Official Dirk is Great Thread

[Budapest Maverick]

Originally Posted by Dirkules41

I would say its rather because he is from Europe. Other white player like Nash, Love or Bird get respect.

Yep, didn't see that at first. The two things combined, really. I remember Shaq calling tainted Nash's two MVP award, so it happens, but yeah, being a european is really adds to that misconception. In America, there is definitely a negative bias against european players, lot of people thinks that every european player is soft, and flops.

[PartywithDirk]

Originally Posted by Budapest Maverick

Yep, didn't see that at first. The two things combined, really. I remember Shaq calling tainted Nash's two MVP award, so it happens, but yeah, being a european is really adds to that misconception. In America, there is definitely a negative bias against european players, lot of people thinks that every european player is soft, and flops.

This^.

Also I think it's the fact that he has revolutionized the game. People often don't give a lot of respect to the innovator, but in 10 years when there are a few more Nicolas Batum's roaming around the court Dirk will get more respect.

[EricaLubarsky]

24th place-- 120 pts to Ewing
23rd place-- 127 to Parish
22nd place-- 140 to Barkley
21st place-- 216 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 270 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 279 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 329 to James Worthy
17th place-- 395 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 423 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 489 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 914 to Wilt Chamberlain

[Murphy3]

15 more games at 30 a pop.. where will 450 points get him? I'm sure they'll drop one game along the way.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

15 more games at 30 a pop.. where will 450 points get him? I'm sure they'll drop one game along the way.

450 would put him between Johnson and McHale at 16th place. I just hope we continue to see a potent playoff team for the next few years. With a few more years we could see top 10 all time for Dirk.

24th place-- 120 pts to Ewing
23rd place-- 127 to Parish
22nd place-- 140 to Barkley
21st place-- 216 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 270 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 279 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 329 to James Worthy
17th place-- 395 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 423 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 489 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 914 to Wilt Chamberlain

[EricaLubarsky]

24th place-- 95 pts to Ewing
23rd place-- 102 to Parish
22nd place-- 115 to Barkley
21st place-- 191 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 245 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 254 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 304 to James Worthy
17th place-- 370 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 398 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 464 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 889 to Wilt Chamberlain[/QUOTE]

[dero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo0rQAq2iCQ

[EricaLubarsky]

24th place-- 50 pts to Ewing
23rd place-- 57 to Parish
22nd place-- 115 to Barkley
21st place-- 146 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 200 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 209 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 304 to James Worthy
17th place-- 325 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 353 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 419 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 844 to Wilt Chamberlain[/quote]

[EricaLubarsky]

24th place-- 17 pts to Ewing
23rd place-- 24 to Parish
22nd place-- 82 to Barkley
21st place-- 113 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 167 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 176 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 271 to James Worthy
17th place-- 292 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 320 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 386 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 811 to Wilt Chamberlain

[Nowitzness81]

He was fucking filthy tonight against Portland. 11 for 15 at one point. It was interesting how he decided against going to the basket every time like he did in the last game...and just sank filthy, nasty fadeaways again and again and again.

This was the game I was looking for from him all series....well done.

MOAR!

[bernardos70]

Elimination games are always tough.... Dirk had to bring it tonight to close out the Blazers. And BY GOD, did he ever being it in game 6.

[Murphy3]

But there's nothing better than elimination game Dirk.

[bernardos70]

You ain't neva lied, Murph.

[Scott McGuire]

I get so pumped to see Dirk showing up big in the playoffs... especially on the road. I'd say it is easily the most enjoyable/entertaining part of my sports fandom experiences. Nothing except the Rangers beating the Yankees in last year's ALCS comes close to Playoff Dirk. From the Utah series in 2001 to this postseason... I love watching Dirk play basketball.

[Kirobaito]

Dirk has never had the chance to close out a team and failed to win the series. The Mavs only failed once (Game 7 of the '88 WCF).

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

Only once in the history of the Mavericks (never in the Dirk era) have they been presented with an opportunity to close out a playoff series and failed to win that series.

