I'm far from a basketball expert. But I'd guess if they really cared to, and played together for more than a few weeks, they easily could.
By your argument, the world series champs aren't really world champions, because they haven't beaten the Japanese or the Cuban nationals. But if the World Series champs played the best Japan or any Latin country had to offer, how do you suppose that would turn out?
As one commentator said...
Here’s the lesson to be learned from this series: In Basketball, TEAMS WIN !
Even the older ones, as long as they’re based on trust, selflessness and mutuality.
And, by implication, individuals — no matter how talented — do not win.
Don’t say it: We’ve heard this over and over since the Dr. Jack Trail Blazers stunned the Dr. J Sixers in 1977, but sometimes it’s a lesson that bears repeating, especially on occasions such as this one.
Dallas, unlike Miami (which has 3 of the best players in the NBA) is not about individual ability, it’s about collective will, collective guts.
Dirk Nowitzki, the MVP of the series was 5-for-22 midway through the fourth period, while Kidd didn’t really put his imprint on the game until midway through the third. Yet the two future Hall of Famers did not have to be brilliant. For much of the night, the Mavs were dragged along to their first title by the likes of Jason Terry, Shawn Marion and J.J. Barea and Brian Cardinal and Ian Mahinmi.
Miami might have the superstarts, but in the end it was still the TEAM EFFORT that gets you through. The Dallas Mavericks have proven this again.