Mavericks vs. Heat. Shaq vs. Dirk. Wade vs. Terry. Avery vs. Riley. Cuban vs. Cubans. It sets up to be a great series, guaranteed to be entertaining.

? What I learned this week:

- When he?s healthy and he wants to, Shaq can still be the best player in the game. 28 and 16, stick that in your pie-hole, haters.

- The Pistons pointing fingers at each other and Flip is un-Detroit like. But 4 straight Finals just wasn?t in the cards, no one ever does that anymore.

- Dwyane Wade is more than heroic. His Game 6 performance, while getting IV?s in the locker room, will go down as one of the gutsiest things ever done. But if the Pistons can?t keep Jason Williams form going 10-11, they?ll lose every time.

- I know one guy who?s not watching the NBA Finals: Kobe Bryant. This must be killing him.

? Raise your hand if you ever thought the following players would be in the NBA Finals: Antoine Walker, Erick Dampier, Keith Van Horn, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Williams, Jason Terry, or James Posey. Put your hand down Isiah.

? NBA Draft: It should be an interesting draft this year, with many of the top picks having about equal talent and projecting about the same as NBA prospects.  The Raptors have the #1 overall pick and new GM Bryan Colangelo really has some tough choices to make.  Many may not know this but before Colangelo joined his new team I Toronto he was in discussions with Maurizio Gherardini, who is the current GM for the Italian Club team Benetton Treviso, regarding joining the Raptors.  His star player there? Andrea Bargnani.  Don?t be surprised if they move down a few spots and take Bargnani as a Dirk-type guy to go with Bosh and CV.  That said, Villanueva may also be dealt with the pick for a stud player, Colangelo is NOT a rebuilder.

? Hey, didn?t you used to be High School Prep Stars?  Just kidding, we all know if Greg Oden came out this year he?d be #1 overall, just like last year.  And I?d personally draft Bill Walker and OJ Mayo. Don?t know what I?m talking about? Learn yourself, Isiah.

? This just in: Pat Riley is a heckuva coach in the NBA. He?s now taken his 3rd franchise to the NBA Finals and has adapted his style of coaching to each team?s strengths.  Who else could have possibly gone from LA?s Showtime to the Thugs of the Garden and come back a decade later with a roster of 1 Hall of Famer, 1 border line HOF?er, one legit superstar and a bunch of cast-offs, has-been?s and never-weres. Amazing.

? When Tim Thomas calls you the worst teammate ever, as he did Stephon Marbury this past week, you know you?re a scum bag.  T2 has been teammates with such notable jerks as Derrick Coleman and Jerry Stackhouse.  This guy has played with Glenn Robinson for Christ?s sake.  Stephon, this is your wake-up call.

? If Ben Wallace gets a max deal from the Pistons, or anyone else for that matter, I?m moving to France. That?s akin to giving a one-armed drummer a 3 album record deal.  This dude needs to wake up and realize he?s the latest Dennis Rodman, thought the Worm could score at times, and could hit fouls shots.  The mere breath of mention that this guy is a potential Hall of Famer makes me sick.  His defense wouldn?t be nearly as good with out Tayshaun and Chauncey playing tough up top.  And he did foul Shaquille, got him with the body.  Look at the replay.

? NBA Draft, Part II: The big winners in this year?s draft may be teams with more than one 1st Round pick (Suns, Bulls, Hornets, Nets, Blazers) and teams slotted somewhere from 5-10.  One of the top 5 teams is going to have to make a decision and someone like Brandon Roy, Tyrus Thomas or, more likely, Marcus Williams and Randy Foye, could fall into the lap of a better team.  We?ll get into a full-on mock draft / draft predictions next week.  

? Quote of the Week: Shaq comes through with a double-dip so priceless they both had to be included. After an interview on ESPN Radio with Dr. Jack Ramsay, Shaq reminds Dr. Jack to ?stay outta that Hooters, Dr. Jack. Stay outta that Hooters!? And when faced with a question form a female reporter regarding Ben Wallace?s stuff on him in Game 6 of the Easter Finals: ?That was a foul, young lady. Don?t ask stupid questions.? Who else but the Big Aristotle could get away with this?

? Mark my words: Heat in 7.  

Next week we?re going to do a special edition of the Musings focusing on the draft, where we?ll present a mock draft, proposed trades and the like.  I?ll also have my take on the opening games of the NBA Finals, featuring Shaquille O?Neal as Superman.  The Weekly Musings is hosting a contest for draftniks as well, make a mock lotto, send it in and the person with the most accurate draft wins my column for a week.  You tell me what to write about, and I?ll do it.  Warriors fans, this is your chance to get your team mentioned.  

Send them to Kevincasini@hotmail.com, Subject line mock draft.