Peja Stojakovic News

The NBA has long been dominated by individuals who overshadow team success, evident in the consistent popularity of players who have never won an NBA title.

It has now been just over a week since the 2011 NBA Champions were swept unceremoniously out of the first round.

In 11 previous Playoff seasons Dirk Nowitzki has never been swept. That streak could end Saturday night if the Dallas Mavericks don't find a way to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4. If a sweep happens, Thunder guard Derek Fisher warned the Mavs to be prepared for it to sting beyond this summer.

When the Dallas Mavericks began their title defense by allowing all of their key free agents to walk away, most pundits around the NBA came to the snap conclusion that the Mavericks were cashing in their chips in favor of targeting Deron Williams and/or Dwight Howard in free agency next summer.

Oklahoma City's penalty for scuffling down the stretch and getting passed up for the top seed in the Western Conference is a first-round playoff showdown with an all-too-familiar foe toting championship credentials.