![]() His effective post-up game, which he developed during Avery Johnson's reign as the Mavs' coach, is based on a one-legged fadeaway. Hate to break it to folks, but he's still first and foremost the most prolific and potent midrange shooter in the game. I've heard that Nowitzki is finally attacking the basket like superstars need to do in the playoffs. 8 seed Warriors stunned the 67-win Mavs, a low point that apparently outweighs all of Dirk's great playoff moments in the minds of many. The exception was in 2007, when he had the worst series of his career while the No. In fact, Nowitzki's scoring average (26.8) is lower than it's been in four of the previous five playoffs. That, combined with the kind of stingy defense that hasn't been associated with Dallas and the production of Nowitzki's teammates, has put the Mavs in position to challenge for their first championship. In other words, Nowitzki is having a typical postseason by his standards. "I think the difference is he has a different cast now, different guys around him." "Dirk has always been incredible," said Dallas big man Tyson Chandler, an opponent when Nowitzki's 26.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game couldn't get the Mavs past the Hornets in the first round in 2008. Guess it was his fault the Nuggets knocked out the Mavs in five games, huh? ![]() Remember all the rants coming from the studio a couple of years ago after Dirk dared to give an honest answer when asked about the strengths of the different defenders Denver would use against him? That was supposedly irrefutable evidence that Nowitzki was soft and didn't have the toughness to lead a team to a title?Īll Dirk did that series was average 34.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. But here's the deal: The Round Mound of Profound has been dead wrong about Dirk in the past. And Barkley's loud opinions weigh heavily on a player's perception. Among power forwards, he ranks right up there with Karl Malone and Charles Barkley.īarkley, in his role as a lovable pot-stirring TNT analyst, has been behind the wheel of the Dirk bandwagon during these playoffs. However, it shouldn't take a title for the basketball world to recognize the German's greatness.Ĭoach Rick Carlisle can be charged with slight exaggeration after declaring Dirk as one of the 10 greatest players in NBA history earlier this week, but there's no doubt that Dirk is on an extremely short list of the most elite players without a ring. Reaching that goal and winning a championship is Nowitzki's sole goal for the remainder of his career. ![]() "I've had decent playoffs," Nowitzki said, a rather large understatement for a man who dropped 50 points in pivotal Game 5 the last time the Mavs advanced to the West finals. The sudden change in the perception of Dirk that occurred while the Mavs busted out the brooms on the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers is simply proof that people haven't paid close enough attention to his career. He's been one of the NBA's premier playoff performers for more than a decade, as evidenced by the fact that he's one of four players in history with career postseason averages of better than 25 points and 10 rebounds. ![]() No matter what you might hear on TV, Nowitzki isn't in the process of proving he's the kind of player who can put a team on his back during the playoffs. ![]() Not Nowitzki, who has been phenomenal while leading the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference finals for the first time in five years. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĭALLAS - There is not a more overblown storyline during these NBA playoffs than the new, vastly improved Dirk Nowitzki. ![]()
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