Dirk for MVP - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Arne · 02-26-2006, 10:16 AM

Nowitzki's repertoire is well-rounded for MVP
Link:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...rs-table_x.htm

By David DuPree, USA TODAY

Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks has quietly made himself the front-runner in the NBA's MVP race.

Improved defensive play and a balanced Mavericks squad has Dirk Nowitzki playing like an MVP candidate.
By David Zalubowski, AP

At 7-0 and with a deft outside shot, Nowitzki has long been one of the league's most difficult matchups. His game is more rounded this season, and as a result the Mavericks have been among the league's best teams from the outset. Going into Monday's games, only the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs had better records.

It all starts with Nowitzki, as he ranks ahead of everyone else in USA TODAY's MVP index.

USA TODAY subjectively picked 10 early season MVP candidates and ranked them in five statistical categories that encompass formulas to measure every facet of the game. The player who performs best in a category gets one point down to 10 for the worst score. The player with the lowest total points in all five categories is the theoretical MVP leader.

Nowitzki, the Western Conference player of the month for December, is the only player in the top five in all five categories.

"He's improving his versatility," Dallas coach Avery Johnson says. "He's moving around the court more. He's still popping the three, but he's also at the free throw line posting up, in the mid-post and the low post."

Every opponent has to set its defense to try to contain Nowitzki, which opens up all sorts of possibilities for his teammates.

Nowitzki also isn't the defensive liability he used to be. He'd much rather talk about defense than offense, anyway.

"Defense is something you've got to try to work on every night," he says. "We just can't say we're a good defensive team and relax. You've got to go out and prove it every night."

He adds that his success this season is made possible by having a more balanced team around him so he doesn't have to try to do everything: "We have 10, 11 guys who can go out there and make things happen for us."

Nowitzki was fifth in the index after the first month of the season, when Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand and Marcus Camby occupied the first four spots.

Duncan has been hampered by plantar fasciitis in his right foot and has fallen to fifth. As efficient as Garnett has been, Minnesota has lost 10 of its last 13 to drop a game below .500. Brand still occupies the third spot, but Camby has missed nine games because of injury, the last six after finger surgery, and is not on the current list. Cleveland's LeBron James jumped from seventh to fourth.

New to the latest index are Detroit's Chauncey Billups and Memphis' Pau Gasol.

Billups is averaging career bests of 19.8 points and 8.4 assists. He is shooting 44.4% from three-point range (eighth in the league) and 92% on free throws (fifth in the league), making him the only player in the top 10 in both categories.

Contributing: Wire reports

Ranking the MVP Candidates
Player, team Win% Rank pts. PPS Hands TD Total
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 73.5 (3) 223 (4) 0.967 (5) -2.088 (2) 37.65 (5) 19
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 48.4 (10) 158 (1) 1.009 (2) -2.194 (4) 37.65 (4) 21
Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers 54.8 (7) 205 (2) 0.960 (6) -1.452 (1) 38.10 (6) 22
LeBron James, Cleveland 64.5 (6) 229 (6) 0.981 (4) -3.032 (7) 42.90 (3) 26
Tim Duncan, San Antonio 76.5 (2) 228 (5) 0.916 (7) -2.324 (5) 35.32 (8) 27
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 48.5 (9) 217 (3) 0.889 (9) -2.515 (6) 43.58 (2) 29
Chauncey Billups, Detroit 83.9 (1) 241 (9) 1.000 (3) -3.258 (8) 31.16 (10) 31
Pau Gasol, Memphis 65.6 (5) 239 (7) 0.877 (10) -2.094 (3) 33.59 (7) 32
Steve Nash, Phoenix 66.7 (4) 240 (8) 1.035 (1) -4.606 (10) 33.97 (9) 32
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 51.5 (8) 282 (10) 0.909 (8) -4.065 (9) 43.84 (1) 36
Category key: Win percentage — team winning percentage. Rank points — rankings among league leaders in seven categories (field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, assists, steals, blocked shots and points) added together. PPS — points per shot (field goal attempts plus free throw attempts divided by total points scored). Hands — average steals plus blocked shots minus average turnovers plus personal fouls. TD (team dominance) — average points, rebounds and assists divided by team averages in the same categories. Rank in parentheses.

orangedays · 02-26-2006, 11:12 AM

USAToday? Hear that guys? That's the sound of an entire nation hitching themselves to the Mavericks' wagon.

