'You ain't got me, you ain't got a 'Big 3'' - Brendan Haywood says Dirk didn't fear the Heat

Considering the players on their team and the opponents they beat in the postseason, many believe the Dallas Mavericks' 2011 championship run was one of the most impressive in the NBA's history. Former NBA center Brendan Haywood definitely agrees with that sentiment.

The seven-foot center was one of the reserves on that Dallas squad, and if you ask him, there is no debate about which NBA team had the greatest championship run ever.

"When you look at who Dirk had to beat, the only thing close maybe is Hakeem Olajuwon when they had a run," said Haywood during his recent appearance on the 'Run Your Race' podcast. "Like, how many Hall of Famers did he knock off on that run? How many Hall of Famers from that time period got clapped?"

Dirk didn't believe in the "Big 3"

Interestingly, Haywood revealed to Theo Pinson that Dirk Nowitzki did not look at the Heat's super-team as a "Big 3" during the series. Nowitzki was known to be a quiet superstar, but according to Brendan, he told his teammates that there was no divine trinity to fear in the 2011 NBA Finals.

"He would say something behind the scenes that was different, like, 'We taking on the Big 3.' He's like, 'They ain't no real Big 3. If they really wanted to create a Big 3, they would have come and got me. Dead serious. If there was a real Big 3, no disrespect to Bosh, you should've came and got me. You ain't got me, you ain't got a Big 3," added Haywood

Dirk backed up his words as he was named Finals MVP in that six-game series. The German star averaged 26.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists to lead the Mavericks to the first championship in franchise history. Looking back at their route, it's hard not to agree with Haywood.

Dirk ran through a murderers' row

Actually, there were "just" four Hall of Famers that Nowitzki blitzed during that title run. The Los Angeles Lakers had Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, while the Heat had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. However, if you consider future Hall of Famers too, you can add LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and possibly LaMarcus Aldridge to the list.

The Mavs beat a Portland squad led by LA and Brandon Roy 4-2 in the first round. Next up was Kobe and Pau, who, by the way, were the defending champions that year. Dirk and the Mavericks blanked them 4-0. In the WCF, Dallas defeated the OKC Thunder via a gentleman's sweep. That team had KD, Russ, and "The Beard."

But of course, their most significant conquest was the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. That season was the first for the "Heatles," who acquired both Bron and CB4 during the offseason to form a "Big 3" with D-Wade in South Beach. However, it was not enough to take down the German star in his prime.