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NBA and Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki came out to enjoy the FC Dallas game June 23rd against Chivas USA. Dirk, being German, is not surprisingly a big soccer fan. Click the article to check out this little video made by the FCD PR crew of the former Champ's visit.

This is a fascinating matchup between the defending champion Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team many believe will end up winning this year's championship. What will win out? Will it be veteran experience or that youthful talent?

While I think the Mavs will play better in the postseason than they did in the regular season, the Thunder just have too much talent.

This was how things were supposed to go last June. On Thursday night, the Miami Heat dismantled the Dallas Mavericks by a final score of 106-85. But last June, the Mavs defeated the Heat to capture the franchise's first NBA championship.

LeBron James led the way for the Heat with 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists despite playing with an injured finger.

Brook Lopez missed the beginning of the season after breaking his foot. In his third game back, Lopez proved that he's feeling quite fine. Against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, the bigman for the New Jersey Nets poured in 38 points to lead his team to a 93-92 victory on the road.

Lopez's most important points were his final two.

After suffering his first loss as a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, Jeremy Lin didn't waste any time bouncing back. Sunday against the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, Lin exploded for 28 points, 14 rebounds and five steals. The NBA sensation hit 11-of-20 shots from the field, including half of his shots from beyond the three-point line.

This early in the basketball season, it's easy to get caught up in the success and start to overrate certain fantasy basketball players. With that in mind, here's our list of the most overrated fantasy basketball players for the 2011-12 NBA season.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
We remember the championship run.

The defending NBA champions lost their first three games of the season. Even worse, the Dallas Mavericks lost the first two games in blowout fashion. However, in Game 4, the Mavs finally got their first win with a 99-86 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

So, who was the hero for the Mavs? It was backup center Ian Mahinmi, he had 19 points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

We've taken a look at the best teams in the NBA and the worst teams in the NBA. Now let's take a look at the individual awards, starting with the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Here are the early favorites for the 2012 MVP Award.

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
During the lockout, Kevin Durant was busy balling all around the country.

Chris Bosh hit the go-ahead jumper with just under 40 seconds left and the Miami Heat went on to take Game 3 of the NBA Finals with an 88-86 victory on Sunday. The Heat now have a 2-1 lead over the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki scored the final 12 points of the contest for the Mavs, but his shot at the buzzer didn't go in and Miami came away with the victory.

Down by 15 points halfway through the fourth quarter, the Dallas Mavericks looked like they'd be heading home down 2-0 in the NBA Finals. But the game wasn't over yet. In one of the best comebacks of all time, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs rallied for a 95-93 victory over the Miami Heat to even up the series at 1-1.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were on the verge of tying the 2011 Western Conference Finals. However, with about five minutes to go in regulation, the Thunder's youth showed ... as did the Dallas Mavericks' veteran mettle. After the game went to overtime, the Mavs continued to dominate on their way to a 112-105 victory.

The Dallas Mavericks could do no wrong early on. Leading by as many as 23 points in Game 3 of the 2011 Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it appeared as if the Mavs would coast to a victory. However, the Thunder rallied late making it a four-point game in the final period before the Mavs were able to hang on for a 93-87 win.

After Game 1 of the 2011 Western Conference Finals, everyone was talking about Dirk Nowitzki. Quietly, what nobody cared to admit was that the Dallas Mavericks needed a career night out of Dirk simply to edge the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Game 2, the Thunder held Dirk in check and took home a 106-100 victory to tie the series, 1-1.

Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best shooting bigmen of all-time. On Tuesday night, Nowitzki might have cemented himself as the absolute best. In Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals, the German superstar poured in 48 points on only 15 field goal attempts as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder by a final score of 121-112.

When the NBA playoffs tipped off, nobody would have imagined that the two teams left standing in the Western Conference would end up being the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Pundits saw the Mavs as too old and too much of a regular season wonder. The Thunder, on the other hand, were viewed as too young and not quite ready.

In one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, the Los Angeles Lakers are now down 0-3 against the Dallas Mavericks after the Mavs won Game 3 by a final score of 98-92. Going into this series, nobody thought the Mavs had a chance. Dallas has a playoff history of choking, while these Lakers have shown their clutchness on their way to winning the last two NBA championships.

Nobody is giving the Dallas Mavericks much of a chance in their second round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, winners of the last two NBA championships. However, on Monday night, the Mavs proved they are ready for this stage with a come from behind 96-94 victory over the reigning champs.

With the Lakers up by five points with three minutes remaining, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki all scored two-pointers to close the game to one-point.

In a matchup that may very well decide the Western Conference champions, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Dallas Mavericks. Since the San Antonio Spurs have been eliminated, these are the top two remaining seeds in the West. Who is going to win between the Lakers and the Mavs?

The Lakers will win.

The reserves were named for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. The starters for both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference were named last Thursday. There is one spot still open in the Western Conference, however. Since Yao Ming is injured yet was still voted in as a starter, NBA commissioner David Stern will have to name a replacement player for the West.

Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, is known for being a master of teaching defense. On Thursday, those defensive teachings were on full display against the Dallas Mavericks. In a tough, defensive struggle, the Bulls defeated the Mavs by a final score of 82-77 in front of their home fans in Chicago.

Peja Stojakovic has had his contract bought out by the Toronto Raptors. According to multiple media reports, the sharpshooter already has his new team lined up. The Dallas Mavericks are expected to sign Peja Stojakovic once he clears waivers. The Mavs have been hit hard with injuries and Stojakovic should be able to step in right away and help out.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took advantage of an injury ravaged Dallas Mavericks squad on Thursday night, winning 99-95. The Mavs were without Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler and Roddy Beaubois arguably the team's three most explosive players. Kevin Durant did most of the damage, scoring 28 points on 11-for-22 shooting from the field.

Who will win the 2011 NBA MVP award? We have the answer below. Although picking a most valuable player in the NBA this season is difficult, there is one player who stands out from the rest. Things may change down the stretch run of the season, but I doubt it. This player has it wrapped up. Here are our top five 2011 NBA MVP candidates:

5.