Dirk Nowitzki

[j41181]

Mavs 96, Lakers 94

Great win for Dallas, there were some questionable calls (technicals in 1st half), some fouls on Nowitzki not called, but I'm simply glad the Mavs won. Gustsy come form behind win (down 16 in the 3rd), and an overall great effort for the whole Mavs.

Clutch FT's by Nowitzki!!!!

Dirk Nowitzki - 28 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Peja Stojakovc - 10 points
JJ Barea - 8 points, 5 assists

Pau Gasol - 15 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block

It won't surprise me if Gasol ends up getting much of the blame, I think Kobe is much to blame for the Laker loss. Edited by: j41181

 

[texasheat]

For any of you guys watching the TNT postgame show lately, have you seen the Charles Barkley lovefest with Dirk Nowitzki? He's done this several times now & I'm pretty damn shocked -- but pleased as well that Dirk is getting his props.

Tonight Barkley said Dirk is one of the top 4 shotmakers in the NBA -- along with Kobe, Kevin Durant & Carmelo Anthony. He went on & on about how he can't be guarded, he's been clutch in the playoffs, etc. Kudos to the Round Mound of Rebound for recognizing basketball talent goes both ways!

Go Mavericks!

 

[KG2422]

I've also been pleasantly surprised by Charles. He must be mellowing with age. Steve Kerr also pointed out how clutch Nowitzki is though Marv Albert would like to suggest otherwise. The media (other than former athletes) has been trying to characterize Dirk as "soft" and a choker for years. It is getting more and more difficult for them to successfully spread these lies.

 

[guest301]

I've also been pleasantly surprised by Charles. He must be mellowing with age. Steve Kerr also pointed out how clutch Nowitzki is though Marv Albert would like to suggest otherwise. The media (other than former athletes) has been trying to characterize Dirk as "soft" and a choker for years. It is getting more and more difficult for them to successfully spread these lies.

I have been pleasantly suprised by all the praise Dirk has been getting from Barkely, Kerr and Webber lately. I just hope Keven McHale doesn't call another Mavs game this playoffs because I got tired of his backhanded compliments about how impressive a player Dirk was despite has "lack of athleticism' and "two handed dunks". Dirk doesn't often play above the rim because he doesn't need to and Dirk's prime will probably last a couple of years longer(mid thirtys) because he isn't all flash and dash like most of the power forwards in the NBA, one could say the same about Zack Randolph who also plays below the rim and may be the most fundamentally sound power forward in the NBA after Dirk.

 

[white lightning]

Way to go Dirk! Way to go Mavs! Not going to get too excited yet. This series has a long ways to go. This was one heck of a gutsy performance though! A true test of character and the Mavericks didn't give up. Very exciting game. I would love to see them take a 2-0 lead. Hoping for the best while trying not to get too excited.

 

[j41181]

Way to go Dirk! Way to go Mavs! Not going to get too excited yet. This series has a long ways to go. This was one heck of a gutsy performance though! A true test of character and the Mavericks didn't give up. Very exciting game. I would love to see them take a 2-0 lead. Hoping for the best while trying not to get too excited.

Expect LA to come out strong for the rest of the series, and the Mavs need and should be ready for that.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Dirk was VERY clutch last night. Sometimes Dirk defers to other guys too much for the last few shots of the game. Although he's a star, he hasn't shown the tendency to elevate his game (from superstar to all time great) in crunch time in the playoffs like guys like Bird, Jordan and Kobe do. Last night though Dirk really impressed me. He would not be denied down the stretch and took it upon himself to will the Mavs to victory. This could be the Mavs year!Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[pistol pete]

White Lightning,


I think the league wants a Lakers-Heat final too. Two big markets along with several stars.
In a local online contest I picked Miami over LA in the finals but I think it is wide open this year.
All the teams have flaws. Dallas has a chance. The difference this year is that they have a legit center in Tyson Chandler. They have a defensive big man to go along with high-scoring Dirk. It seems like they have some other good scorers in Peja, Kidd, Barea, Terry, and Marion.