DevinHarriswillstart · 02-26-2006, 11:40 AM

Too bad SA doesn't have a better record than us though.

alby · 02-26-2006, 11:43 AM

anything that has pau gasol ahead of steve cash and the rapist in mvp talks, it goes into the trash

Arne · 02-26-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alby

anything that has pau gasol ahead of steve cash and the rapist in mvp talks, it goes into the trash

Still, they've got one position absolutely right...

dude1394 · 02-26-2006, 12:19 PM

This should have been in the gdt I guess, but I liked it here better. There is video and other stuff here. Kudo's to angryliama at lmf.

It's a nice re-caps of dirks MVP performance. Man there are some sullen raptors on that bench..Also never looked at this site, there is a month-by-month video re-cap of last second plays. Dirkster lives at the top of the list. Also some good videos of devin/jason.

http://www.nba.com/features/nestle/c...time_stat.html

Quote:

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki outdid himself on Saturday. The Mavs were down 24 to the Raptors late in the third quarter when the momentum began to swing. Dallas rallied back to tie the game with just over a minute left when Nowtizki hit a shot to put the Mavs up two. With less than a second left in regulation and the game tied, Nowitzki made a game-saving block of Mike James's shot to send the game into overtime. It was in OT when Nowitzki completely took over. Nowitzki hit a driving layup with 51 seconds remaining to put Dallas up three. Then he came the other way on defense to block James' shot again. With the game tied at 113 after a 3-pointer by the Raptors' Matt Bonner, Nowitzki answered by stepping back and drilling a fall-away jumper with one second left to give the Mavs a 115-113 home victory. The win marked the second biggest comeback in franchise history. Dirk finished the game with 32 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, two steals and 20 Nestlé Crunch points.

Drbio · 02-26-2006, 11:14 PM

Dirk-V-P.....chant it with me.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-26-2006, 11:15 PM

Dirk-V-P!

DubOverdose · 02-26-2006, 11:53 PM

MVP
MVP
MVP!
MVP!
MVP!!
MVP!!
MVP!!!
MVP!!!

jayC · 02-27-2006, 12:11 AM

DirkVP.

He has put together two great games. He almost looked like a good defender on Saturday. 8 blocks in the last two games. He should have his way with Webber. Hopefully, Howard comes back tommorow. Daniels will start tommorow if he doesn't.

alby · 02-27-2006, 12:11 AM

The AAC really do need to start the mvp chants, they didn't last year which was very disappointing...

spreedom · 02-27-2006, 12:36 AM

Hey, I love Dirk, and if it was up to me, he would win the MVP award (finally) but this year Steve Nash is repeating. I'd be very surprised if he didn't.

alby · 02-27-2006, 12:38 AM

He would no question repeat with a unanimous vote if Phoenix was leading the conference, but they own the 3rd best record.

Drbio · 02-27-2006, 12:40 AM

I cannot see how Nash wins it again unless they have some kind of miraculous last month. It ain't happening.

orangedays · 02-27-2006, 01:19 AM

In addition to getting very confident about the Mavs winning the championship this season, I am also getting Very confident about Dirk's chances to win the MVP (or Dirk-V-P as this thread dictates). I was reading the following in the Wall Street Journal (2/24, W2):

Quote:

The Spurs still have the third-best record in the NBA and allow the second-fewest points per game. But star point guard Manu Ginobili is hurting from an ankle injury last month and San Antonio has slipped from the top of the NBA's Western Conference. That mantle now belongs to the Dallas Mavericks, who have continued their media-darling 23-4 run going into last night, led by power forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Aside from his confusion over Ginobili's position - "media-darling"? I'll take it. We are starting to get some serious love from the national media and I'm very interested to see how this trend continues as the season winds down.

