[dude1394]

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketba...676789,00.html

Nowitzki is NBA's MVP

By NICK GHOLSON
May 4, 2006

Dirk Nowitzki is the MVP of the NBA.

Since the "V" in MVP stands for valuable, it's hard to argue for anyone else.

I say that because if the Dallas Mavericks didn't have Dirk, they would be the Memphis Grizzlies - a so-so team with no real star; a team that can win 49 regular season games but gets swept out of the playoffs in the opening round.

Jason Terry, Eric Dampier, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, Marquis Daniels and Devin Harris are nice players, but without Dirk, they're the one-and-done Grizzlies.

With no Dirk, Avery Johnson isn't Coach of the Year.

In the seven seasons before the big German came to Dallas, the Mavericks won 180 regular season games. There were no playoff appearances.

In the last seven seasons with Dirk, the Mavs have won 380 games. They have played 60 playoff games in six straight postseason performances.

This year Dirk averaged a career-high 26.6 points per game, playing in 81 of 82 games. He shot 48 percent from the field, 41 percent on 3's and 90 percent from the free throw line.

In the first-round series sweep of Memphis he averaged 41 minutes a game, despite sitting out the final 5:34 of Monday's Game 4 rout. He averaged 31.3 points, shot 51 percent from the field, 42 percent on 3's and 87 percent from the free throw line.

So when the Dallas crowd starts chanting "MVP," just nod, agree and appreciate what this guy has done for the Mavericks.