Dirk Nowitzki: We’re Better with Mark Cuban Keeping Quiet

Where in the world is Mark Cuban?  The outspoken owner’s Dallas Mavericks just swept the defending NBA Champion L.A. Lakers.  Dirk Nowitzki and company can no longer be labeled perennial playoff chokers, and while the Mavs have been tearing up the postseason there has been no name-calling or trash talk about other teams from Cuban.  If you ask Dirk, Dallas is better off that way.

“It should be about the players and not the owner,” Nowitzki told the Star-Telegram via Pro Basketball Talk. “We played a great series. We fought hard and battled. That was fun. I haven’t seen Mark since then, and that’s probably a good thing.”

Marky Mark has been known to make comments that result in fines from the league.  He loves to stir up trouble on Twitter, but lately we have seen nothing more than the occasional “Lets go Mavs!” or a thank you to an opposing team executive.

“He is still fired up,” Nowitzki said. “He is still such a huge fan. He is still in it with his heart. He is positive. Sometimes he yells. He picks his spots better. He is not as hands-on as he once was. He is still hands-on for an owner but not as hands-on as he used to be.”

Maybe the fact that Cuban has toned it down has helped take some pressure off the Mavs.  Perhaps this is a better Dallas team than we have seen in past years and their success in conjunction with their owner resting his jaw is a coincidence.  In any event, I’m sure Cuban, Nowitzki, and the entire Dallas area would agree that whatever the Mavs are doing is working.