Murphy3 · 02-27-2006, 12:18 PM

Dirk-V-P sounds a little gay...

Drbio · 02-27-2006, 12:32 PM

so does murphy3 but who's counting.

Dirk-V-P!!!!!!

atrewsfan · 02-27-2006, 12:37 PM

If Dirk didn't win it, who would your 2nd choice be? I'd go for Brand. He's one of the most overlooked players in the league year after year due to playing for a poor team and all he does is perenially rank among the leaders in rebounds and blocked shots despite only being 6'8", and this year he has really pumped up his O. I can't believe CHI let him go for Tyson Chandler...

HexNBA · 02-27-2006, 01:00 PM

http://cbs11tv.com/sports - on the top right there's a lengthy video interview with Dirk.

endtroducing MASKED · 02-27-2006, 01:04 PM

if we have the best record in the L, the MVP is Dirk's. someone mark that down.

V2M · 02-27-2006, 01:59 PM

According to Bill Walton during a recent Dallas game, a player with over 25ppg on a team with over 75% win ratio (62+ wins) has won the MVP 13 out of 15 times. One of the two who missed out is Amare last year when his team-mate Nash won it. I forgot who the other guy
was.

Dallas at present has a 80% win ratio and Dirk's at 25.3ppg. Based on just empirical evidence, Dirk stands over 90% chance of winning the MVP if the voting were done today.

Dim499 · 02-27-2006, 02:24 PM

The other guy was Sam Jones 41 years ago when like in Amares case another guy from the same team won it (Bill Russell).

DubOverdose · 02-27-2006, 03:24 PM

So in other words, Dirk should have it wrapped up if the team stays on the same pace. If he doesn't win it, it'll be a travesty.

rabbitproof · 02-27-2006, 03:37 PM

Dirk for VP!!

I mean.... MVP! MVP!

jayC · 02-27-2006, 06:28 PM

Stu (Philly): Why isn't Dirk the clear cut MVP? hHis team has the second best record in the NBA and he has no other clear cut star on his team yet he's normally not listed higher than 5 on people's MVP ballots.

SportsNation John Hollinger: Dirk isn't top of mind for people right now, but he's going to get a lot of attention in the MVP voting, especially if Dallas gets the No. 1 seed in the West. Right now everyone is too wrapped up in the lovefests with Nash, Kobe and LeBron, but if the Mavs win 65 it's Dirk's trophy.

EastDallasCowboy · 02-27-2006, 11:35 PM

Dirk is a great player, and a solid player.

And tonight's game against the 76ers was a nice body of work, once again proving that he's MVP material.

But even as a Mavs fan, I want to keep seeing more before I'm going to send him the trophy in February.

wescx · 02-27-2006, 11:38 PM

If he has a 30/10 game agaisnt SA on national TV Thursday, I think he becomes the favorite nationally.

If the season ended right now he would probably finish second or third to Billups/Nash.

EastDallasCowboy · 02-27-2006, 11:48 PM

^^

Exactly.

The problem with Dirk, is that he's not a flashy guy. His numbers are above average and very solid, but they're never insanely good. He's not going to score you 80 points or have 20 assists. He's not going to get a line of shoes and he's not going to get Nike commercials.

He's a damn good player, a great player-but he's to many people the freakish white guy foreigner that has a great jump shot and is soft. He's done a lot this year to work against the "soft" tag, but he's still not flashy.

In a lot of ways, he's like Tim Duncan-without the rings. Tim Duncan is a great player, but no one really cared until the Spurs started reeling off championships. At the same time, on X episode of Sportscenter you're going to see a lot more Kobe, Iverson, T-Mac, etc. than you will Dirk, or Duncan before the rings (Stojakovic is another example of this).

Massive dunks, trash talk, thug life, and cult status are what drive the sports shows and highlight reels, and that often leaves Dirk on the outside looking in. Another strike I believe against Dirk is that he's a Euro, but that's for another thread.

