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[Saba Sports News] Mark Cuban shared an interesting story on Julian Edelman’s podcast ‘Games with Names’ about the Dallas Mavericks’ strategy during Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. He revealed that the Mavericks players dressed in black suits as a symbolic gesture, akin to attending a funeral, to represent their intention of ending the Heat’s championship hopes. This practice is a known NBA tradition for closeout games. The Mavericks, leading the series 3-2, embraced this mindset to visually and psychologically signify their readiness to clinch the title.
Cuban also recounted an encounter with Pat Riley during halftime of Game 2 of the series. After losing Game 1 and trailing in Game 2, Cuban encountered Riley, who taunted him by saying, “We got you, Mark. We’re too long, too fast.” However, the Mavericks turned the game around in the second half, highlighting the intense psychological warfare and competitive spirit in NBA playoffs.
Additionally, Cuban humorously clarified a story Dirk Nowitzki shared during his Hall of Fame induction speech. While Dirk mentioned dunking on Cuban in a one-on-one game, Cuban added that he scored the first two points and chose to quit while leading 2-1, offering a playful perspective on their friendly rivalry. This anecdote illustrates the close relationship and good-natured banter between Cuban and Nowitzki.