Reasons to believe Mavericks will repeat

Desire can be a funny thing. For all the longing of a single event, for all the times a person or team may beg for that single chance, that lone taste of ultimate glory, time doesn't stop once it's attained. The Dallas Mavericks spent 31 years with one goal in mind. Through 11 straight seasons of 50 win seasons, there remained that one desire left unsatisfied. When it wondered so close in 2006, only to be ripped away by the Heat, Mavericks fans that had never known the feel of an NBA championship pleaded, "Just once. Just let us win one, and we'll be happy. I promise." Then, that moment came. The same Heat franchise that had denied them a taste of the fruit five years previous could not overcome a united Dallas team who forcefully quieted the critics and the Miami parade of self-congratulatory celebration and took the Title. There was dancing in the streets, rejoicing in the moment and there was a desire that felt entirely satiated for an instant. After the lockout temporarily muted the festivities, the new season began to unfurl and it quickly became apparent that the Mavs would be losing Tyson Chandler, JJ Barea and Caron Butler (and now DeShawn Stevenson to the Nets, and Peja Stojakovic to retirement). In the blink of an eye, that desire that had found its belly full after a championship showed itself and proved to still be hungry. There is no "just one," there is only "one more," though even that is a lie. One is never enough. Only the next feels like it will bring contentment, never the last for long. Fans expressed confusion, frustration and even anger as the roster began to evolve. Dallas had their one, but how dare they be robbed of their chance for one more. As quickly as it had arisen, these tangled mass of emotions found a reason for hope in the form of Lamar Odom, as well as the additions of Vince Carter and Delonte West. Shuffled and remade, the Mavs have returned, but are they a contender? Two preseason games against the Oklahoma City Thunder didn't leave much in the way of optimism, but this remains a team to be reckoned with, and likely to have their say in who emerges from the West. Shawn Marion didn't appreciate the manner many are dismissing his team's chances, nor the lack of lingering respect for what they've accomplished. Perhaps this was an internal machination to keep a chip squarely on histheir shoulder, but that's irrelevant to the fact that he has a point. Overlooked a year ago, Dallas finds their reign as champions begins the same way. Here are a few of the reasons to believe they should be taken seriously as contenders, rather than casually written off.