History says Dirk should get the MVP at his current pace if the Mavs get 62+ wins and/or win the West, and I have no doubt he should with those qualifications. On the other hand, if you give him a ring and they do it again next year he becomes a shoe-in.

orangedays · 02-27-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastDallasCowboy

^^

Exactly.

The problem with Dirk, is that he's not a flashy guy. His numbers are above average and very solid, but they're never insanely good. He's not going to score you 80 points or have 20 assists. He's not going to get a line of shoes and he's not going to get Nike commercials.

He's a damn good player, a great player-but he's to many people the freakish white guy foreigner that has a great jump shot and is soft. He's done a lot this year to work against the "soft" tag, but he's still not flashy.

In a lot of ways, he's like Tim Duncan-without the rings. Tim Duncan is a great player, but no one really cared until the Spurs started reeling off championships. At the same time, on X episode of Sportscenter you're going to see a lot more Kobe, Iverson, T-Mac, etc. than you will Dirk, or Duncan before the rings (Stojakovic is another example of this).

Massive dunks, trash talk, thug life, and cult status are what drive the sports shows and highlight reels, and that often leaves Dirk on the outside looking in. Another strike I believe against Dirk is that he's a Euro, but that's for another thread.

History says Dirk should get the MVP at his current pace if the Mavs get 62+ wins and/or win the West, and I have no doubt he should with those qualifications. On the other hand, if you give him a ring and they do it again next year he becomes a shoe-in.

Not entirely true

Introducing the Air Max Astonish Dirk Nowtizki

From the website:

"Nike Air Max Astonish Dirk Nowitzki basketball high top shoe in white with navy and silver. The shoe of the German NBA star of the Dallas Mavericks with visible Nike Air Max heal cushioning – a cool acquisition, super design by Nike Basketball."

Linkage

I like your point about how Duncan didn't get all the media-love and MVP chatter until after he won a championship or two. After the 2nd one (or the first legit one, depending on who you talk to) Duncan's name has been tossed around every single year for MVP consideration. I'd never thought about that before. If this season turns out like we all believe it will, Dirk will hopefully receive the same kind of recognition, and rather than being a 2nd-tier "oh btw, this guy's not bad" sort of MVP candidate, his will be among the first names mentioned every year.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-28-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastDallasCowboy

^^

Exactly.

The problem with Dirk, is that he's not a flashy guy.

Chauncey Billups is flashy?

orangedays · 02-28-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Chauncey Billups is flashy?

Flashin' that bling...holla.

endrity · 02-28-2006, 01:03 AM

You guys should check this out
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4401763/

Dirk has never been rated that high in this website (they simply love LeBron there and have so for the last two years) but somwhere and somehow Dirk is starting to turn heads. If Mavs win on Thursday with a good game from him (it doesn't have to be neccesarily great against the Spurs, just winning is good enough) and they end up winning 63-65 games, sorry but as Hollinger sad it really is Dirk's trophy. I like the pistons to be honest, but Dirk is wayyyy more importatn than anyone in that team. While he has help at Dallas as every good team does, we have seen this week why Dirk is simpy the MAN and the one that makes everything go.

orangedays · 02-28-2006, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by endrity

You guys should check this out
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4401763/

Dirk has never been rated that high in this website (they simply love LeBron there and have so for the last two years) but somwhere and somehow Dirk is starting to turn heads. If Mavs win on Thursday with a good game from him (it doesn't have to be neccesarily great against the Spurs, just winning is good enough) and they end up winning 63-65 games, sorry but as Hollinger sad it really is Dirk's trophy. I like the pistons to be honest, but Dirk is wayyyy more importatn than anyone in that team. While he has help at Dallas as every good team does, we have seen this week why Dirk is simpy the MAN and the one that makes everything go.

I dunno, the fact that Kobe (26-26) or LeBron (31-21) are even on that list makes me discount it. But again, I'm very glad to see that Dirk is getting some national love.

