Dirk Nowitzki Bandwagon Thread

[Axel]

There's no bandwagon for Dirk, seriously? This guy is playing out of his mind!

I want to award him Finals MVP early, but I actually think Miami will pull it out in 7. Still I think he'll be the best player in the series.

Can't wait for the Finals! I'm actually way more excited than in 2006!

[Stress Fracture]

I'd join. He has been Mr. Clutch in this playoffs.

[George7]

Liked Nowitzki all these years,but the way he's playing in these playoffs is just unbelievable!!!

If the Bulls don't pass Miami,I'll definitely root for Mavs. Dirk(and Jason Kidd of course) really deserves this ring!

[Oznogrd]

i love giant white boys and therefore love dirk.

Unfortunately though, the heat appear to keep getting better and dirk could end up being the third best player or fourth in that series depending which version of Rupaul shows up.

Loving watching him play out of his mind this past series though.

I wonder if the joke A sausage maker buys a box of cereal would distract him...

[Axel]

i love giant white boys and therefore love dirk.

Unfortunately though, the heat appear to keep getting better and dirk could end up being the third best player or fourth in that series depending which version of Rupaul shows up.

Loving watching him play out of his mind this past series though.

I wonder if the joke A sausage maker buys a box of cereal would distract him...

Wade is playing poorly, and Rupaul never out performs Dirk. I think it really is down to Dirk and LeBron, who are probably the two best players in the league now. It really just depends on who is defending them as to who has a better series. I don't see Haslem or the Warden being able to contain him, nor Bosh. Dirk will still get his, but the Heat's perimeter defense will really limit offense from everyone else. LeBron has a good chance at finals MVP.

[rise]

Can't really say I'm jumping on the bandwagon, cuz I was already a fan, but still, he's been AMAZING.

[Martti.]

I hope Nowitzki will have games like game #4 of the Finals in '06 (2-14 FG, 4 TO). Haslem is back and I still remember how D-Wade said 'he's my MVP' for what he did on Dirk.

[Mavs4Life]

Same-as-Z02-.

[benji]

I love all this on the internet and in the media, Dirk does what he always does and suddenly he's playing amazing and unbelievable? He's no longer soft and a choker? He's possibly the best player in the league?

This is why people need to learn about statistics a bit. Then they wouldn't have intentionally missed Dirk's prior decade body of work.

[rise]

Martti needs to be slapped.

In all seriousness, Dirk has probably never played better than he has so far in these playoffs. I don't see any meltdown coming.

That being said, they are the Mavs.

[Martti.]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2006/

PPG -

1st round - 31.3
2nd round - 27.1
Conf Finals - 28.0
Finals - 22.8

Hoping the same.

[benji]

In all seriousness, Dirk has probably never played better than he has so far in these playoffs.

Yeah he has.

He's scored this well each of the last two years and he's played better overall in the past. He put up 27/12 in 2006 for example. 28/13 in 2002.

Anyway, here's the bandwagon:

[deihatein]

I am already on the bandwagon lol.

He is definitely amazing. Heck, shooting 96% on the free-throw line in that Thunder series is amazing.

[Axel]

In all seriousness, Dirk has probably never played better than he has so far in these playoffs.

Yeah he has.

He's scored this well each of the last two years and he's played better overall in the past. He put up 27/12 in 2006 for example. 28/13 in 2002.

Anyway, here's the bandwagon:

Put those numbers in perspective. Dirk's rebounding has gone down since the Mavs got a competent center in Tyson Chandler.

Dirk is playing at the top of his game, and is probably at his peak for his career right now. I don't think he can be stopped. I'm a big believer in Haslem, but he's not playing like he was in 2006.

[Mavs4Life]

Certaily-ot-the-the-greatest-of-all-time-.Top-20-or-30.

[benji]

Dirk is playing at the top of his game, and is probably at his peak for his career right now.

Evidence?

Dirk's playing like he's always played.

[shadowgrin]

Evidence?

Dirk's playing like he's always played.

Duh, he's not choking now.

[Axel]

Dirk is playing at the top of his game, and is probably at his peak for his career right now.

Evidence?

Dirk's playing like he's always played.

