Does Dirk have another level? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Hitman · 11-04-2009, 12:39 AM

This was one of those performances that leaves me thinking...

Does Dirk, like his buddy Steve Nash, - have yet another level to which he can take his game on the north side of 30?

Is it possible that the best of Dirk Nowitzki is yet to come?

A week ago I honestly would have said no, that he may maintain a similar level of play for a few years before his eventual decline, but his days of competing for the MVP were over, and he most certainly has "peaked" as an NBA player.

Now I am not so sure. Out there tonight, Dirk looked like Dirk 4.0, the entire package, the guy with the reckless confidence of 2002, the poise of 2006 and and the wisdom and experience of 2010. Maybe it was the psycho girlfriend jail fiasco, or a new workout from Holger or a new diet or finding inner peace or maybe it is just this moment and this team.

But something happened out there tonight. Something clicked.

It's going to be an interesting year.

Dirkadirkastan · 11-04-2009, 12:45 AM

I think we should merge this thread with the "Dirk is Great" thread. What do you guys think?

MavsWiLLHaVeRinGs · 11-04-2009, 12:52 AM

No instead, I think I'm going to make yet another thread asking the question "Is Dirk God's other son?"

FINtastic · 11-04-2009, 12:53 AM

Gosh, now I wish I hadn't thrown away my line in that other thread.

FINtastic · 11-04-2009, 12:56 AM

Regardless, I don't know about "another level", but I do think Dirk has a game that's going to age very well. The ways he can score aren't just going to go away, even as he slowly loses his athleticism. And if he can keep developing new facets to his game, we should still be seeing plenty of high-level ball from Dirk in the years ahead.

iella · 11-04-2009, 01:10 AM

Yes.

/Thread

CadBane · 11-04-2009, 01:24 AM

I do wonder if he has another level on defense. Through four games, Dirk has played some of the best defense I've ever seen him play. Not just good Dirk D. But flat out good D, like All-NBA caliber (esp. these three wins). Rasheed's D got better with age (at least perception wise it seems). Maybe Dirk's could go the same way.

mac222b · 11-04-2009, 01:39 AM

i vote Dirk never again picks-up a basketball in the offseason. his legs seem fresh. and Carlisle did a nice job of getting him some rest earlier so he'd be ready to play the entire 4th

mac222b · 11-04-2009, 01:41 AM

if he actually had a low-post threat beside him we might see another level, just by sheer virtue of more open looks. and yes his defense has improved

it's great to see

mac222b · 11-04-2009, 01:45 AM

good as Kidd, Marion, J-Ho are none of them commands a double team or even much "help defense". Devin Harris did. he didn't directly make Dirk better though. not a great distributor. we could use someone(preferably big)who does draw help defenders consistently.

Dim499 · 11-04-2009, 09:59 AM

Obviously he would be able to average 28 a game which he has never done. On the other hand he loves to be the reluctant superstar. He embraces the Euro philosophy of sharing and team ball.
He would love it if he could score in single digits and the team wins.

There is always an element of being a bear with these big claws who doesn't know how to kill the bunny, within his game.
It's sort of charming in a way, but of course he will be forgotten after he retires.

AO41 · 11-04-2009, 11:14 AM

I think he could, but on the defensive end. He and Damp had 11 blocks last nite. Thats amazing and Dirk has been playing better D since the start of this season. If he can continue to do that then I think that makes Damp more effective because he just has to worry about his man for the most part.

If he can maintain his D then yee its another level for him

bernardos70 · 11-04-2009, 11:19 AM

About the defense thing: I do have the Lakers game recorded, and there was one point Lamar Odom thought he could take Dirk one-on-one. Lamar has the ball at the free-throw extended line, and the guy doing the broadcast goes "and Lamar Odom now with a smile on his face, giving Dirk every move he's got." And what happens is he tried to drive 2 times and Dirk cut off his drive twice. I didn't see much of the other games, but he did play exceptional defense on that game. And obviously he had 5 blocks last night, and that doesn't happen by chance......

Usually Lurkin · 11-04-2009, 12:53 PM

For Dirk, getting to the basket has never been about being quicker than everyone else. As long as he's a bit quicker than the other bigs and a bit taller than anyone else, his offensive game shouldn't suffer too much from age related slow down.

Dirkadirkastan · 11-04-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bernardos70

About the defense thing: I do have the Lakers game recorded, and there was one point Lamar Odom thought he could take Dirk one-on-one. Lamar has the ball at the free-throw extended line, and the guy doing the broadcast goes "and Lamar Odom now with a smile on his face, giving Dirk every move he's got." And what happens is he tried to drive 2 times and Dirk cut off his drive twice. I didn't see much of the other games, but he did play exceptional defense on that game. And obviously he had 5 blocks last night, and that doesn't happen by chance......

I remember expecting Odom to pull a Zach Randolph with that careless dribble.

And did you see his awesome flop on Shawn Marion? Man, that was a beauty.

bernardos70 · 11-04-2009, 02:10 PM

That video gets me. every. single. time.

But I was looking for an interview a couple of years ago, I'm thinking it was Iverson, talking to TNT and going "we have to go up two levels, then we have to step it up four more levels, then we gotta play hard and go up 5 more levels.......

