move at the free throw line, or at the “elbows,” and then he sets up his defender by backing him down and once he feels enough separation he fades back, jumping off his left foot, and shoots his favorite shot. The move looks a little awkward during the process because the 7-foot Nowitzki is tall and lanky so there’s a lot of herky-jerky movements. And, let’s face it, Dirk is not the most graceful athlete on the court. But, the end result is absolutely gorgeous.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. To read his previous posts, visit www.onemanfastbreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

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Forward Dirk Nowitzki remains the focal point of the Dallas Mavericks. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Don’t let that 12-game winning streak and the inflated overall record fool you. The 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks are not that much better than the 2002-03 Mavericks, or the 2006-07 Mavericks, or the 2009-10 Mavericks. The coaches and players may have changed, but the same problems persist: a soft interior defense and a predictable offense.

A few nights ago, the Mavericks were rolling and blitzing the league en route to 12 consecutive victories. That winning streak was snapped recently by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks for crying out loud! And, to make matters worse, the Mavericks lost at home, where they should never lose to an average Eastern Conference team, which the Bucks are at this point.

The Mavs have never developed that killer instinct to be considered a legitimate contender for the NBA title. They didn’t have it in 2006 when they blew a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, and they certainly never had it when they got thrashed by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2007 playoffs.

Killer instinct starts with defense, and as long as Dirk Nowitzki is the face of the franchise, the perception (whether it is reality or not) is that the Mavs will always be a soft team. No matter who the Mavs insert at center to pair with Dirk, their defense remains suspect. The scouting report on Dallas: rough them up and they will collapse like the Metrodome roof.

For all the wonderful things Nowitzki does on offense, he is a liability on defense. He’s your typical European big man (Pau Gasol is the exception) who prefers to shoot fadeaway jumpers. In an ideal situation, Nowitzki would greatly benefit from becoming the No. 2 star – much like Gasol when he left Memphis to join Kobe Bryant’s Lakers. Nowitzki is more Kevin McHale than Larry Bird, which is not a knock on Dirk. He’s a very good player, but he’s not a No. 1 guy.

Acquiring Tyson Chandler during the offseason puts a Band-Aid on Dallas’ soft-as-tissue persona, but Chandler alone can’t cure the team’s deficiencies. Chandler is a tremendous help defender but he’s not a good one-on-one post defender. He gets pushed around at times and picks up too many silly fouls, which reduces his aggressiveness. Brendan Haywood is an upgrade from Erick Dampier, but Haywood is a backup center at best.

Another major problem that could resurface in the playoffs is Dallas’ vanilla offense. I love Jason Kidd as a point guard, but he is a liability on offense. No matter how many threes he makes during the regular season, I would still dare J-Kidd to make jump shots from beyond the 3-point line. That was the game plan the Spurs implemented during last year’s playoffs and it worked to perfection. When you have J-Kidd on the court, basically the Mavs are playing 4-on-5 on offense.

Caron Butler was a nice addition, but he is injury prone. Essentially, he replaced Josh Howard in the lineup so Butler is not a true upgrade. The other major acquisition, Shawn Marion, has seen his better days. The Matrix relied on his athleticism for much of his career, and now that he’s a shell of himself he doesn’t impact the game like he once did.

And what about Jason Terry you say? All you need to know about Jet is when the Mavs are out in front, he’ll light it up. But when the Mavs are behind, he’ll disappear. I’d rather roll the dice with Roddy Beaubois than go all in with Jason Terry.

Right now the Mavericks are rolling, but don’t get your hopes up.

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