The Dallas Mavericks are ending the home portion of their 2010-2011 schedule the way every NBA team wants to, playing in the NBA Finals.
There wasn't an abrupt ending due to being eliminated in the first round of the postseason. There isn't a fan appreciation night in April because the team failed to make the playoffs. This is it. The most games the Mavs could play this season at the AAC. Granted, they could've had more with home court advantage, but it's still a nice way to cap the home slate.
Back on Oct. 27, Dallas opened their home schedule with a 101-86 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. On April 13, they ended their regular season home schedule with a 121-89 win over the New Orleans Hornets.
In between, there was the low point of the season, with 76-point performance in an 84-76 loss to the Raptors. That was also the first game after Dirk Nowitzki hurt his knee.
There was a seven-game home winning streak, then an eight-game home winning streak, and never more than a three-game home losing streak. It's clearly been a winning year here at the AAC.
In all, the Mavs are 37-14 in front of their home fans. It's a rowdy group that likes to call themselves MFFL (Mavs Fans For Life). And for their efforts, their team has treated them to one final party that could bring them one game closer to winning the franchises first ever World Championship.
As far as endings go - this is as good as any. There is closure to tonight's final game. The players, the coaches, the fans all know , win or lose, this is it.
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For a team that wasn't picked to do much in the playoffs, ending this on their terms seems like basketball justice. And there's only one way to put a bow on what's been a dream season ...
WIN.
