Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, one of two players who remain on the team from the 2006 Finals club that lost to the Miami Heat, said the veteran-laden Mavericks are confident.

He also said that Dallas is far from satisfied and the only acceptable outcome is to not only win this series but continue and win the club's first NBA title.

Anything short of that would be just as disappointing as the team's first-round playoff exits in three of the past four seasons.

"If we don't win it all, this would be a wasted year," Nowitzki said. "If we lose the first round, second round, third round, at this point it doesn't matter if you end the season on a loss. It's disappointing and it means I didn't reach my goal."