It’s funny what you remember from memorable moments in history.
For example, when the 1995 Houston Rockets became the lowest-ranked team to win an NBA title, their rings had nine diamonds embedded in the body of the two Larry O’Brien trophies for their consecutive championships.
The meaning? The sixth-seeded Rockets won nine road games on their way to the promised land — more than half of the 15 wins (at the time) needed to win it all.
They remain the lowest-ranked champion in league history. And the best road warriors.
The Mavericks can join their elite club this year.
They are trying to become the second team in history ranked outside the top four of their conference to win the title.
The Mavericks finished fifth in the Western Conference and began all three of their playoff series en route to the Finals. They have a brilliant 7-2 road record.
Jason Kidd said it best during the Mavericks’ march through the West.
“You can’t be afraid of winning away from home,” he said. “And you can’t be afraid of close games.
“Sometimes when you’re young, maybe it’s easier to be on tour. It’s been like this all season. Many teams have won away from home. It is difficult to protect the home.”
When asked what part of the Mavericks’ DNA has allowed them to be better on the road than at American Airlines Center, Kidd said he’s seen it play out for a long time.
“It goes back to year one (2021-22),” he said. “I think we’ve had some great wins on the road. Game 7 in Phoenix (in the 2022 West semifinals), when Luka shined again.”
It happened again in Game 5 against Minnesota on Thursday, when the Mavericks finished off the Timberwolves with 36 points each from Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
Afterwards, basking in the glow of victory, Dončić had this to say about closing out a road series:
“Much sweeter. “You know the crowd will be there and when you score, everything gets a little calmer.”
The Mavericks would love to have that feeling in the Finals, which begin in Boston on Thursday and will require the Mavericks to win at least one more road game if they hope to take home the championship.
The Mavericks actually have a lot more in common with those 1995 Rockets than just road greatness. They made moves mid-season to strengthen their team. Houston acquired Clyde Drexler, who was in the fall of his career but still a formidable weapon, in exchange for Otis Thorpe and other assets.
The Rockets began a slow climb when Drexler arrived, though it wasn’t until they pulled off a tough do-or-die win in Game 5 in Utah in the best-of-five first round that they galvanized themselves as a unit. Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon topped 30 points in that game and combined for 64.
The Mavericks have become an unstoppable force behind their own superstar duo, Dončić and Irving, who destroyed Minnesota in the deciding game on Thursday.
Perhaps they are destined to join the club that currently has just one member, teams that will win the NBA title in fifth place or lower.
X: @ESefko
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