Dirk Nowitzki will try to help his country reach the Olympics again.

Chris Kaman, Dirk Nowitzki

The German Basketball Federation announced on Friday that both he and fellow NBA big man Chris Kaman will play for the national team at the EuroBasket in Lithuania.

Should Nowitzki and Co reach the Final, they will book a place in the London Games.

If they come in third, fourth, fifth or sixth, the German national team will be invited to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Real GM

According to sources, there has been minimal conversation between the Mavericks and Tyson Chandler about an extension since Dallas won the first championship in franchise history on June 12.

Tyson Chandler

As badly as the Mavericks want the vocal Chandler back to reprise his role as the most impactful frontcourt sidekick Dirk Nowitzki has ever played with, team officials are apparently determined to see exactly how restrictive the new salary-cap rules are after the lockout before trying to re-sign the Team USA big man.

Chandler finished third in the league last season in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting after averaging 10.1 points and 9.4 boards while playing in 74 of 82 games despite concerns about his injury history.

Real GM

Take a special look at Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals as the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Miami Heat to win their first NBA Championship in franchise history.

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Check out the Mini Movie from Game 5 as the Dallas Mavericks take a 3-2 lead over the Heat and head back to Miami.

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Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki impressed just about everyone with his Game 4 performance, scoring the game-deciding basket and 21 points and 11 rebounds to even the series, 2-2.

Among those apparently left unimpressed? Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

In a video shot by CBS Dallas, Wade and James are shown heading for the team bus after shootaround, laughing and covering their mouths with their shirts, as if to protect themselves from being sick.

Wade turns to James and says, “Did y’all hear me cough? Do you think I’m sick?”

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Take a special look at Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals as the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Miami Heat in another epic matchup to tie the series at 2 games a piece.

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Take an all-access look at one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, as the Dallas Mavericks come from 15 behind in the 4th quarter to beat the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

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Dirk Nowitzki

A torn tendon in superstar Dirk Nowitzki’s left middle finger made the Dallas Mavericks’ Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals on Tuesday night a little more painful.

Nowitzki suffered the injury when he was called for a foul after stripping Miami’s Chris Bosh with 3:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“I thought I stripped him clean, then I kind of looked down and I couldn’t straighten my finger out anymore,” Nowitzki said.

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Take an all-access look at Game 1 of the NBA Finals where the Heat protected their home court and defeated the Mavericks 92-84.

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Dirk Nowitzki

The Mavericks’ team hotel in Miami is a beauty– except for the memories. This is the same hotel they stayed in when the 2006 meltdown took place. Well, it is the same hotel they were in for a while.

Coach Avery Johnson moved out the players after two losses in a failed attempt to get them away from family and friends, to get them out of “vacation” mode, as he called it.

The Mavericks elected to use the same hotel this year, although they did jettison friends and family to another, nearby hotel. No superstitious feelings among the key Mavs. They do not mind where they stay.

“None of that matters,” Dirk Nowitzki said. “Wherever we stay is where we stay.”

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