Dirk Nowitzki

[j41181]

Dirk manages to chip in 8 points in only 14 minutes of action in this years All-Star game. While it's not a great performance, it's his 8th All-Star appearance.

My instincts tell me this might be his last All-Star appearance, unless he can weave one more magic come next season.

 

[icsept]

Eight All-Star appearances is elite territory. To my knowledge, though, he has never been selected by the drunk white fans. I wonder if any player has had as many selections without ever winning a fan ballot?

 

[j41181]

Eight All-Star appearances is elite territory. To my knowledge, though, he has never been selected by the drunk white fans. I wonder if any player has had as many selections without ever winning a fan ballot?

Dirk should be able to defy the ignorance of these drunk white fans for another 2 years! That's another 2 All-Star appearances for the German Wunderkind, and Future Hall of Famer!

 

[guest301]

Eight All-Star appearances is elite territory. To my knowledge, though, he has never been selected by the drunk white fans. I wonder if any player has had as many selections without ever winning a fan ballot?

Dirk should be able to defy the ignorance of these drunk white fans for another 2 years! That's another 2 All-Star appearances for the German Wunderkind, and Future Hall of Famer!

Dirk is still young enough to earn at least two more all-star appearances. Barring injury, he will reach 10 appearances quite easily.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I posted in another thread I disagree that he's a QUALITY one on one defender, but he's an absolute STUD everywhere else. He is also great at pulling defensive rebounds to stop second chance points which is certainly a form of defense.

You guys might disagree with me, but to me, he looks like an athletic phenom on the offensive end, but seems to lack quality toughness or elite upper body strength not sure which (maybe it's lack of quality defensive instincts?) or as much finesse playing one on one D.

He seems to get faked out too often by the best post players and gets out of position sometimes coming to the perimeter.

But the media hate saying he's atrocious just isn't true. IMO he's better than a guy like Rashard Lewis and around equal to Amare and not too far behind Garnett defensively (who isn't the quality defender the media portrays him as), but he's not with the ELITE defenders.

 

[j41181]

Dirk Nowitzki can play defense, not great, but good enough to help any team win a championship. He just needs the necessary teammates for that to ever happen.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I compiled some stats to show that Maximus/TexasTech again wasn't telling the whole story on Nowitzki vs. Durant.

Durant is dishing out 2.9 assists this year which is pretty good. He plays a swing-man role though rather than PF and you usually expect those guys to get more assists.

Dirk is dishing out only 2.3 assists this year with a pretty good 2.7 career average, just in the last few years when Dirk was playing better he had a 3.5 and 3.4 APG year.

Here are the other numbers this season; and as all know this is far from Dirk's best season.

Dirk vs. Durant (the 2nd stat is Durant)
assists 2.3 v. 2.9
assist/TO ratio 1.15 v. .91
assist+steal/ TO ratio 1.5 v. 1.28
assist+steal+block/ TO ratio 1.9 v. 1.53
(Durant turns the ball over 1.2 TOs more)

Blocks: Maximus appears to have lied they both have blocked 0.8 per game this season. Dirk's career avg. is actually 1 per game not great, but not too shabby either for an inside outside big man.

Steals: Durant has a definite edge here: 0.7 v. 1.2

3 PT%: 37.9 (also his career avg.) v. 43.4: (Durant is having a monster year from downtown, but Dirk has had two seasons where he barely brushed over 40% in the last 3 or 4 years when he was playing even better) Edge Durant.

PPG: 25.3 v. 26.2

Here is how I will compile the efficiency stat for scoring:

Points per shot (includes the rate a player gets to the line as well as 3pt and 2pt FG%):

1.28 v. 1.36: Durant is getting to the line at a slightly higher rate and shooting a bit better from the floor.

Rebounds: 8.3 (8.6 career avg.) v. 6.6

So here's the deal: Dirk is much older than Durant and Durant is having a monster season statistically in his 2nd year; so he has lots of upside. Who would you take if you were GM. If between the Dirk of 2 or 3 years ago and today's Durant I'd take Dirk. But today I'd probably take Durant.

