Not Quite Ready For Primetime: Dirk Nowitzki

[GonzoLays]

You are on the road. Your teams needs you to step up. Who do you turn to? A bit player or your so-called MVP candidate? Of course, you give the rock to the bit player. Dirk HAS BEEN ridirkculous this series, one of the biggest choke jobs in recent NBA Finals history by player of such repute. He bangs the free throw in game three that would have tied the game in the clutch. In game five he scores a grandtotal of six points in the 4th QUARTER AND OVERTIME!!! Move over Larry Bird, step aside Michael Jordan, take a backseat James Worthy, Dirk Nowitski is stepping in to the Pantheon of Clutch Performers.

Few players in the history of this great game have stepped up like Dirk. In the regular season, he was popping the nets for 26 a game while shooting 46% from the field. But those are only mere mortal number's compared to show he is putting on in the finals.

21 points a game
37% shooting from the field

And let us not forget the "clutchness" of his fourth quarter performances. How this man was not MVP is beyond me.

http://thedraftreview.com/history/drafted1998/images/dirk-nowitzki.jpg

TAKE IT TO THEM BIG FELLA!!!

[Pat Bowlen]

Are you being sarcastic?

[Drunk Monkey]

Choke

[-Slap-]

Angry Llama jinxed him good with that sigline.

[ludo21]

He hit a huge shot at the end of OT.

I thought that was pretty clutch. He had a poor game, all the greats do.

What stands out to me is that Wade too had an awful game, but found a way to still carry his team. He is a stud.

[Master___Pain]

He hit a huge shot at the end of OT.

I thought that was pretty clutch. He had a poor game, all the greats do.

What stands out to me is that Wade too had an awful game, but found a way to still carry his team. He is a stud.

An awful game where he still mamnaged to score 43 points and the winning free throws.

[Mile High Shack]

An awful game where he still mamnaged to score 43 points and the winning free throws.

gift free throws at that

[Willynowei]

You are on the road. Your teams needs you to step up. Who do you turn to? A bit player or your so-called MVP candidate? Of course, you give the rock to the bit player. Dirk HAS BEEN ridirkculous this series, one of the biggest choke jobs in recent NBA Finals history by player of such repute. He bangs the free throw in game three that would have tied the game in the clutch. In game five he scores a grandtotal of six points in the 4th QUARTER AND OVERTIME!!! Move over Larry Bird, step aside Michael Jordan, take a backseat James Worthy, Dirk Nowitski is stepping in to the Pantheon of Clutch Performers.

Few players in the history of this great game have stepped up like Dirk. In the regular season, he was popping the nets for 26 a game while shooting 46% from the field. But those are only mere mortal number's compared to show he is putting on in the finals.

21 points a game
37% shooting from the field

And let us not forget the "clutchness" of his fourth quarter performances. How this man was not MVP is beyond me.

http://thedraftreview.com/history/drafted1998/images/dirk-nowitzki.jpg

TAKE IT TO THEM BIG FELLA!!!

He struggled because Miami focused on him and left the other guys open (Hence Terry and his early free jumpers, thats how he got hot). If you haven't noticed yet maybe you should watch how each big name performs exceptionally better at home between Wade, Shaq and Dirk.

Its plain retarded to Compare Dirk to Larry Bird, you have got to be smoking crack. But its not much better to call Dirk a choke job based soley on the last few road games in a series that is far from over.

But speaking about basketball, i just gotta say something about Wade. This kid is something, he was my favorite player in the NBA the day i saw him play as a rookie in his first playoff series. He was making Clutch game winners his first season in the league, not his third or fourth like LeBron. If you want to look for the next Kobe or w/e to carry the flag as the premier shooting guard in the league, i think you have to look at Wade.

Jump shots take years to develop i can see Wade getting further and further out in his range later in his career.

[youcandoit1687]

An awful game where he still mamnaged to score 43 points and the winning free throws.

well he did go 21-25 so he really only scored 22 points. decent but i dont think that warrants and MJ comparison like espn was giving it. he did have some ballsy shots tho at the end of the 4th and OT. dirk played decent and did sink that one at the end of regulation and had a great pass to dampier

the most embarassing thing about dirk and why he was "not quite ready for primetime", IMO, was the immature ball kicking after the game. i could live with the locker room stuff but wait to get in there.

[Nuggets4]

the most embarassing thing about dirk and why he was "not quite ready for primetime", IMO, was the immature ball kicking after the game. i could live with the locker room stuff but wait to get in there.