EastDallasCowboy · 02-28-2006, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangedays

I like your point about how Duncan didn't get all the media-love and MVP chatter until after he won a championship or two. After the 2nd one (or the first legit one, depending on who you talk to) Duncan's name has been tossed around every single year for MVP consideration. I'd never thought about that before. If this season turns out like we all believe it will, Dirk will hopefully receive the same kind of recognition, and rather than being a 2nd-tier "oh btw, this guy's not bad" sort of MVP candidate, his will be among the first names mentioned every year.

I'd like to make a cross-sport comparison, and while it may not be fuly understood, I think it stands as well. Dirk right now is Troy Aikman without the rings. Solid numbers, a local hero-but not a bonafide stud in the national spotlight. Troy is a HOFer because of the people that were around him and the 3 rings, and then comes the solid numbers.

Dirk is the same way with the MVP. Solid to great player, but not flashy. Great supporting cast hurts his chances as well. Aikman could have been Marino (and never won a SB) on a bad team, just as Dirk-I believe-could be AI or Kobe if he's been playing in Golden State all this time.

Dirk can put up great numbers, and there's no doubt to his ability. But he's not going to get the "flash" votes AI will, he's not going to get the pigheaded coastal media votes Kobe will get, and he's going to get a whole lot of "what has he really done?" questions.

That's what dogs dirk. Along with the fact that, once again, he's a white Euro without the national spotlight (thanks for the shoe link, i had no idea). Mind you I'd rather have Dirk than an over-hyped selfish LeBron James anyday. I have the utmost respect for Dirk, and I love my Mavs. But that's what dogs him.

Give him a trophy, and a lot of it disappears. Dirk becomes a perennial national candidate for MVP once he gets a ring, until then he's going to be lost in the shuffle of the once-greats, the over-hyped, and the over-exposed.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-28-2006, 01:21 AM

Nice post, but I'd hardly consider LeBron overhyped or selfish.

EastDallasCowboy · 02-28-2006, 01:23 AM

what's he won?

it's really that simple, especially in basketball.

you can argue selfish, but over-hyped I won't budge on from a guy that *might* *finally* lead his team to a bad seed and quick exit from the playoffs. In exchange, he gets shoe endorsements, national endorsements, and a 3m circle jerk every night on Sportscenter.

orangedays · 02-28-2006, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastDallasCowboy

what's he won?

it's really that simple, especially in basketball.

you can argue selfish, but over-hyped I won't budge on from a guy that *might* *finally* lead his team to a bad seed and quick exit from the playoffs. In exchange, he gets shoe endorsements, national endorsements, and a 3m circle jerk every night on Sportscenter.

Haha, not sure these count but...

2005-2006 All-Star Game MVP
2004 ESPY Award for Best Breakthrough
2004 - Bronze Medal (USA Olympic Team)
2003-2004 NBA Rookie of the Year
2003 National High School Player of the Year
Mr. Basketball for the state of Ohio for three seasons in HS
MVP - McDonald's High School All-American Game, EA Sports Roundball Classic, Jordan Capital Classic
2002-2003 - National High School Championship

Aw man...I should be doing work right now...

...damn procrastination.

EastDallasCowboy · 02-28-2006, 01:50 AM

i don't see a title in there.

and really, that's all that matters.

Thespiralgoeson · 02-28-2006, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastDallasCowboy

i don't see a title in there.

and really, that's all that matters.

Are you kidding? He's only in his third year and he came to a team that was among the worst in the NBA before he got there. He's what, 20?

Overhyped? I don't like that people call him "King James" but other than that, he has more than lived up to his hype. Selfish? Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Ok, he hasn't won a title... But how many players do win a title by their third season, if at all? Magic, Bird... It's a very very very short list indeed. Jordan was in the league 7 years before he won a title. Give the kid a break.

orangedays · 02-28-2006, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Are you kidding? He's only in his third year and he came to a team that was among the worst in the NBA before he got there. He's what, 20?

Overhyped? I don't like that people call him "King James" but other than that, he has more than lived up to his hype. Selfish? Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Ok, he hasn't won a title... But how many players do win a title by their third season, if at all? Magic, Bird... It's a very very very short list indeed. Jordan was in the league 7 years before he won a title. Give the kid a break.

21

Dammit! ...gotta stop procrastinating