Mavericks’ return to Miami still bittersweet for Mark Cuban
For Mark Cuban, returning to American Airlines Arena represents a good news, bad news situation.
In 2006, the Mavs led the Miami Heat 2-0 series in the NBA Finals after winning the first two games of the best-of-seven series at home. When the series shifted to Miami the Mavs led Game 3 by 15 points with about six minutes left.
Then, the entire series quickly faded to black and the Mavs wound up stunningly losing four straight games and the series in six games.
But five years later, the Mavs exacted revenge and beat the Heat in six games to win the 2011 NBA championship. And the Mavs closed that series with a road victory in Miami.
Thus, a rivalry was born.
“You can’t help but get a little tingle inside when you come back here,” owner Mark Cuban said. “As long as [Dwyane] Wade and Dirk [Nowitzki] are on the court at the same time, there’s always going to be a rivalry.”
Cuban looked up at the Heat’s 2006, ’12 and ’13 championship banners hanging from the rafters and took exception with the one involving the Mavs.
You can’t help but get a little tingle inside when you come back here. As long as [Dwyane] Wade and Dirk [Nowitzki] are on the court at the same time, there’s always going to be a rivalry.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban about coming to Miami
“I still get upset at the one,” Cuban said. “Fortunately, I climbed up there and put an asterisk next to it.
“The crazy part is it’s been almost 10 years. As long as they put that asterisk next to it, I’m OK.”
Cuban was so distraught with the officiating during the 2006 Finals that NBA Commissioner David Stern fined him $250,000 for repeated criticism. The series also affected Cuban so much he said it was the only time he’s considered selling the Mavs.
“I didn’t think [the game] was rigged,” Cuban said. “I just thought it was a matter of incompetence.
“I was just sure that it was never going to change. I’ll leave it at that. It’s gotten better, it’s just not as good as it should be.”
I didn’t think [the game] was rigged. I just thought it was a matter of incompetence.
Cuban on the officiating in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in 2006
Carlisle on Daly
Carlisle Rick Carlisle is one win from passing Chuck Daly and becoming the 21st winningest coach in NBA history.
The milestone will be memorable for Carlisle for many reasons.
Carlisle worked as an assistant on Daly’s New Jersey Nets’ staff from 1992-94 and considers him a mentor.
“I haven’t thought much about it,” Carlisle said. “Chuck was such an important person in my career as a coach, and one of the last places I saw him was in Miami.
“There are a lot of feelings that come to mind when his name comes up. Along with being one of the greatest all-time coaches, he was one of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet in a profession, and a very special friend.”
Daly died on May 9, 2009 at age 78. But he will forever be a person who taught Carlisle some of the ins and outs of basketball.
“I know how much Rick looked up to Chuck and how much he cared for him, so I’m sure it’ll be bittersweet in a lot of respects,” Cuban said. “It’s something Rick has earned, but I’m sure it’s something that will make him think back to the type of person Chuck was and the impact he had not just on the game itself, but just on all the people around him, because I know he impacted Rick’s life in a big way.”
Along with being one of the greatest all-time coaches, he was one of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet in a profession, and a very special friend.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle on the late Chuck Daly
This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Mavericks’ return to Miami still bittersweet for Mark Cuban."