As long as they play tough and take good shots they can beat LA. Then I think their experience will help over the winner of the Thunder-Grizzlies series. If they play smart and tough in the Finals they can beat Miami or whoever wins the East.

I really appreciate what Dirk and the Mavs are doing this year. Dirk played at a high level all year as did his team, though neither was taken seriously. I think if someone takes down LA it would be good for the league.

A rematch of the Heat-Mavericks Finals would be fascinating. It would give Dirk a shot at redemption. I also think that Dirk would destroy Bosh. lol.Dallas would win the matchup at point guard and center with Wade winning the battle at shooting guard. The key to the series would be could Shawn Marion slow down LeBron?

I am getting tired of LA and Boston and a Dallas-Miami finals would match up two well balanced teams who can both score as well as play some hard-nosed basketball. It would also feature lots of stars. Dirk, LeBron, Wade, and Kidd are all first ballot hall of famers. Bosh, Bibby, Big Z, Terry, Marion, and Peja have all had great careers. Both teams have dealt with media scrutiny all year and seem to be coming together at the right time.

 

[guest301]

I will just add that Dallas has beat the Heat twice this year and would likely have Caron Butler back for the finals if they make it that far.

 

[Westside]

Dirk and Peja and Mavs up 2 on the Lakers!

 

[pistol pete]

JJ Barea also had a good game.The better TEAM is winning this series. It also looks like
Dirk is better than Kobe.

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

I don't think it will happen (I hope it does though) but it would be hilarious if the Lakers get swept.

 

[Deadlift]

I've been saying all season that the "sacred cow" that is Koge(y) Brya(i)nt is OVERRATED!

The problem with Caste Football sometimes.. is that there is a tendency to knock (overrated) black football players, but STILL buy the "MSMs hype" in regards to black basketball players. I don't understand it frankly? Is it because black basketball players are "tall" and perceived as "larger-than-life characters?"

One reason I was ecstatic about Orlando failing, and, keep in mind, I have never been much of a fan or believer in Turkoglu, is because they have OVERRATED affletes like Jameer Nelson and Gilbert Arenas. Some of us have been saying for years that their "media-hype and push" is undeserved.

I know some people have praised Orlando's black GM, but he has been blundering, moreso recently. And, It's unconscionable that Orlando couldn't find a way to use super-athlete Gortat, side-by-side, with Dwight Howard.
____________________

No one is saying that it's easy to win an NBA Championship, as each year, there will be a handful of solid squads, but several "black Gods" have already been exposed..

and black basketball is a lot WEAKER than the basketball-crazy MSM would let on. We need to bring our A-Game to our analysis and continue to expose basketball's Caste System.

GO DALLAS! ESPN is pissing their pants right now! Yes, keep blaming PAU for LAs 17 missed 3-pointers! Maybe LA shouldn't have dealt Sasha Vujacic who played pretty damn well for the NJ NETS!! Get darker and lose more, we've been saying that for years..

 

[white lightning]

Great post deadlift and I agree with you. College Basketball proves this the majority of the time as the teams with a mixed squad with alot of whites win the title alot of the time. Even Duke won it two years ago with a team that had around 9 whites and 3 blacks. It's all about playing team ball. There is way too much one on one hot dogging in the nba. Even the international teams understand the fundementals far better than most nba squads. They don't pass the ball.

Back to the Mavs. I'm so pumped up right now. Dirk and the Mavs have to have the killer instinct. They need to go home and act like they are down 2-0 instead of being up by that same margin. The Mavs need to win game 3. No ifs, buts or ands about it. Win game 3 and the Lakers will feel the pressure. If the Lakers win game 3, then the pressure is back on the Mavs. Let's go Mavs.

 

[celticdb15]

If Dirk wins this series he will have to be considered an All Time great scorer!