Evidence? You mean bogus stats? Your stats aren't even relevant because Dirk entirely different styles of basketball between 2002 and 2011. My evidence is the play of the Mavericks. They have been very dominant, and have played exceptionally well in the fourth quarter, largely due to Dirk Nowitzki. He just happens to be averaging over 28 ppg and has been doing it efficiently -- not only is making his foul shots (as I will acknowledge, he has always done), but he is getting there more than anyone still left in the playoffs (9.3 per game).

[shadowgrin]

Evidence? You mean bogus stats? Your stats aren't even relevant because Dirk entirely different styles of basketball between 2002 and 2011. My evidence is the play of the Mavericks. They have been very dominant, and have played exceptionally well in the fourth quarter, largely due to Dirk Nowitzki. He just happens to be averaging over 28 ppg and has been doing it efficiently -- not only is making his foul shots (as I will acknowledge, he has always done), but he is getting there more than anyone still left in the playoffs (9.3 per game).

So he got better teammates. That explains it.

[Andrew]

His shooting numbers in this postseason are something to behold, over 51% from the field and three point range with just under 93% from the line. Not that he hasn't been a sharpshooter throughout his career but he's just been automatic.

I love all this on the internet and in the media, Dirk does what he always does and suddenly he's playing amazing and unbelievable? He's no longer soft and a choker? He's possibly the best player in the league?

This is why people need to learn about statistics a bit. Then they wouldn't have intentionally missed Dirk's prior decade body of work.

Maybe these Playoffs will finally dispel those myths.

[benji]

You mean bogus stats?

I'm sure you'll explain exactly how they are bogus.

Your stats aren't even relevant because Dirk entirely different styles of basketball between 2002 and 2011.

Really? Because I don't see that at all. When Nash left he became the center of the offense so he lost the spot-up threes but he's always been the greatest shooting big man in history and basically gives you 24-25 and 8-9 consistently on 60% scoring and wins you a shit load of games.

He just happens to be averaging over 28 ppg and has been doing it efficiently

And this differs from his career how?

Hey look, actual data!

Playoffs	G	P/36	R/36	TS%	TO%	ORtg
2006 through WCF	17	24.1	10.1	.618	8.9	128
2009-10	16	24.6	8.6	.638	9.0	127
2011	15	26.3	7.0	.640	12.6	120

Dirk's been one of the five best players in the game for close to a decade now. 2005-2007 he was easily the most dominant offensive force in the league. He's likely one of the five or six best offensive players and power forwards in the three-point era. He's been this good for ages.

This is what Dirk does. He helped put down his best friend with 50, fought alone against the Spurs, kept KG in the first round, dueled Duncan and Melo, and vanquished the Spurs dynasty on the way to his last Finals. What's he's doing in these playoffs is nothing new.

It's not a peak, it's Dirk.

[deihatein]

fought alone against the Spurs

Damn, that was a lopsided one despite Dirk scoring 40+.

vanquished the Spurs dynasty on the way to his last Finals

phpBB [video]

[Abctest123]

I've liked him since it was the Finley-Nash-Nowitzki Mavs. I'm hoping he gets revenge for 2006.

[Axel]

It is a peak, most likely, due to his age. He turns 33 next month. He is definitely near his prime, and I think it's clear the window is closing on the Mavericks if they can't win it this year.

I created this bandwagon thread jokingly. Obviously Dirk has been one of the best players in the league for a very long time. You completely changed your argument.Earlier you said he had played better and more rounded earlier in 2002. I was simply saying just because his rebound numbers are down from 2002, doesn't mean that he played better in 2002. Everyone would agree that empirically, Dirk has improved in terms of poise in the 4th Quarter, recognizing mismatches, buying into team defense concepts, and being more selective with the 3pt shot. Dirk is playing at the best that he has ever played, because he is more experienced. His decision making looks better, to me, and that is not something you can just see in the statistics. What really proves it, is how dominant the Mavs have been. It seems as though they can just turn it on when they need to; something we might have said about the Lakers, but the Mavs have always been the underdog.

[jonthefon]

Here's some fun old threads regarding this discussion, and also benji's Kobe bit:

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=72794

greatest thread in NLSC history: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=73160&hilit=koberulz&start=150