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This is what Miami fans have dreamed about all season—the Heat having a chance to compete on the NBA's grandest stage.

The Heat has come a long way from its 9-8 start to the 2010-11 season to represent the Eastern Conference for the second time in team history. Miami is playing great basketball in the NBA Playoffs, winning each of its three series in five games.

It has been five frustrating years, but the Dallas Mavericks return to the NBA Finals facing an all-too-familiar franchise. However, this Dallas team is older, wiser and hungrier to erase the nightmares of postseasons past.

Since giving up a 23-point lead to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Mavericks are 10-1 and have showed a resiliency to overcome collapses.