Bottom line: They play different positions and both are VERY EFFICIENT scorers and good rebounders for what their team needs. Dirk is a solid SYSTEM defender. Durant is a solid defender and can defend many players, but he's a bit undersized for in the paint and is over-matched speed wise against some of the best SGs and SFs.

Durant steals the ball more, but Dirk has better combined assist+steals+block/TO numbers.

P.S Bottom Line: They play different positions so you would EXPECT Durant to have slightly more assists as more of a penetrator and Dirk to have less as an inside/outside big man who gets fed the ball off guards penetration. you would EXPECT Dirk to have more rebounds.

That is the full story of these two great players, but we all know who Maximus is rooting for.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Another thing to note. Dirk was definitely under-hyped; picked with the 9th pick in the draft by the Milwaukee Bucks who traded him to Dallas for Dallas's pick Robert "Tractor" Traylor. Dallas purposefully selected the "Tractor" to trade for Nowitzki and also selected Patrick Garrity late in the first to trade for Steve Nash who was a backup on the Suns early in his career (ridiculous).

What a trade. But what stupidity by the other two teams! Tractor Traylor reminds me a bit of Harangody for his inside style; The Tractor is a little more Explosive on his leap IF he would ever lose his baby fat. Harangody is in better shape and has better outside range and better finesse and probably CRAFTINESS for his inside moves.

But then again two different tales. "Tractor" who got no better lift on his leaps and was 6'8 280 lbs. went 6th overall and was traded for Nowitzki; Harangody (6'8 or 6'7 250 lbs) is projected to go mid to late 2nd round.

Harangody also has a similar build to Charles Barkley (Barkley was only 6'6 or 6'7), but Barkley was a bit more athletic and became a hell of a player with great INSTINCTS. Great black college players w/o typical size and build (or in Tractor's case leaping ability), are shown lots of love by the NBA draft. White ones; yeah we know the story...Blah!

Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[j41181]

People forget there were several great undersized white center-power forwards in basketball:

Vern Mikkelsen
Joe Johnston
Tom Heinsohn
Dan Issel
Dave Cowens
Dave Debusschere
Jerry Lucas
Jack Twymann

I don't see any reason why guys like Hansbrough, Harangody, and Brockman have to be ridiculed. Matt Harpring, and David Lee are most recent example of undersized whites banging down-low with no ounce of fear. The 3 mentioned will crash their way into the NBA.

In fact, the most recent undersized black, Glen Davis, has been all but an object of ridicule at this point. Harangody's game can also be compared to Dan Issel, since Issel relied more on craftiness, range, and finesse, as oppose to banging down-low. Harangody may well fit the comparison to Issel.

 

[j41181]

I find the comparison between Dirk and Durant unbelievable:

- They're of different heights (7'0 to 6'9)
- They're of different ages (30 to 21)
- They play different positions:
= Dirk plays mostly PF and SF, sometimes playing C
= Durant is a guard-forward

- They play different styles:
= Dirk plays outside, but can muscle his way down low,
and is a much better rebounder
= Durant is more of a slasher-shooter

I don't see any logic to the comparison, due to the vast difference to the two.

 

[white tornado]

Also Dirk carried his team to the nba finals and don't see that in Durrants future.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I find the comparison between Dirk and Durant unbelievable:

- They're of different heights (7'0 to 6'9)
- They're of different ages (30 to 21)
- They play different positions:
= Dirk plays mostly PF and SF, sometimes playing C
= Durant is a guard-forward

- They play different styles:
= Dirk plays outside, but can muscle his way down low,
and is a much better rebounder
= Durant is more of a slasher-shooter

I don't see any logic to the comparison, due to the vast difference to the two.

You can blame this comparison on Maximus=Texas Tech. He was comparing who he thinks is the better player and of course you know who he picked. Dirk has shown some clutch ability with his 3 point play to beat San Antonio; he really carried his team that series; unfortunately Shaq, but especially Wade were too much for Dallas in a close finals. Wade was crazy good that series. Durant will need a better team to win a championship; he is playing real well this season, but still has some weaknesses in his game; like guarding the SGs and SFs with great foot-speed man to man.

 

[j41181]

Today, Dirk achieved a milestone no white player has done in ages:
Score 40+ points 4 times in the same season!!!