Agreed, but that comes from the top down. When your owner is acting like a jackass, it's hard to ask the players and coaches to behave.

[Master___Pain]

well he did go 21-25 so he really only scored 22 points. decent but i dont think that warrants and MJ comparison like espn was giving it. he did have some ballsy shots tho at the end of the 4th and OT.

Um no, he really scored 43 points... last I checked free throws counted as points.

[Pezman]

I'm so glad we started another 20 threads dedicated to basketball Woooooooo! Time for a nice long vacation from this BS... out

[Jason in LA]

I'd say Dirk has been bad in pretty much every game this series. At Dallas he didn't do much. In games 3 and 5 he choked at the FT line. Yeah, he did make that one clutch shot in game 5. That's the only shot of note that he's made. At the end of the 4th, Dirk didn't have the ball, Terry did. At the end of game three, Dirk was inbounding the ball, instead of receiving it for the final shot.

Dirk could have raised his stock big time. But it's Wade who is doing that. Wade is becoming a legend infront of our eyes. Dirk should be doing that. He should be carrying his team. He is choking.

[Jason in LA]

I'm so glad we started another 20 threads dedicated to basketball Woooooooo! Time for a nice long vacation from this BS... out

By the end of this week it will be baseball only. Man, that's gonna suck.

[BroncoInferno]

I'd say Dirk has been bad in pretty much every game this series. At Dallas he didn't do much. In games 3 and 5 he choked at the FT line. Yeah, he did make that one clutch shot in game 5. That's the only shot of note that he's made. At the end of the 4th, Dirk didn't have the ball, Terry did. At the end of game three, Dirk was inbounding the ball, instead of receiving it for the final shot.

Dirk could have raised his stock big time. But it's Wade who is doing that. Wade is becoming a legend infront of our eyes. Dirk should be doing that. He should be carrying his team. He is choking.

I think guys like Kevin Garnett and Dirk get a bit of a bad rap because of the nature of their position. Guards and natural small forwards create their own opportunities by the nature of their position. Guys like Garnett and Dirk simply don't play that way (at least not to the same extent). They need someone to set them up. That isn't really an indictment on them, just isn't the nature of their size/positions. I don't think Dirk has choked so much as Dallas hasn't been able to set him up.

[youcandoit1687]

Um no, he really scored 43 points... last I checked free throws counted as points.

yeah i know. but, and i have no stats behind this other than that MJ's name wasnt on the FT records lists ive seen, MJ scored with jumpers, threes, drives, etc. take that as you want but id say 43 points with only 10-12 FTs would be more impressive than 43 with 21-25. not that it isnt impressive, i just dont think it warrants MJ comparisons. robert horry hits tons of clutch shots but hes not being dubbed the next MJ. thats my only beef, the MJ comparisons

[GonzoLays]

I think guys like Kevin Garnett and Dirk get a bit of a bad rap because of the nature of their position. Guards and natural small forwards create their own opportunities by the nature of their position. Guys like Garnett and Dirk simply don't play that way (at least not to the same extent). They need someone to set them up. That isn't really an indictment on them, just isn't the nature of their size/positions. I don't think Dirk has choked so much as Dallas hasn't been able to set him up.

hA! Tim Duncan was dropping 30 + points a game against the Mavericks in the playoffs. Shaq is only one of six players to ever score 35 + points in three consecutive NBA finals. And he accomplished that feat TWICE! If you are a baller, you don't need any excuses. Dirk is a rich man's Wally Sczerbiack. And on top of that he chokes. Biggest games biggest stage he is nowhere to be found. Jason Terry is doing all the balling for that team. He is the true MVP of the Mavericks.

[broncofan]

I like Dirk...but his feeble attempt at destroying things in anger after the game had me cracking up. He failed misserably at throwing that stationary bike.

