Nobby Ahluwalia

Dirk Nowitzki Fan, MFFL, Political Junkie, Stephenville H.S. & Trinity University

[Montreal Expos @Montreal_Expos]

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have postponed our LeBron James introductory press conference indefinitely

[Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42]

In the offseason, Dallas traded for:

- Marcus Sasser
- Santi Aldama
- Zacharrie Risacher
- Tarik Biberovic

The cost was AJ Johnson, Khris Middleton, a top-20 protected first (via GOS) and 2 seconds.

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

One of the biggest mistakes I made as a player...

...was hitting off a tee.

Not because tee work is bad.

Because I was using it wrong.

I'd walk up to the tee...

Take my swing.

Adjust my mechanics.

Then do it again.

I was training my swing.

I wasn't training myself to hit.

Everything changed when I started treating every tee swing like a real at-bat.

Before every swing, I'd picture the pitcher.

I'd picture the pitch I was looking for.

Then I'd picture myself driving a line drive into the gap, hitting a double, or launching a home run.

After every swing, I'd replay the result in my mind.

The crazy part?

The more I saw success in practice...

The more I expected success in games.

And the more confident I became.

Now I teach the same thing to my youngest players...

(as young as 6 years old)

After every swing, I ask them:

"Where did you hit it?"
"Where did the ball go?"

I make them tell me.

Out loud.

I want them to vividly describe the result.

Because I don't just want them practicing their swing.

I want them practicing success.

Most players spend hours training their mechanics...

But almost no time training what success looks like.

Then when they don't get immediate results in a game, they start believing something is wrong with them.

I want my players to see success hundreds of times in practice before they ever have to experience it in a game.

So here's what I'd do tonight:

- Take 20 swings off a tee.

- Before every swing, picture the pitcher and the exact pitch you're looking for.

- After every swing, ask yourself:

Where did I hit it?
Where did the ball go?

Say the answer out loud.

Make every swing feel like a real at-bat.

Because here's one thing I've learned playing this game:

Confidence isn't built only by what you do.

It's also built by what you repeatedly see yourself doing.

Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis

P.S. If you enjoyed this and thought it was helpful, please share it.

(It tells me you want more content like this.)

[Marc Stein @TheSteinLine]

Joe Boylan will coach the Mavericks’ summer league team. Roster enclosed:

[Brandon Carney @BenchwarmerBran]

If you’re an NBA fan Michael Redd might be the best follow on this app

[Lev Akabas @LevAkabas]

However, it is quite rare for head coaches to make the jump directly from college to the NBA

The only other guy to do so in the past 10 years was John Beilein (2019), which did not work out well

[Ben Rogers @BenRogers]

Incredibly happy for Casey Smith to win another NBA Championship last night. His first with the Knicks, and 2nd overall after being an important part of the Mavs’ 2011 run.

He's one of the most respected sports medicine gurus in the league, who was unimaginably fired in one of the biggest mistakes in Mavs history by the man who would eventually drive the entire franchise directly into an iceberg.

According to a report by @BannedMacMahon, Nico parted ways Smith over a video conference call while he was tending to his ailing mother, no less.

Let that sink in.

And after almost two decades with the organization doing work that was universally recognized as being best in class.

Words can’t begin to describe what a shitburger decision that was by Nico, who appeared to be dead set on playing cold-blooded corporate chess, removing anybody that could stand in his way or threaten his growing power.

Hmm, I wonder if removing anyone with veto power would end up mattering. 🤔

But back to 2011… Smith was instrumental in keeping the great Tyson Chandler healthy enough to be the anchor of their championship D. A man who won multiple gold medals representing his country with USA hoops, an extremely high honor. And a Basketball Hall of Famer.

Immediately scooped up by the Knicks, Casey led a staff that won NBATA Training Staff of the Year and finished first in the entire league in fewest games missed to injury.

The Luka trade gets all the attention, understandably. But the day that Nico parted ways with Casey Smith is also on the short list of worst days in team history.

Some things just feel like a karma boomerang. This is one of those things.

Good piece here by @tomhaberstroh

https://t.co/6HnWyVwuCA

[Cirque Du Sirois @CirqueDuSirois]

WATCH THIS: 15 years ago magic happened with the Mavs. Every year we post the vid @CashSports team produced to look back at the most magical run ever! WE THANK YOU ALLLLLL!!! https://t.co/zggpfhPZ4a

[MFFL NATION @NationMffl]

15 years ago today, the Dallas Mavericks became NBA Champions and completed the best playoff run in basketball HISTORY.

[Bobby Karalla @bobbykaralla]

The only video in the world, the only thing I've ever posted that means anything at all.

[Brad Townsend @townbrad]

To those who celebrate: Happy 15th Anniversary.

[MavsMuse @MavsMuse]

15 years ago, today

The Dallas Mavericks won their 1st ever NBA Championship 💙🏆

Here’s the full celebration. What a special run man

[Aiden Stepansky @AidenStepansky]

Paul Skenes was driving down Perry Highway in Wexford just past seven o’clock Monday night when the Pirates superstar pitcher made a pit stop. It was a Little League field.

Skenes signed autographs for over two hours, connecting with Pittsburgh's next generation.

For @MLB ⤵️

[MavsMuse @MavsMuse]

15 years ago, today

Dirk Nowitzki’s legendary flu game in the 2011 Finals

[Bob Sturm @SportsSturm]

Have you ever considered that a franchise worth $7 billion could probably pay for its own stadium?

[Tyrese Haliburton @Hali]

Retiring from 82-0 cuz stop it

[MavsMuse @MavsMuse]

“They’ll remember June 2nd in the Dallas Mavericks franchise, FOREVER.”

15 years ago, today. The greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

[Panda Hank (Nico survivor & Masai believer) @pandahank41]

20 years ago today, Tim Thomas called Dirk Nowitzki a pussy & blew kisses to him in Game 5 of the WCF.

Dirk made 10 of his next 14 shots & finished the game with 50 PTS & 12 REB on 54/83/94 shooting in a win.

[Caron Butler @realtuffjuice]

Love you MC!
You are a real one, still answer my text messages til this day.
🤛🏾❤️

[Mark Cuban @mcuban]

i remember during the 2011 season, you rehabbing in the lockerroom CB. Every day, leading up to the trade deadline, i would give you an update on what was going on.

I dont think people really know how hard you worked to try to get back on the floor.