The Mavericks could actually be really good next season

I really believe the Mavericks have a better team heading into the 2012-2013 season than they did last year and possibly as good as the team that won the NBA title two years ago. Now for those with short memories, that title run involved almost as much luck as it did skill. Remember, the Mavs entered the playoffs two years as the No. 4 seed in the West and I think this coming year’s team has an excellent shot at finishing fourth as well. You know the Thunder will finish ahead of the Mavs as will the Lakers. I can’t see both the Spurs and the Clippers having a better record than Dallas, however, although one of them will. Also remember that if Labron James had played against us as he played against OKC in the most recent finals, Dallas would still be looking for its first NBA title.

Darren Collison is a major upgrade over Jason Kidd. Not, Kidd in his prime, but then Kidd has been past his prime for the last three or four years now. Collison brings Russell Westbrook-like speed and agility to the Mavericks at point guard (Kidd was never known for his speed) and he’s a far better defender.

If he can remain injury free (and that’s a big "if"), Chris Kamen could be the best center ever to wear a Mavericks uniform with the exception of ol’ What’s-His-Name who left Dallas for New York last year at this time. But there were injury concerns surrounding ol’ W-H-N as well and Kamen is more of an offensive threat than the dear departed Olympian ever hoped to be.

But the kicker is the addition of Elton Brand. He may not be the pure shooter that Jason Terry was (but then the Mavs aren’t asking him to play two guard either). He does, however, possess far more basketball smarts than Terry and the addition of Brand is going to allow coach Rick Carlisle to let Dirk have a lot more much-needed rest during games.

And if either rookie Jared Cunningham or Jae Crowder begin performing like a lottery pick (I’m not expecting that kind of miracle) than this team could go the distance.

But at the least, they will finish better than last year’s squad that ended the season seventh in the West.