There was certainly a lot of nostalgia in that box at the American Airlines Center last night. Before Game 3 of the Finals, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, JJ Barea, Brian Cardinal, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler and Corey Brewer met there, to once again taste the excitement of the room on the biggest NBA stage.
” That's crazy “ explains JJ Barea at the Mavs website. “It’s a chance to relive all the memories in just one day.” You see the fans, you hear the crowd, all the good times come back very quickly. And then you see your teammates from that year, it’s crazy. When you start talking to the guys, walking into this building, it feels like it was yesterday. We never forget the good times. Everything comes back. »
But while the Mavericks are now led 3-0 by the Celtics, the atmosphere in Dallas is less reminiscent of the euphoria of 2011 than the bitterness of 2006, when the Mavericks fell to Dwyane Wade's Heat.
Dirk Nowitzki in the front row with Steve Nash
” It's difficult. I had the opportunity to experience that and lose (during the 2006 Finals)”recalls Jason Terry before the match. “Kyrie has been there, but no one else has on this team. This is the experience they are having today, the nerves, the stage fright, the opening game in Boston. Now you're going home. Expectations, getting out of this hole at 0-2, it's hard to do. So they feel the pressure. »
But for Shawn Marion, even if victory is not over, these playoffs will remain precious for the Mavs.
“It takes a lot of sacrifice. This is what it is. And we really need to come together. One of the things you can't sense is what's going on in the locker room. It's the feeling these players get when they know they're about to do something special. They don't care what happens outside. You try to tune it all out and focus on what you have to do. There is family, friends, everyone who comes. Everyone wants to be in the game, but you have to find a balance. It is not easy. Nothing is easy. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
At the edge of the field, Dirk Nowitzki then followed the match from the front row, alongside his friend, Steve Nash. A friend visibly too unenthusiastic for his liking during Dallas’ “run” in the fourth quarter…
Photo credit : Landon Thomas