41 points

16-30 FG's
1-3 3pt's
8-10 FT's

9 rebounds
2 assists

Dallas won 110-108 in OT against Oklahoma. Durant suffered an ankle injury early in the game and did not continue. Nowitzki should be considered a serious MVP candidate, because he is almost single-handedly carrying Dallas towards the playoffs. Not bad for someone who is considered "soft and a choker."

Dirk Nowitzki is showing every drunk fan what greatness is all about!!

Edited by: j41181

 

[j41181]

Dirk has cracked the 40+ point mark 16 times!

12 wins
4 losses

 

[j41181]

CBS comment:

The deadliest shooting big man in the game. If not for weak defense, a top 5 player in the NBA.Edited by: j41181

 

[j41181]

CBS comment:

Dropping props for Dirk! When he was new to NBA, remember the comparisons to Bird? He's done a good job living up to stellar expectations, 10 seasons and he still brings it--high level...hope he doesn't retire soon, he's good for NBA!

Edited by: j41181

 

[j41181]

Dirk had 24 points and 12 rebounds today to help the Mavs get a "big" win against the Spurs.

Dirk now has 7,001 career rebounds!

Dirk now has 18,500 career points!

 

[guest301]

Dirk and the Mavs are playing the Hornets tonight on TNT.

 

[j41181]

Dirk and the Mavs are playing the Hornets tonight on TNT.

They just lost to the Hornets, but today, Dirk played magnificent in a win:

34 points

13-24 FG's
8-8 FT's

9 rebounds
7 assists

2 steals
2 blocks

Dallas won 119-103 over Washington. Dirk flirted with a triple double, another reason to prove over 'n over again why Dirk possesses an all around game on both ends of the floor.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Dirk is also underrated on the defensive end.

 

[j41181]

Dirk leads Dallas to another big win: 122-117 over Phoenix.

34 points

13-27 FG's
8-8 FT's

13 rebounds
4 assists
1 steal
2 blocks

Another great all around game by Dirk on both ends. Again 'n again, Nowitzki's not a great defender, but he can play defense well enough to win many games, and a championship.

 

[white lightning]

Dirk Nowitzki owns the Suns. He kills them every time. Phoenix will not make the playoffs despite Nash playing incredible basketball. I remember Dirk scored 50 points in a playoff game against the suns just a few years ago. I love to watch Dirk play. Let's hope the Mavs can shock some people in the post season.

 

[guest301]

Dirk leads Dallas to another big win: 122-117 over Phoenix.

34 points

13-27 FG's
8-8 FT's

13 rebounds
4 assists
1 steal
2 blocks

Another great all around game by Dirk on both ends. Again 'n again, Nowitzki's not a great defender, but he can play defense well enough to win many games, and a championship.

I'm hoping the Mavs move up in the standings because Dirk and the Mavs will likely face a early exit from the playoffs if they have to play the Lakers in the first round.

 

[Fightingtowin]

I watched Dirk light up the Pistons last night. Is there any other player in the NBA that can simply score on every inch of the court with ease like Dirk? Seems like in the 80s you had guys like Bird, Alex English, Bernard King and Chris Mullin who had that skill, yet it seems to have disappeared in today's NBA game. Maybe growing up with the 3pt line has done it.

Funny how you hear that white players are stiff and lack the fluidity of black players (or the infamous hip swivel in football), yet Dirk looks completely fluid as he drives, shoots, spins, etc.

 

[guest301]

I watched Dirk light up the Pistons last night. Is there any other player in the NBA that can simply score on every inch of the court with ease like Dirk? Seems like in the 80s you had guys like Bird, Alex English, Bernard King and Chris Mullin who had that skill, yet it seems to have disappeared in today's NBA game. Maybe growing up with the 3pt line has done it.

Funny how you hear that white players are stiff and lack the fluidity of black players (or the infamous hip swivel in football), yet Dirk looks completely fluid as he drives, shoots, spins, etc.

I agree with you and Dirk puts the ball down on the floor and drives to the bucket or posts his man up alot more times than the announcers give him credit for. Dirk is more than a spot up shooter, a hell of a alot more than that.