The Dallas Mavericks are the best team that no one is talking about.

[BDubs]

With all the attention on the Miami Heat's new Big three and some of the best quality role players in the league (Miller & Haslem got to be the best 6th and 7th man combo in the league), The Lakers shot at a three peat, Chicago's championship contending move for Carlos Boozer (remember I said that he's going to be the difference to them getting over the hump this year), The Bucks quietly building a team around Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut, Amare in New York, Al Jefferson in Utah, and Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, and Yao Ming always able to will a team to 50 wins no matter how anonymous their teammates are.  The team with the best shot at dethroning the Lakers in the west and in my opinion the team that has done the best job of creating a team capable of matching up well with the Lakers, Heat and Celtics are. . . 

The Dallas Mavericks. They are two deep at each position with High quality players, have the offensive talent to score in the 100's on any night, good individual defenders at the center and small foward position, the length to contend with Bynum and Gasol, the defenders to make things difficult for Lebron and Wade, and the depth and savy leadership (Kidd and Terry) to possibly outlast the Celtics if both teams were to make it to the finals.  Resigning Haywood, getting Chandler for three bad contracts gives them a great combo at center to give them 48 minutes of high level shot blocking and rebounds.  Keeping Dirk Nowitzki one of the best scorers in the league, Marion and Butler having more time to fit into Rick Carlise's system, and the improvement of young gunner Rodrique Beaubois to give them a little more athleticism if they choose to go that way.  Their lineup is championship worthy if they stay healthy.

C:   Brendan Haywood / Tyson Chandler
PF:  Dirk Nowitzki /
SF:  Shawn Marion /
SG:  Caron Butler /    Rodrigue Beaubois
PG:  Jason Kidd /      Jason Terry

[MVP]

They lost in the 1st round last year to San Antonio (who got swept in the 2nd round by Phoenix) and is pretty much the same team except replacing Dampier with Chandler. I don't see it. They'll have a good regular season, but I don't really see them as a serious contender once the playoffs roll around unless they prove otherwise.

[Change]

Sorry buddy that starting lineup doesn't impress.

Bos:
Rondo
Ray
Pierce
KG
JO/Perk

Miami:
Chalmers
Wade
LBJ
Bosh
??

Lakers:
Fisher
Kobe
Artest
Pau
Bynum

Spurs:
Parker
Ginobili
Jefferson???
Duncan
Splitter


Dallas needs to infuse youth in their starting lineups. And too much of the scoring burden is on Dirk. Call me crazy, I think Rodrigue Beaubois should start over Kidd. He gives them speed, scoring, and defense. Very explosive player. I know the likelihood of that is slim. Still Rick Carlisle needs to explore that option.

[pearljammer10]

This has been said about the Mavericks for the last what. 4 even 5 years... They are always the "best team" on paper, but they can hardly get out of the first round of the playoffs. One exception when they went to the finals...

Dirk is an unbelievable player, but, he doesnt have the winning edge or that it factor that a number one player needs to win a championship. He needs another big time player alongside of him if he wants to win it all, and although he does have big names there, they arent going to win it all.

[Mr October]

50-55 wins and knocked out in the first round again probably.

[misha]

They lost in the 1st round last year to San Antonio (who got swept in the 2nd round by Phoenix) and is pretty much the same team except replacing Dampier with Chandler. I don't see it. They'll have a good regular season, but I don't really see them as a serious contender once the playoffs roll around unless they prove otherwise.

+1. They have no chance to win the title with the current roster.

[Atzar]

The OP spelled "Oklahoma City Thunder" wrong.

[jv2764]

I'll take Houston over Dallas

[BDubs]

The OP spelled "Oklahoma City Thunder" wrong.

Tommy point!  OKC is going to be real strong next year.  If they can get Durant another all-star to go along with him on that squad, they're going to be tough to beat, plus they're REAL young with chemistry and a good coach.  They're in a good spot right now to end up being an elite title contending team for a long while if they can do that.

[Celtics4ever]

Some major choke artists on that team, cough (Dirk).

[mahonedog88]

Dallas is a regular season team.

They define the sports term of being "soft"

[Mad Hatter]

Some major choke artists on that team, cough (Dirk).

Dirk is not a choke artist. he just needs a real sidekick. and i agree that Roddy Buckets aka RB3 should be the starting PG. he's gonna be a very good player.

[Scalablob990]

The western conference is Lakers and maybe OKC that's it.

[Big_Dave31]

I think Utah will actually be quite good, armed with a true Low-Post presence in Big Al...

They will be interesting to watch anyways.

Don't see anyone truly challenging that Lakers right now as it stand anyway, but, come the trade deadline at mid-season, who knows?

[Kane3387]

The western conference is Lakers and maybe OKC that's it.

Portland is better than OKC. The combination of Aldridge, Camby, Oden, and Pryzbilla is too much for Collison, Serge, Nenad, and Jeff Green. Westbrook is a stud but Andre Miller is very solid and Brandon Roy is almost just as good as KD. In fact in crunch time I would still rather have Roy over Durant based on last season. That being said Portland is still a piece away from beating LA and Dallas and Denver are both closer to beating LA than OKC. Okc has depth but so does Portland and OKC just needs a little more size.

You cant underestimate the OKC crowd in the playoffs last year. I was THERE! It was like nothing I have ever experienced and honestly probably almost impossible to reproduce because it was the first taste of playoff basketball Oklahoma City has ever experienced. Now Oklahoma expects the Thunder to be there next year and the 2010-11 expectations are far different than the 2009-10 expectations were.