Game 7 of the '88 WCF being that game.

Although at least once it took them three tries (SA '06).

[Kirobaito]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

Although at least once it took them three tries (SA '06).

4 times in the '03 first round.

Point still stands, though.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Kirobaito

4 times in the '03 first round.

Point still stands, though.

Good call.

So basically the rule is....if the Mavs win three games, they win the fourth one (except in '88).

[Skywalker]

[mavs777]

Great game by Dirk in the close out, his shot really got going in the second after that lady woke him up

[EricaLubarsky]

Dirk passes Ewing and Robert Parish

Bill Russell - passed
Patrick Ewing - passed
Robert Parish - passed
22nd place-- 9 to Barkley
21st place-- 85 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 139 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 148 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 198 to James Worthy
17th place-- 264 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 292 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 358 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 783 to Wilt Chamberlain

[Dnowit41]

Dirk owns

[LetsGoMavs]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Dirk passes Ewing and Robert Parish

Bill Russell - passed
Patrick Ewing - passed
Robert Parish - passed
22nd place-- 9 to Barkley
21st place-- 85 to Sam Jones
20th place-- 139 to Clyde Drexler
19th place-- 148 to Reggie Miller
18th place-- 198 to James Worthy
17th place-- 264 to Julius Erving
16th place-- 292 to Dennis Johnson
15th place-- 358 to Kevin McHale
14th place-- 783 to Wilt Chamberlain

[CadBane]

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2...nals#storyjump

The Impact of Dirk Nowitzki part is incredibly telling. He just elevates everyone's game like no one else in the sport.

[Zaknaf3in]

Some board gems - Dirk getting respect everywhere today.

Re: WC 2nd RD: #3 Dallas Mavericks (1) vs. #2 Los Angeles Lakers (0)

And then:

Originally Posted by Cinco de Mayo

Fixed.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by CadBane

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2...nals#storyjump

The Impact of Dirk Nowitzki part is incredibly telling. He just elevates everyone's game like no one else in the sport.

Holy crap.



Just look at that graph.

I'd be curious to know what a similar graph for other superstars looks like.

[sefant77]

So....how should his statue in front of the AAC look?

One leg fadeaway?

Tongue out and pulling his shirt down?

[Funkman]

Has to be the one legged fadeaway. McFarlane must have known something when he made this a few years back.

[j0Shi]

Originally Posted by jthig32

I'd be curious to know what a similar graph for other superstars looks like.

Pierce is close:
Pierce

Rest not so much:
Rose
Wade
LeBron
Kobe
Rondo
Stoudemire
Carmelo (DEN)
Carmelo (NYK)

Teammates must have played at least 48 minutes with the player to qualify.

[bernardos70]

Charles Barkley:

"Because Dirk...... he's as big as a center, he plays power forward, he shoots like a shooting guard, and he handles it like a point guard."

[OSUmavsfan]

From Bill Simmons' column today (he uses quotes from "The Wire" to characterize the playoffs so far):

48. "I see you favor a .45."
49. "Tonight I do. And I keeps one in the chamber in case you ponderin'."

To Dirk Nowitzki, who reinvented himself over the years as a fiery competitor with the single most unstoppable move in basketball: his foul line post-up game that always seems to result in (A) him whirling around his defender and getting a layup, (B) him spinning around, sticking his elbows right in the defender's mug and launching a jumper that starts over Dirk's head, or (C), him fading away with an awkward-looking fade-away that has to rank alongside Hakeem's Dream Shake and McHale's mega-fallaway in the Shots That Seem Technically Impossible But Go In Anyway pantheon. Do you have any idea how that shot goes in? Me neither. I also have no idea how to stop that post-up game. Double him and he kicks to an open shooter. Single him and he scores. You can't win. Two more years at this level and Judge Simmons will begrudgingly have to start taking "Would you rather have nine transcendent years from Bird or 13 killer Nowitzki years plus the five after that when he reinvents himself as the greatest version of mid-1990s Sam Perkins ever?" arguments. Crap.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by OSUmavsfan

From Bill Simmons' column today (he uses quotes from "The Wire" to characterize the playoffs so far):

Um, I haven't even read this yet and I already know the entire article will be awesome.