[Master___Pain]

yeah i know. but, and i have no stats behind this other than that MJ's name wasnt on the FT records lists ive seen, MJ scored with jumpers, threes, drives, etc. take that as you want but id say 43 points with only 10-12 FTs would be more impressive than 43 with 21-25. not that it isnt impressive, i just dont think it warrants MJ comparisons. robert horry hits tons of clutch shots but hes not being dubbed the next MJ. thats my only beef, the MJ comparisons

Very well, but when MJ was being compared to Oscar, Elgin and Dr. J I am sure that many scoffed at those comparisons as well. What Wade is doing right now is very impressive and we could be (and I believe we are) witnessing the start of all-time great career. Wade seems to have "it"

[BroncoInferno]

hA! Tim Duncan was dropping 30 + points a game against the Mavericks in the playoffs. Shaq is only one of six players to ever score 35 + points in three consecutive NBA finals. And he accomplished that feat TWICE! If you are a baller, you don't need any excuses. Dirk is a rich man's Wally Sczerbiack. And on top of that he chokes. Biggest games biggest stage he is nowhere to be found. Jason Terry is doing all the balling for that team. He is the true MVP of the Mavericks.

Again, you are talking about traditional post players in Duncan and Shaq. Dirk and Garnett and not power post up guys taking most of their shots 5 feet from the basket. They are a new breed of player with center heighth, but not quite the strength to bang around inside, and not quite the quickness to take the ball to the bucket and create a shot anytime they want. That's just the nature of what they do.

[-Slap-]

I like Dirk...but his feeble attempt at destroying things in anger after the game had me cracking up. He failed misserably at throwing that stationary bike.
Now is the time on Sprockets when we kick things.

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~sjbaig/chsprok.jpg

[ro_50]

I think Dirk is a great player, top 5 in the league, but he's not being as assertive he was in the Spurs series or the Suns series.

He's not driving it to the hoop like he was in those series.

But you have to give credit to guys like Posey and Haslem for their defense on him.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

This thread is good news...now Dirk will go off for 50. Thanks, Gonzo!

[RhymesayersDU]

This thread is good news...now Dirk will go off for 50. Thanks, Gonzo!
Don't worry, you'll screw it up for the Mavs.

Wade is such a joke a tonight.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Don't worry, you'll screw it up for the Mavs.

Wade is such a joke a tonight.

I've been nothing but good luck for the Mavs.

And Wade won't sniff 40 points tonight. I bet he doesn't have more than 25. And I GUARANTEE he doesn't get to the free throw line 24 times.

[Jason in LA]

I think Dirk is a great player, top 5 in the league, but he's not being as assertive he was in the Spurs series or the Suns series.

He's not driving it to the hoop like he was in those series.

But you have to give credit to guys like Posey and Haslem for their defense on him.

Going into the series he was top 5. But his stock has dropped in many people's eyes.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Going into the series he was top 5. But his stock has dropped in many people's eyes.

I don't know what's happened. It's not like he's facing some amazing defender. Is anyone on the Heat a better defender than Bowen?

[BroncoInferno]

I don't know what's happened. It's not like he's facing some amazing defender. Is anyone on the Heat a better defender than Bowen?

Some matchups are just inexplicably bad for people. For whatever reason, between Haslem and the double/triple teams they've constructed Miami has just put together the right formula based on their personel to limit Dirk's effectiveness. It's a combination of having just the right personel and stategy. It's too simplicistic to say he's just flat choking, especially since in the playoffs prior to this series he'd actually elevated his regular season numbers. And that game 7 against the defending champs was pretty damn clutch. So, I think there's more to it than just plain choking.

[The Big E]

Some matchups are just inexplicably bad for people. For whatever reason, between Haslem and the double/triple teams they've constructed Miami has just put together the right formula based on their personel to limit Dirk's effectiveness. It's a combination of having just the right personel and stategy. It's too simplicistic to say he's just flat choking, especially since in the playoffs prior to this series he'd actually elevated his regular season numbers. And that game 7 against the defending champs was pretty damn clutch. So, I think there's more to it than just plain choking.
On the flip side, Dallas has not given D-Wade enough attention. How many times was he played straight up? Especially in the 4th quarter and OT, when he's clearly going off, they never forced the ball out of his hands. He's averaging 38 points a game or whatever, and owning the 4th quarters, so it's not like it should be a surprise. At some point you have to make someone else beat you.

[youcandoit1687]

I don't know what's happened. It's not like he's facing some amazing defender. Is anyone on the Heat a better defender than Bowen?


nobody is better than bowen(he went to my high school)

[RhymesayersDU]

I've been nothing but good luck for the Mavs.

And Wade won't sniff 40 points tonight. I bet he doesn't have more than 25. And I GUARANTEE he doesn't get to the free throw line 24 times.

I guess Wade had to settle for 36.

[youcandoit1687]

I guess Wade had to settle for 36.

bob was right, wade sucked it up[/sarcasm]