Taking Steps Towards Shaq...

A Dallas win tonight could set up a Finals matchup between two of the most media-friendly guys in the league: Shaquille O'Neal and Mark Cuban. I believe it would be the first appearance in the NBA Finals for any team that was owned by a man with his own blog.

But Phoenix is not going away easily. If we've learned anything this playoff season, it's that the Suns will battle, they will keep coming at you, and they are very hard to kill. A Game Seven in this series just feels right. And I've heard these rumors that Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are friends, and I'd like there to be another game, just to see if the media might explore that friendship a little bit.

I don't necessarily have a preference in the series (even though I like Dirk Nowitzki and hate Tim Thomas), but... I think we need a Game 7 here. If we don't get it, there's no basketball until Thursday, and I can't quit cold turkey like that.

Mavericks can oust Suns, reach NBA Final for first time [ESPN.com]