Official Dirk is Great Thread

[GermanDunk]

Unbelievable, that Dirk is #4 in points.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by GermanDunk

Unbelievable, that Dirk is #4 in points.

Not really.

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by dude1394

Not really.

I mean considering he´s no pointguard.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by GermanDunk

I mean considering he´s no pointguard.

swingman...point taken.

[BGMaverick9]

Dirk has proven himself as a premier playoff performer
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archi...emier-pla.html

There is a perception that Dirk can't get it done in the playoffs. You hear fans and talking heads say every season that the Mavs are too soft to do much playoff damage, starting with their 7-foot Euro superstar.

That's so silly that Mark Cuban can't even be bothered to shoot it down.

"That's like giving credence to people who still think that the earth is flat or that man didn't land on the moon," Cuban said, scoffing and rolling his eyes.

OK, since Cuban won't take the case, I will. Let's start with the stats.

Dirk has career averages of 22.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the regular season. His playoff averages: 25.3 points and 11.1 rebounds.

To put into perspective how impressive those playoffs stats are, he's one of only five 25/10 playoff performers in NBA history. The others: Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit and Shaquille O'Neal.

You certainly shouldn't hear anybody in San Antonio questioning Dirk's playoff chops. His 37-point, 15-rebound effort in Game 7 against the Spurs a few years ago, highlighted by an and-1 drive to force overtime, ranks as the most memorable playoff performance in Mavs history. (Right above his 50-point night in Game 5 against the Suns the next series.)

And Dirk proved his toughness against the Spurs when he was a peach-fuzzed lad in his first playoffs. The outmatched Mavs lost the series, but Dirk made sure they didn't go down in a sweep. The German kid, suffering from food poisoning, needed two IVs to play in Game 4 at Reunion Arena. Then he took an elbow from Terry Porter, knocking out his front tooth with a little less than five minutes remaining. After missing 33 seconds to stop the bleeding, Dirk snatched a rebound his first possession back on the floor and scored the final four points to seal the victory.

"What a gutsy guy," Don Nelson said after Dirk's 30-point, nine-rebound performance.

But Dirk is well aware that he'll be judged as a playoff performer based on winning and losing. And the Mavs haven't won much in the playoffs lately, losing 12 of their last 15 games dating to the parade-canceling Finals collapse against the Heat.

Dwyane Wade, not Dirk, dominated crunch time during that series. (Cuban not-so-subtly hints that there were other factors, which wore whistles around their necks, that helped Wade's cause.)

The Mavs followed that disappointment with a 67-win season, which only set up a devastating first-round exit. Dirk had the worst series of his career against Nellie's Warriors, giving his critics a ton of ammo.

Dirk doesn't complain that folks tend to point out his playoff failures much more often than they highlight his postseason heroics. He accepts that it's part of the deal for an NBA superstar who doesn't own a ring.

"Whoever doesn't win the championship is going to be known as a guy who can't get it done in the playoffs," Dirk said. "That's the only thing. Look at KG [Kevin Garnett]. For 10 or 11 years, he was known not to get it done, then he wins a championship. Now, he's the greatest, so it's just what it is.

"We've got to find a way over the next couple of years to bring a championship to Dallas."

You can count on Dirk to do his part.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by GermanDunk

Unbelievable, that Dirk is #4 in points.

Only to those who think his "shooting touch" has declined.