LRBs last couple of posts are spot on. We all know now, after almost two seasons how good the Mavs players are. But this is still pretty much the same team that was going to be in a rebuilding year last season. I think the level of focus, the willingness to do what it takes to win, and the coherence of the team come from Avery and Dirk. There is absolutely no doubt that Dirk brings an infectious gym-rat attitude to the team. Usually when you talk about Kobe's attitude, you aren't thinking you want it to infect the others on the team (oh, man. . . so many jokes, so many jokes.).
I bet if you traded Dirk and Kobe a couple of years ago, the Lakers do a lot better, and the Mavs do worse. Lakers wouldn't be what the Mavs are now, cause Avery and the rest of the Mavs are better than Phil and the Lakes. And the Mavs wouldn't be as bad as the Lakers are now. But Dirk just makes a better team than does Kobe.
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