THE MAVS’ DREAM TEAM

SPORTS It doesn’t take much-like, the Mavericks missing the playoffs just one time-for us fickle fans to start playing the masochistic game of Wunner What Woulda Happened, otherwise known as Dream Team. Just think. If the Mavs’ bosses had perfect foresight (like we have perfect hindsight), what a team we’d have. Here are the nifty nine who’d be joining ROLANDO BLACKMAN, JAMES DONALDSON, and (maybe) ROY TARPLEY in the NBA finals this year, followed by the decision the Mavericks actually made regarding the player.

Our starters would be Tarpley, Utah’s Karl ’The Mailman” Malone (we took DETLEF SCHREMPF,1985); Philadelphia’s Charles Barkley (SAM PERKINS, ’84); Seattle’s Dale Ellis (AL WOOD, ’86); and (sob) Isiah Thomas, Detroit’s ace play maker (took MARK AGUIRRE, ’81).

And imagine coach JOHN MACLEODrecord if he could call on a bench like this: Cleveland’s Mark Price (traded him, ’86); Portland’s Clyde “The Glide” Drexler (took DEREK HARPER. ’83); the Lakers’ A.C. Greene (took UWE BLAB. ’85); Sacramento’s LaSalle Thompson (picked the immortal BILL GARNETT. ’82); and the Pistons’ 1989 Championship Series MVP, Joe Dumars (we took BILL “THE TOWEL”WENNINGTON, “85).

Sure, owner DON CARTER would have to spend like Don Trump to make the payroll, and it might be tough shoehorning all those monster egos into Reunion Arena. But wouldn’t it be fun to watch?