Cuban: These Mavs Better Than '06 Finals Team

    The Mavs braintrust has never been short of confidence in the team it’s assembled – and has over the years never been short of expressing that confidence in catchphrase form.

   “We Love Our Team.’’

   “We’ll Go To War With These Guys.’’

   “We Love Our Boys In Blue.’’

   “This Is Our Best Mavs Team Ever.’’

   Dallas owner Mark Cuban is expressing and catchphrasing again this week, pronouncing the 2009-10 Dallas Mavericks “a better team’’ than the club that went to the Finals in 2006. “Not even close,’’ he says. “Trust me, Mavs fans: 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.’’

    Given the rosy approach that is inherent in the way Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson do their basketball business – “I am always excited about the team, and yeah, I do always put a positive spin on things,’’ concedes Cuban – long-time Mavs seem left with two choices:

    1. Reflect on the raised bar of the Cuban Era (9X50, a 67-win season and that Western Conference title) and be slow to accept the possibility that things could be even better;

    Or

    2. Allow themselves to happily and hopefully go along for the ride, confidence and catchphrases and all.

    Cuban, speaking this week on 105.3 The Fan Radio, listed the reasons for his more-positive positivity:

    *Chemistry: “The feeling and buzz in our locker room is off the charts,’’ Cuban says, “literally the best it’s been in a good five years.’’

    *Shawn Marion: Cuban is elated with Dallas’ big summer acquisition, from “Shawn Marion’s influence in the locker room (to) … his flexibility (as a player),’’ he said.

    *”Single-Platoon’’ Defensive and Offense Talent: Cuban thinks the individual defensive talents of players like Marion can change Dallas on one end. And on the other end? Said Cuban: “Now we can put five guys out there who can score, we can really spread the court, and open up driving lanes that much more … (with) Drew, Dirk, Shawn, Josh and Kidd.’’

    *Depth: “We are deeper and more competitive’’ than the 2006 team, Cuban said.

    *Intelligence: In another comparison to the 2006 Finals team, Cuban said, “we have a good basketball IQ 1-through-15.’’

    *Aggression: “We had the best training camp we’ve had in years,’’ Cuban said. “The guys are pumped up to play even in preseason … So much aggressive play and effort … The guys are just fired up.’’

    *Confidence: “It’s a completely different feeling … Dirk gets giddy watching Drew Gooden (playing center and) cutting to the basket … The guys are having fun and are so completely confident. ... To a man, every (player) who was here for the Finals run has come up to me and said we’re a much, much better team (than that one).  Go down the roster – it’s not even close.’’

    Summarized Cuban: “I can’t tell you how fired up I am. … I’m really excited about this team – if you can’t tell!’’