5 Reasons for Non-Mavericks Fan to Root for the Mavs

Every year, the NBA seems to produce a villain to root against in the playoffs.  I don't know what it is about the NBA (maybe because 16 teams make it into the play-offs), but there is usually one team that 90% or more of the country hates.

Usually that team is the Lakers.

However, this season, Kobe Bryant could have gone on a killing spree and been acquitted by a jury of people wearing nothing but purple and gold and the Lakers probably would only irritate the fans of the team they were playing.

No, this year's villain is easily LeBron James and his Miami Heat.

So I present to you five reasons a non-Mavericks fan should root for the Mavs.

New Blood Winning a Ring

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MIAMI, FL - JUNE 02: Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks warms up against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 2, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by down

The NBA is one of those leagues where it seems the same teams are constantly in the Finals duking it out for the championship.

How many times have we've seen Lakers vs Celtics?

Now granted the Miami Heat have only won one title, but they've at least won one. 

The Mavs, however, have not.  In fact, the Mavs' only other appearance in the Finals was against the Miami Heat, which they lost.

Just as a basketball fan, it's nice to see some new blood win a title, that is unless your a fan of say the Lakers or Celtics.

Premature Celebration by the Big Three

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat pose for photos during media day at the Bank United Center on September 27, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

I think we all remember when the Big Three were announced in what was vaguely similar to a Championship celebration.

Now I get the idea about being excited over assembling the closest thing to a "Dream Team" within the NBA, but you've still got to play the games and just can't annotate yourselves the champs just yet.

And this coming off the heels of "The Decision" has just left a bad taste in everyone's mouths.

Seeing Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki Win a Ring

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DALLAS, TX - MAY 25: Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate late in the fourth quarter while taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airline

Both of these men (especially Kidd) are very likable and have been grinding it out for years with no rings.

Kidd has been a bit of a journeyman over the years, but Dirk has stuck it out in Dallas for better or worse.

Outside of Miami fans, I don't know of anyone watching the 2011 Finals who wouldn't want to see these two men get a ring.

Seeing LeBron Lose, Again

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MIAMI, FL - JUNE 02: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat reacts as Shawn Marion #0 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on in Game Two of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 2, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The Mavericks won 95-93. NOTE TO USER: User

When LeBron James first came into the league I was pretty indifferent about him.

I was a little miffed about him being called "King James" fresh out of high school, but Nike has got to market their boys.

However, I didn't start to dislike James until some of his immature actions on the court.

For instance, in the last Washington Wizards' playoff runs a few seasons ago, Gilbert Arenas was taking a foul shot.

Before the shot James whispered in his ear.  It was never said what he whispered, but seeing an NBA player do that just seemed classless to me.

Then of course there was James' poor sportsmanship when he lost in the Finals to the Spurs, with him walking off the court without congratulating the Magic two seasons ago in the Eastern Conference Finals, and then his disappearance from the Eastern Conference Finals last season when he knew the Celtics were going to win, and I think at the moment he knew he was leaving Cleveland.

Those actions have made me just despise King James, and we haven't even mentioned his hyped-up "Decision" on what team he was going to join for the 2010-2011 NBA season.

LeBron has got a lot of growing up to do, and until he does that, I really don't want to see him win a ring.

Seeing Mark Cuban Win a Title

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DALLAS, TX - MAY 25: Owner Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks celebrate their 100-96 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 25, 2011 in Dall

One of my all-time favorite sports moments was when then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle had to hand over the Vince Lombardi trophy to the man he hated most: Al Davis (and I'm not even a Raiders' fan).

It was so awkward and Rozelle absolutely hated doing it, but his hatred was only matched by Davis' happiness that he (one of the founders of the AFL) had beaten the NFL.

Flash forward to today, and we have NBA Commissioner David Stern and the thorn in his side Mavs' owner Mark Cuban.

To see Stern have to hand over the championship trophy to Cuban will provide great video footage as well as timeless pictures.

Can you just imagine the s**t-eating grin on Cuban's face as his arch-nemesis has to hand him the trophy?

Ah, it's would be great, that is if you aren't a Heat fan.

Conclusion

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DALLAS, TX - MAY 25: The Dallas Mavericks celebrate their 100-96 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 25, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO US

There you have it folks, five reasons why non-Mavericks fans should root for the Mavs.  I hope for those of you on the fence I've pushed you over on Dallas' side.