Can Mavericks repeat as NBA champions?

In the hoopla over the start of the NBA season and the trades that have happened just before the opening tip-off on Christmas Day (Monday in Manila), there hasn’t been much speculating on whether the Dallas Mavericks can repeat as champions.

Chris Paul’s move to the LA Clippers grabbed a chunk of the headlines simply because the talented point guard has given the second Los Angeles franchise credibility and even a chance at making it to the playoffs. With last year’s rookie of the year Blake Griffin, the Clippers will give LA fans, who don’t exactly like the Lakers, more than enough to whoop about.

Can the Mavs repeat? Or do they have as what Pat Riley used to say enough excuses not to? Remember of course that when Riley was coaching the Lakers in the 80s, he guaranteed that the team would repeat after winning in the 86-87 season. After declaring “Next year, I guarantee we’ll do it again,” Riley turned to his team immediately and caught the team by surprise but gave Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar a target to work for.

Riley made the bold statement to fire up his squad and to not give the usual alibis for not wanting to repeat: injuries, fatigue, pressure or stronger competition. Riley wanted his team to go for it because up to that point in NBA history, no team had repeated since the Boston Celtics of 1968 and 1969. The Lakers did repeat and gave Riley a piece of NBA legend.

I give the Mavs a 70 percent chance of doing it, assuming they have no major injury issues throughout the season. Lineup-wise, they’ve bolstered their frontline with the addition of Lamar Odom, the Laker Kobe Bryant really didn’t want to part with. With Shawn Marion, Brandon Haywood and of course, Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks will give NBA teams matchup nightmares.

It’s in the backcourt where there’s so much interest and speculation. Jason Kidd will now have Vince Carter there and that alone is a fan’s delight. The positive for Dallas is that Kidd knows how to suppress his need to score to give up the ball to a high scoring teammate. Kidd is no longer a spring chicken but has enough basketball savvy left to run the Mavericks’ show. He’ll give up the ball to Carter whenever it’s needed.

The backcourt backup crew is also interesting. Jason Terry is still around and has enough hunger to want a second title. Backup Delonte West, acquired from Boston, is a point guard who has energy but will be a work in progress as he attempts to blend with the Dallas veterans.

Owner Mark Cuban and the Mavs will raise their championship banner on opening night with their fans and the Miami Heat, their opening day opponent and finals foe last year, in attendance. They’ll need the same drive and energy of the Lakers of the 80’s to win it again. Versatile but definitely laidback, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle isn’t going to guarantee anything but will try to find a way to motivate his troops to raise a second banner next year.