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

There is a caste system in hoops, it is just weaker than in football. I've made a post on this topic in the "if it were fair" thread that p-nutlane started a while back. The amount of whites pursuing basketball in Spain is likely a similar sized talent pool to the African American one. We saw how close the U.S/Spain Gold medal match up was in a fairly officiated game. It was a 4 point game with 4 minutes to go before Kobe's clutch 4 point play increased the lead and turned it into a foul fest in the last couple minutes.

We have to remember that lots of inner city blacks are hoop obsessed. Unlike football, black interest in basketball I'd say exceeds white interest averages in the U.S. Something that aids blacks in basketball is that they have slightly longer limbs on average between blacks and whites of the same height.

My estimate is that the NBA should be about 50% white without a caste system. The NFL should be about 70% white. Also remember that there are no positions that whites are banned from in the NBA like CB currently is and RB almost is in the NFL. SG followed by PG seems to be the two positions where whites are most affected by the caste system.Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

On Deadlift's topic, I'd like to hear as many posters estimates as possible on how white the NBA should be, compared to the NFL, if it were fair. It's a fun stat to do.

 

[pistol pete]

Yeah, I have no idea why Gortat and Howard couldn't have worked together.
Both are physical freaks and great athletes. Those two guys up front with a solid power forward,
Hedo at the 3 to give them a scorer and creator, JJ Reddick as a great shooter and good defender at the 2 with Jameer Nelson (solid, can score) at point with Ryan Anderson off the bench at both forward spots is a great team.
All they would need to add would be a good back up point guard, another shooting guard, and a couple of decent power forwards.

That is a no-brainer team. The Mavs get it right with an awesome scorer/shooter at forward in Dirk, a great defender, rebounder an athlete in Tyson Chandler at center, they have a true leader at point guard in Jason Kidd, a very good all-around player at small forward in Shawn Marion, a hot-shooting sixth man in Jason Terry, and two more good shooters/scorers in Peja and JJ Barea. They even have a good backup center in Brendan Haywood. Brian Cardinal is a good banger/hustle guy at the end of the bench. The Mavs are built the right way. In the NBA you need a smart superstar who can score, a high level creator at point guard, a defensive center/rebounder, an athletic, all-around wing player, a good second option scorer, and a couple of extra shooters and big men. That's about 9 or 10 guys with a veteran point guard, an energy guy, and a cheap tall guy to round out the bench.

The Lakers have a great front line in Pau Gasol, Bynum, and Lamar Odom, and a great scorer in Kobe at the two guard, but they insist on starting the ineffective Derek Fisher and Ron Artest, and they bring Odom off the bench.
So they have two mediocre starters and they get in trouble when Kobe forces shots and they get away from the inside game. They need to start Odom at the 3 and either Steve Blake or Shannon Brown at point guard. Then run most of the offense through Odom. That would give them a shooter off the bench in Fisher and a decent option in Ron Artest plus one of the other point guards.

The Mavs are doing. Well because they go with a big lineup, Dirk doesn't force too many shots, and they have shooters off the bench.

 

[guest301]

ESPN's Chris Broussard and Jalen Rose are still picking the Lakers to beat the Mavs in the series despite being down 2-0 and playing in Dallas the next two games. Most of the conversation has been about the downfall of the Lakers(and Gasol) and not the success of the Mavericks.Edited by: guest301

 

[Westside]

Dirk drops 32 on the Lakers to put the next to last nail in the coffin of the Lakers who turned darker over the past year. The time is now for Dirk and Peja to rise to another level and get that HOF sealing ring for Dirk and possible Peja.

 

[Deadlift]

Why some of us have turned AGAINST the Lakers..


1--As Westside said in the above post, they've gotten darker.


2--The MSM has always said that the Lakers' are "unstoppable" with a healthy Andrew Bynum, and combining him with Lamar Odom on the court. I've never believed this.

PAU and Lamar would often play great and have a repoire, and have the Lakers' clicking, when Bynum WAS HURT! If PAU is less assertive now, it's because his ROLE is indeed DIFFERENT with Bynum hanging around the basket, rebounding and trying to block shots. If Bynum gets hurt in the future, AGAIN, PAU could easily turn the "superstar switch" back on. Count on it.

