From rags to riches.

It wasn't long after the Dallas Mavericks secured the third seed in the West that sports analysts and fans dismissed their presence in the NBA playoffs as any kind of lingering threat. Jokes were made and even other NBA teams were already beating the media to the punch by personally requesting the Mavs as their first opponent (see first round exiters, the Denver Nuggets). Dallas was ridiculed and tormented of their past mistakes. It was a daily and constant reminder of what had been a thorn in the Mavericks side for five LONG years. From painstaking first round exits year after year to the long lasting burden of heartbreaking '06 Finals defeat, the Dallas Mavericks have been the laughing stock of the NBA, even with their multiple 50 plus win seasons.

With the first round against the Portland Trailblazers, it was obvious whom the favorite was to advance to the Western Semi-Conference Finals. But then something happened. In game four, it looked as if the Dallas Mavericks were finally going to do something that hadn't been done in awhile. Up 18 points through three quarters, the Mavs suffered a historic melt down and watched as Portland came back to win a much needed 84-82 victory. Instantly Dallas was back to their old self’s. Fans and players alike resorted to the typical name calling like chokers and being soft. This was a defining moment for the Dallas Mavericks. This would outline a historic path to what could possibly be the most heartfelt playoff/finals run in Dallas history. Instead of crumbling under their own grief and misery, the Mavs came back to Dallas and put their game to play to win game five (93-82) and game six (103-96). The Dallas Mavericks were in the Western Semi-Conference Finals.

Round two was just as unforgiving going into as the first. The LA Lakers defeated the New Orleans Hornets to gain their automatic invitation into the Semi-Finals. The Mavs now had a new threat to handle. As before the clear underdogs were the Mavs, with every sports analyst choosing the defending National Champs to advance to the Finals. Three quarters through and it looked as if Dallas would grant those analysts their wishes. But then, once again, something happened. Dallas came back with their grit, good defense and impressive shooting to steal game one away from the Lakeshow (96-94). While this win was greatly important, there was no way the Mavs could do it again on the champs own turf, could they?...

Oops.

Something that was so unlikely, so unthinkable and yet so blatantly possible unfolded within the enemy territory. Dallas took game one and two of the series away from the Lakers and headed home with a two game lead and home court advantage. Now, at this point, confidence barriers had been broken. J.J. Barea pissed off Ron Artest and concluded the previous game with a forearm in his face, ending with a one-way ticket to Ron’s suspension for game three. With the Mavs at the Lakers throats and the home fans roaring to their every defeating blow, Dallas upped the anty once more with a third straight victory at home (98-92). The Mavs had broken their backs and it was time to inject the killing blow with a sweep of the Lakers. In game four Dallas did just that. At half time Dallas led by 24 and the game was essentially over. With 8:21 remaining in the fourth quarter the Mavs were up 100-68. It was the victory Dallas had longed for to proudly shove into the faces of doubters everywhere thoroughly. And just like that the Mavs were in the Western Conference finals, sending Kobe and company packing and Phil Jackson into retirement.

Even with a crushing sweep of the defending champs, it still wasn’t enough to silence the haters, the doubters and the disbelievers. As the Thunder closed out their series with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Mavs once again found themselves rolling into the same familiar situation as the previous two teams. But all wasn’t as bad; few began to realize that these Mavs were difference. One guy in particular preached it and continued to speak the every telling truth. Sir Charles was the man of continuing faith, but was severely a member of the 10% club.

Game one of the Western conference finals was historic game in which Dirk Nowitzki became the first player to score 24 consecutive free throws in a play off game. He had a whopping 48 points in a high scoring game victory of 121-112. With the momentum clearly in favor of the seven game win streaking Mavs, it was time to take the youthful Thunder to their game. But the boyish youths had something else planned for the aging veterans and hushed the Dallas fans chants of “sweep” throughout.

Heading to the heart and sole of tornado alley, the Dallas Mavericks decided they were going to stomp on the hearts of the Thunder and not let them take a 2-1 lead in the series and they did just that with a 93-87 win. Up 2-1 Dallas went in trying to grasp a thirst quenching lead to try and break the Thunder, but then, yet again, something else transpired. The fourth quarter came-a-calling and the Mavs were down 15 points with less than four minutes to go. It seemed that the Thunder were going to do exactly what Dallas didn’t want to happen and take a series tying 2-2 boost of confidence. As the words “choke” ironically began to choke up through viewer’s sentences everywhere, an unbelievable thing happened. Trailing the Thunder with hardly anytime to narrow the gap, Dallas decided to play a little thing called defense and it prevailed. Tagged as one of the greatest playoff comebacks in history, the Dallas Mavericks went on to tie the game and win it in overtime 112-105.

The momentum once again seemed to favor Dallas, but they couldn’t hold their ground and put themselves in the same similar situation as the previous game. Down as much as 11 at one point during the fourth, the Mavs began their infamous surge and made one of their grand comebacks. Shawn Marion got Dallas within 94-92 off a pass from Jason Kidd and then Dirk Nowitzki stole a pass from Russell Westbrook. Nowitzki actually missed his first 3-point try on that possession and Westbrook got the rebound, but Terry stole it, got the ball to Marion and he fed Nowitzki for the go-ahead 3. Westbrook made a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left to get the Thunder within a basket. Nowitzki missed a shot against skintight defense with 18 seconds left, but Kidd got the rebound and passed back to Dirk who was promptly fouled. Dirk made his pair of free throws with 13.3 left. Kevin Durant and James Harden missed 3-pointers, and that was it. The long awaited arrival of the NBA Finals was here and the Dallas Mavericks were Western Conference Final Champs.

The Dallas Mavericks story has been a heartfelt bowl of emotions all season long. From star players getting injured to history making comebacks, Dallas fans can all agree on one thing, it’s our time. The road to glory has been a rewarding one, filled with agonizing drama and glorifying redemption, but it’s not over however. Dallas is tied 1-1 with the much hated Miami Heat and are looking to score a 2-1 lead Sunday night here at home as they look to score their first ever NBA Championship in the NBA Finals. Its been ups and downs and all arounds, but one thing that is for certain, “we ain’t done yet.”