Dallas Mavericks

The outcome of the NBA Finals will be decided by one thing: Whether Miami's fortresslike defense can withstand repeated assaults from the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki

IN A FINALS FOR THE AGES, LEBRON AND HIS MIAMI MATES WILL BRING ANOTHER TITLE TO SOUTH BEACH

The Mavericks' hopes for beating Miami rest largely with Jason Kidd, who, at the age of 38, can still teach the league's flashier players a thing or two about passing, defending and hitting clutch threes

Veteran Dallas and upstart Oklahoma City staged a good old-fashioned border war

After years of playoff futility, Dallas pulled off a staggering sweep of the defending-champion Lakers, raising serious questions about their future