Roberto

The 2023 ALCS win in Houston is the greatest moment in Rangers franchise history. Going into their building and winning 11-4 in Game 7 after years of them dominating the division. Perfect.

The atmosphere difference between roof open and roof closed is massive. When that roof is open and the DFW evening sky is above you, it is one of the best settings in baseball. When it is closed, it feels like a convention center.

The international signing class from 2023-2024 paying off in full-season ball already is a great sign. That pipeline was completely dry for years. The front office rebuilt it the right way.

The defensive decline is real and needs to be monitored. A move to third base in the next 2-3 years seems inevitable. His bat will play anywhere but shortstop requires range he may not have at 34-35.

Left field sections 30-40 are the best atmosphere in the building. The fans in that section created their own chants. If you want to FEEL the energy of a Rangers game, sit there.

FanGraphs at 86 wins feels about right. This is a wild card team, not a division winner. Houston is still the class of the AL West until proven otherwise.

The local craft beer rotation is a nice touch. Had a Martin House Salty Lady at a game last month and it was perfect for a warm April evening. $14 is steep but at least it is quality.

Korean fried chicken sandwich is the sleeper of the year. Most people do not even know it exists because it is tucked away on the 200 level. Once you find it, you never go back to the hot dog stand.

The Game 7 win in Houston was the sweetest moment for any Rangers fan alive. After years of the Astros owning this division, going into their building and winning 11-4 in a clinching game was poetic justice.

Hiding Luka as a help defender instead of an on-ball defender is smart. It minimizes his weakness while still allowing him to make plays on the defensive end (deflections, charges, help blocks).

The Dirk comparison is inevitable. Dirk stayed 21 years. If Luka stays even half that long, his legacy in this city will be cemented alongside Dirk forever.

Luka choosing to sign the supermax and stay in Dallas is the most important moment in franchise history since Dirk. He could have gone to New York or Los Angeles. He chose us. That loyalty matters.

A 30-11 home record versus 20-21 on the road is the kind of split that makes home court advantage in the playoffs critical. An extra home game in a 7-game series could be the difference.

1.08 PPP on pick-and-rolls is absurd. The league average is 0.93. That gap is massive when compounded over an entire season. This is the most efficient single action in basketball right now.

Not making a blockbuster was the right call. The prices teams were asking for star players at the deadline were insane. Multiple unprotected firsts for a rental? No thank you.

YMCA leagues are the best starting point for young kids. Low pressure, affordable, and teaches the basics. My son started there at age 6 and loved it.

Game 5 of the 2011 WCF was the loudest I have ever heard any building. When the final buzzer went off and we knew the Finals were coming, the roar was primal. You could hear it blocks away.

Local food vendors replacing Aramark is the best news in this entire list. Imagine getting actual DFW restaurant food instead of generic stadium garbage. That alone justifies the renovation cost.

The three-point regression is the killer. This team lives and dies by the three-point shot. When role players go from 38% to 35% in the playoffs, the entire offense loses 3-4 points per game of efficiency.

Cuban turned this franchise around single-handedly. Before he bought the team, the Mavs were the worst franchise in pro sports. He deserves credit for everything that followed.

I want a rim protector. The defense leaks at the rim and a shot-blocker who can play 12-15 minutes would dramatically improve the team. You do not need them to shoot — Luka and Kyrie generate all the offense.

Cuban being early on analytics is one of his best contributions to the franchise. The Mavs were running plus/minus models in 2003 while other teams were still using per-game stats to evaluate players.

The MLE is the most important $7.5M in the NBA for this team. Finding a wing who can shoot and defend at that price is the difference between a second-round exit and a Finals run.

One thing Dirk had that Luka does not yet: clutch playoff performances that won series. The 2011 run is the benchmark. Luka needs his own version of that.

Dirk at 32 winning that championship is the reminder that Luka has time. The window is not closed. It took Dirk over a decade and it might take Luka that long too.

Letting Brunson walk is unforgivable. He is averaging 27 points per game in New York and we replaced him with nothing. That decision set this franchise back.