I'm thinking it was Iverson, but it might've been Marbury. Anyway, I can't find that video and it's frustrating me.

Kidd Karma · 11-04-2009, 02:21 PM

Chalking this up to fresh legs, no summer ball, fresh legs, good start.

DevinHarriswillstart · 11-04-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

Chalking this up to fresh legs, no summer ball, fresh legs, good start.

And losing the weight. He is the quickest he has been in years. It seems like he can drive on almost anybody now.

dirt_dobber · 11-04-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dim499

Obviously he would be able to average 28 a game which he has never done. On the other hand he loves to be the reluctant superstar. He embraces the Euro philosophy of sharing and team ball.
He would love it if he could score in single digits and the team wins.

There is always an element of being a bear with these big claws who doesn't know how to kill the bunny, within his game.
It's sort of charming in a way, but of course he will be forgotten after he retires.

me likey this post

mavsfan2323 · 11-07-2009, 12:48 AM

i think it's all mental. his german coach said it the best.... if he uses the whole toolbox he's unstoppable. it's when he settles for 17 footers that the mavs struggle. him getting to line like that was a very good sign too.

Five-ofan · 11-07-2009, 01:39 AM

itll be interesting to see how dirks career unfolds. Honestly barring injury, I dont see why dirk couldnt be an effective player till hes about 45. Hes always going to be tall and hes always going to be able to stretch a D. The question is will he be willing to play as a 10-15 ppg instant offense/shooter off the bench guy. If so, he will break parish's games played record and kaj's minutes played record. I dont think hell ever be better than hes already been though. I do think hell continue to be great for a couple of more years though and i intend to enjoy every minute of it.

badfish22 · 11-07-2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

itll be interesting to see how dirks career unfolds. Honestly barring injury, I dont see why dirk couldnt be an effective player till hes about 45.

Thats gotta be a typo. Right?

Five-ofan · 11-08-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badfish22

Thats gotta be a typo. Right?

nope. Obviously he wont play that long but i dont see why he couldnt... Why couldnt he do what say matt bonner does now when hes 45?

tcat075 · 11-08-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

nope. Obviously he wont play that long but i dont see why he couldnt... Why couldnt he do what say matt bonner does now when hes 45?

Why would the future Hall of Famer, one of the greatest players to ever play the game, want to continue playing just so he can fill a Matt Bonner role. A lot of players could probably play a few more years than what they did, but usually they retire before they absolutely suck. I'm sorry, but if I'm Dirk, I never want to be playing on a Matt Bonner level. If that's the best I can play, then I'd retire.

FINtastic · 11-09-2009, 12:21 AM

Some players just love to play the game. Guys like Parish and Malone were great players that played well into the twilight of their careers.

dude1394 · 11-09-2009, 01:14 AM

Why wouldn't someone want to play a game for a living as long as they were being productive and contributing?

Five-ofan · 11-09-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcat075

Why would the future Hall of Famer, one of the greatest players to ever play the game, want to continue playing just so he can fill a Matt Bonner role. A lot of players could probably play a few more years than what they did, but usually they retire before they absolutely suck. I'm sorry, but if I'm Dirk, I never want to be playing on a Matt Bonner level. If that's the best I can play, then I'd retire.

i actually think he could be better than that. i was just setting a pretty modest standard. I actually dont think dirk will keep playing when hes not a 20 ppg guy anymore. I dont say that because hes selfish(obviously he isnt) but he doesnt strike me as the type to hang on. That said i just pointed out that i thought he COULD.

Tokey41 · 11-09-2009, 02:55 AM

Dirk doesn't bang around like a traditional 4, he's got plenty left in the gas tank.

mac222b · 11-09-2009, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

me likey this post

i'm not sure he'll be forgotten exactly. it's not like he's detlef schrempf or something

badfish22 · 11-19-2009, 02:03 AM

I'm starting to think so. First the Utah game, then Milwaukee than this.
He is just unbelievable

Murphy3 · 11-19-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

i actually think he could be better than that. i was just setting a pretty modest standard. I actually dont think dirk will keep playing when hes not a 20 ppg guy anymore. I dont say that because hes selfish(obviously he isnt) but he doesnt strike me as the type to hang on. That said i just pointed out that i thought he COULD.

I think that depends upon whether or not he's on a title contender. If he's averaging 15-18 a game on a team that's loaded, I believe he'll stick around. But that way things are looking, he's got a half decade before he drops to that point.

cchriswake · 11-19-2009, 09:05 AM

Dirk's potential is still limitless... we have yet to see the very best of Dirk Nowitzki. I remember all the talk about during the "experiment" 2003-2004 season everyone was worried that Dirk took a step back, but since then he's compiled numerous All NBA First team selections, an MVP award, a trip to the Finals, many Franchise records, comebacks, buzzer beaters (all on the road I might add)... the only thing to complete this package is of course a championship and until he gets that ring, he'll always have another level to get to...

Five-ofan · 11-19-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

I think that depends upon whether or not he's on a title contender. If he's averaging 15-18 a game on a team that's loaded, I believe he'll stick around. But that way things are looking, he's got a half decade before he drops to that point.

i concurr