[sefant77]

Simmons too

and J.J. Barea (a valuable backup for Dallas and someone who always seems to throw off opposing guards because they look at him and say, "Let's abandon our game plan, I absolutely HAVE to post that guy up!").

lol

[OSUmavsfan]

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/03/m...s=iref:nbahpt1

MVP results. Dirk finished 6th. I thought he'd be top 5 and he definitely should have been.

[CadBane]

Originally Posted by OSUmavsfan

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/03/m...s=iref:nbahpt1

MVP results. Dirk finished 6th. I thought he'd be top 5 and he definitely should have been.

Durant and Kobe over Dirk is a joke. Dirk had better overall years than both. Durant was close, but Dirk led the Mavs to a better record despite not playing with an all-star like Westbrook. Kobe's year wasn't near as good as either and has a superior cast.

[GOMAVS41]

Well DRose won't be winning the championship. Since Kevin Garnett won in 2004, if you win MVP you DON'T win the championship.

[41creepingdeath]

I thought Dirk was going to get the fourth place behind Rose, Howard and Lebron. He definitely got screwed over a bit. No that it matters. We all know that if Dirk had not been injured, we would've gotten the #1 seed in the NBA and Dirk would've gotten his second MVP. Now if you imagine the possibilities with a healthy Butler... I'm looking at you, Bulls' 72-10 record!

[CadBane]

Dirk's DRR% in the playoffs is 25.3% (well ahead of KG, ZBo, Tyson, Horford, Bosh, Pau, Amare, Noah, Nene, K-Mart, etc. etc.)

So much for his rebounding being an issue.

[Budapest Maverick]

Surprise, surprise, Dirk is one of the best post defender amongst PF's in the league. Here are the points per shot against some of the best PF's in the game. Those are points per play, not points per possession. Those numbers are derived by video studies, all plays are reviewed and the credit to the players is given out on video analysis. That's not some boxscore analysis here, so we're talking about guys who watch the games, play by play. That's eliminate any possible skewed number, those are pure impact numbers.


Defensive PPP numbers from mysynergysports.com

Name - PPP (NBA rank)

Dirk Nowitzki - 0.82 (70)
Zach Randolph - 0.85 (117)
Amar'e Stoudemire - 0.96 (364)
Chris Bosh - 0.83 (83)
Kevin Love - 0.89 (214)
Pau Gasol - 0.88 (188)
Blake Griffin - 0.88 (188)
Lamarcus Aldridge - 0.86 (139)
Kevin Garnett - 0.82 (70)
Carlos Boozer - 0.88 (188)

Amazing, Dirk is actually up there with KG. Look at Amare's, and Boozer's number, just shows you that stat is indeed legit.

Additional to that here are the ridge regressed defensive APM numbers (no idea what that means though) but higher numbers means better, above 0 is above league average:

Dirk Nowitzki +2.6 (9)
Zach Randolph +0.5 (132)
Amar'e Stoudemire -2.4 (447)
Chris Bosh +2.2 (16)
Kevin Love -0.5 (341)
Pau Gasol +1.6 (46)
Blake Griffin +0.1 (206)
Lamarcus Aldridge +2.0 (30)
Kevin Garnett +3.9 (1)
Carlos Boozer -0.7 (357)

Dirk is only behind Garnett on this list. Dirk's post defense is severely underrated. The reason why he's not an elite defender, are rotating, pick&roll defense, and help defense, not his post defense, but post defense is much more important, especially now, when he always in with Chandler, or Haywood. Those two guys are made not only the Mavs' defense better, but helped Dirk so he doesn't have to play nearly much help defense, or pick&roll defense, and can concentrate on his man D, which he is very good at.

[j0Shi]

APM = adjusted Plus/Minus