And, statistically, of course Bynum is going to take stats away from PAU. (Remember Elton Brand's Clipper days? When he ruptured his achilles, Chris Kaman's numbers SHOT-UP.. to Nevada's chagrin!) The MSM has been "misleading" people in many ways.. like not mentioning that the Lakers' have been horrendous from 3-point range!


3--Lakers' have brought in thugs like Matt Barnes, not to mention that he's OVERRATED as a b-baller. They also have thug Ron Artest.. so incredibly overrated going back to his St. Johns days. Guy is another bubble butt afflete, rather than an "athletic freak." Kobe is a brat that's trying to "compensate" for some shortcoming.

Derek Fisher needs to retire already.. not exactly a "super-team." Just like when the Kyrie Irving/Nolan Smiff Dukies got knocked out of the Dance, we did benefit in reality, we will also benefit from the "superstar Lakers" demise.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Is this the year Dirk finally gets his ring? That's the last thing he needs to cap off his HOF career.

 

[j41181]

Is this the year Dirk finally gets his ring?  That's the last thing he needs to cap off his HOF career.

It ain't over yet, Dallas needs to win 9 more times to finally get that elusive ring. They need to finish the Lakers in Game 4 no matter what, that way they'll have extensive rest, while awaiting the winner of the OKC-MEMPHIS slugfest. Of course an extensive rest might be costly (make them rusty), but for a relatively old team like Dallas, it's a PLUS.

There are CRAZY calls from idiotic Lakers fans and critics alike to have Gasol traded for Dwight Howard (OWNED by Gasol in 2009 Finals). Talk about how UNGRATEFUL that is after Gasol helped (more like LED) the Lakers to 3 straight Finals and 2 NBA rings. He's been the Laker's PILLAR (not Kobe) for the past 3 1/2 years.

And to continue calling him 'soft', despite being a 2-Time NBA Champion, that is the code word for NBA's anti-white nature.

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

It's true Gasol gets an inordinate share of the blame for the Lakers' misfortunes.

I live in the Los Angeles area and the local radio, fans, and papers all whistle the same tune -- "if only Gasol weren't so weak..."

I'll certainly admit Gasol hasn't played his best, but then again, neither has the entire team. Why does one guy get all the blame?

When one local radio fan innocently told a radio host that it's not Gasol's fault that his teammates bricked a billion 3 pointers, the dickless wonder behind the mic said that throwing up 3s is normal and it's Gasol's job to get more rebounds, so it's all his fault the Lakers are losing.

Really?

I prefer to think that maybe just this year the Mavs are better. How about that?

But no, you can't credit the Mavs. "The Lakers lost; the Mavs didn't WIN." If that even makes any sense.

Oh and Kobe Bryant's an ageing, over the hill overrated prima donna. That too.

 

[j41181]

Well said, GiovaniMarcon...

Funny how the Mavs (Dirk especially) virtually don't get any credit, it's the Lakers who are imploding, it's Kobe being old, hurt, immature, it's Gasol being weak, passive, soft...

The Mavs are simply playing solid TEAM basketball, with Dirk in SUPERB form as usual, but with better help. The supporting cast around Nowitzki could be his best ever (better than in 2006).

Gasol is indeed having a terrible playoff trip, but to label him as the primary scapegoat is enough proof how ungrateful many Laker fans and critics alike are. You give them 2 NBA rings and when you start playing bad and lose....BANG!!!!! Just like that... "TRADE HIM for being SOFT!!!"

If Pau Gasol does get traded in the off season, so be it, he's got 2 NBA rings already, can't take that away from him. He's already a proven winner.

Lastly, this marks a sweet revenge for Peja Stojakovic (2002 Kings loss to Lakers). This overall, is a huge step towards redemption for both Nowitzki and Stojakovic. Gasol had his NBA ring moments, now it's time for both Nowitzki and Stojakovic to have theirs.