05-19-2024, 11:36 AM
To those saying they'd rather play Denver, I retort:
Of course we could start with the Rudy T. line "Never underestimate the heart of a champion", but I think there's more to it than a bumper sticker slogan.
Teams that have done it before know what it takes. They understand the nuisances, as well as the overall gravity of the moment. Likewise, because they've done it before, they don't buy into the "We've never been here before so we have nothing to lose" bullshit that permeates a young locker room when they suddenly find themselves down. Young people, in general, cling to the "there's always next year", whereas older, experienced people and players (Kyrie, Luka who in the WCF two years earlier) know the stakes. To have gone from the WCF to the Lottery in one season, I think Luka understands that rosters (Brunson) aren't to be taken for granted and you can't assume tomorrow will be there.
So, even though we can pick apart Denver's lack of depth and injuries, I want no part of their pedigree.
And how many times, if the T'Wolves make it, will they hear that they haven't been in the WCF in a minute, and never in the Finals before they start to believe it.
Plus, I just like the sound of the Mavs vs the T'Wolves in the WCF because it just sounds so wrong
Of course we could start with the Rudy T. line "Never underestimate the heart of a champion", but I think there's more to it than a bumper sticker slogan.
Teams that have done it before know what it takes. They understand the nuisances, as well as the overall gravity of the moment. Likewise, because they've done it before, they don't buy into the "We've never been here before so we have nothing to lose" bullshit that permeates a young locker room when they suddenly find themselves down. Young people, in general, cling to the "there's always next year", whereas older, experienced people and players (Kyrie, Luka who in the WCF two years earlier) know the stakes. To have gone from the WCF to the Lottery in one season, I think Luka understands that rosters (Brunson) aren't to be taken for granted and you can't assume tomorrow will be there.
So, even though we can pick apart Denver's lack of depth and injuries, I want no part of their pedigree.
And how many times, if the T'Wolves make it, will they hear that they haven't been in the WCF in a minute, and never in the Finals before they start to believe it.
Plus, I just like the sound of the Mavs vs the T'Wolves in the WCF because it just sounds so wrong
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