Eddie Sefko has an article in today's Dallas Morning News discussing how hard it is to not just improve on a season where you finished second but to even repeat that success. He's completely right. Anything less than the O'Brien trophy this season will only put an exclamation point on last years failure.
If the Mavs fail to make the NBA Finals that means they've regressed and people will say they blew their only chance. And If the Mavs lose in the Finals again they'll be labeled as a team that can't win it all. Unfair? Yes, but that's how it works. In a lot of ways there is more pressure the next season on the NBA Finals loser to prove themselves than there is on the champion to defend their title.
With that in mind, here's what the last 26 teams did the year after losing in the NBA finals.
| Year | Team | Next Season |
| 2006 | Dallas Mavericks | ??? |
| 2005 | Detroit Pistons | Lost in Conf. Finals |
| 2004 | LA Lakers | Missed Playoffs |
| 2003 | New Jersey Nets | Lost in Semis |
| 2002 | New Jersey Nets | Lost in NBA Finals |
| 2001 | Philadelphia 76ers | Lost in 1st Round |
| 2000 | Indiana Pacers | Lost in 1st Round |
| 1999 | New York Knicks | Lost in Conf. Finals |
| 1998 | Utah Jazz | Lost in Semis |
| 1997 | Utah Jazz | Lost in NBA Finals |
| 1996 | Seattle Supersonics | Lost in Semis |
| 1995 | Orlando Magic | Lost in Conf. Finals |
| 1994 | New York Knicks | Lost in Semis |
| 1993 | Phoenix Suns | Lost in Semis |
| 1992 | Portland Trail Blazers | Lost in 1st Round |
| 1991 | LA Lakers | Lost in 1st Round |
| 1990 | Portland Trail Blazers | Lost in Conf. Finals |
| 1989 | LA Lakers | Lost in Semis |
| 1988 | Detroit Pistons | NBA Champions |
| 1987 | Boston Celtics | Lost in Conf. Finals |
| 1986 | Houston Rockets | Lost in Semis |
| 1985 | Boston Celtics | NBA Champions |
| 1984 | LA Lakers | NBA Champions |
| 1983 | LA Lakers | Lost in NBA Finals |
| 1982 | Philadelphia 76ers | NBA Champions |
| 1981 | Houston Rockets | Lost in 1st Round |
| 1980 | Philadelphia 76ers | Lost in Conf. Finals |