NBA teams
Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Destination: NBA Finals

NBA, Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are set to sign Amar'e Stoudemire this week for the same reason they acquired point guard Rajon Rondo: Their only goal is to win rings.

A lot of teams say that, but you can tell from their actions that they don't really mean it. They aren't exploring every possible way to upgrade the rosters, whether through trade or free-agent acquisition.

The only thing owner Mark Cuban, general manager Donnie Nelson and coach Rick Carlisle want to talk about is winning another ring. Nothing else matters.

That goal is the reason Dirk Nowitzki took a three-year, $24 million deal when he could have commanded or demanded much more loot -- and no one would've complained about it. He has earned the right to make as much money as he can.

He has been to 13 All-Star Games and won a league MVP and NBA Finals MVP to go with his championship ring. In the process, he's helped revolutionize the game -- 7-footers didn't shoot 3-pointers regularly until he started doing it.

But all he truly cares about these days is winning another championship and giving us another off-key rendition of "We Are the Champions" at a celebratory parade.

Stoudemire can help the Mavs win in the playoffs.

Folks who follow the NBA understand Stoudemire is not the same athletic, above-the-rim dude who used to pulverize the Mavs years ago in Phoenix. That Stoudemire averaged more than 20 points a game in six of seven seasons, and the only year he didn't, he played just three games. These days, Stoudemire only occasionally plays above the rim, and he spends a lot of time in the training room.

Stoudemire has played 47, 29 and 65 games the past three seasons, and he's played only 36 of 52 games this season. His scoring average has dropped each of the previous three seasons, as had his rebounding average before a slight improvement this season. Stoudemire is averaging 12.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game, while shooting 54.3 percent and 74 percent from the free throw line.

But it is how he scores that made him so attractive to the Mavs. Jermaine O'Neal would've been a better fit because he's a true center with a defensive mindset, and he's familiar with Carlisle's offense from their days together in Indianapolis.

Given that O'Neal isn't ready to play, for whatever reason, Stoudemire was the next-best player the Mavs could add to their roster. He immediately gives Carlisle a legitimate power forward to back up Dirk and a player who thrives on the pick-and-roll, a big part of the Mavs' offense.

When they run the pick-and-roll with the second team, Devin Harris or J.J. Barea should find themselves with plenty of quality open jumpers as teams follow Stoudemire to the basket. Stoudemire also has a good enough midrange jump shot that he can pick-and-pop. And if the Mavs want to throw it to him in the post, they can certainly do that because he and Dirk, who doesn't do it all that often, are the only guys who can really operate successfully down there.

It will take time for Carlisle to figure out how best to integrate Stoudemire into the offense and exactly how he fits into the rotation. The Mavs' offense is still figuring out how to mesh Rondo's talent with the rest of the roster and play efficiently. It's a process that occasionally leaves all involved frustrated, and Rondo has been here since December.

The Mavs will drop some games during this 30-game sprint to the playoffs, which will leave you frustrated and cursing.

Don't worry about it. It's irrelevant as long as they make the playoffs.

Do you think San Antonio cares where it's seeded? All the Spurs want is Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker healthy when the playoffs start.

The Mavs are taking a similar approach, as they should. Look around the NBA. Who scares you?

Nobody.

The Showtime Lakers. The Bad Boy Pistons. Michael Jordan's Bulls. Bill Russell's Celtics. None of those teams will make the playoffs this season. The playoffs will be as wide open as they have been in years.

Sure, it would be great for the Mavs to have home court in a Game 7 situation, but these Mavs are 19-9 on the road this season. They have a roster full of proven vets, so they're not going to play scared in a key playoff road game.

The Mavs' front office has delivered on its promise to give Dirk the best possible roster to win one more ring. Stoudemire's impending arrival proves it.

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