Finding another dirk nowitzki - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

bloodyhell · 12-05-2004, 06:44 AM

Is he out there? Another player that has the potential to do all the things dirk can. There may be young players in europe who have the potential to be like him but one has to wonder, how did dirk become so good? His first year wasn't that great so it must have been a combination of his natural ability, and training regime. Did he have the potential to become great because of his german training coach? It seems like dirk is a training machine. He trains and makes himself better. Look how much his defense has improved. He's had far more blocked shots this year. He's started to go to the basket like crazy. Something we thought might take longer since he was relying on the threes the last couple of years. Dirk just keeps getting better and better. What is his secret? How do we find more players like him with the same potential? How did the mavs find him?

#41 · 12-05-2004, 09:15 AM

There's no NEXT Jordan/Bird/Magic or if you want Next Nowitzki... Every player is different. There are some European players at 7 feet who shoot the ball well from outside, but they just can't move like Dirk.

Waschdel · 12-05-2004, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: bloodyhell
Is he out there? Another player that has the potential to do all the things dirk can. There may be young players in europe who have the potential to be like him but one has to wonder, how did dirk become so good? His first year wasn't that great so it must have been a combination of his natural ability, and training regime. Did he have the potential to become great because of his german training coach? It seems like dirk is a training machine. He trains and makes himself better. Look how much his defense has improved. He's had far more blocked shots this year. He's started to go to the basket like crazy. Something we thought might take longer since he was relying on the threes the last couple of years. Dirk just keeps getting better and better. What is his secret? How do we find more players like him with the same potential? How did the mavs find him?

I don´t think, that there are many other players with comparable skills in Europe, the US or others places on the scouts radar. He has a rare combination of talents such as shooting touch, athletics, court-vision, speed, ball-handling and so on.
But his skills are just one component of his success. The cooperation with Holger Gschwindner is another big factor. They are working together for about ten years now. Holger taught Dirk from the very start that it is not enough to work hard. I think there are many "training machines" in the NBA - just think of Carl Malone. But Dirk is probably one the few that are willing to work on their weaknesses. Two or three years ago he could have said that he is an all-star and all he needs to do during offseason is to stay in shape. But they are still working on the seven levels Holger has formulated. This year they were working on his defense and that helped to reach the sixth level. Another component of his recent improvement is the fact that he has managed to play a more conservative ball without loosing his unique strenghts. He has found the right mixture now that the loss of Steve has forced him to attack the rim and create his own shot much more than he had to before.

LRB · 12-05-2004, 03:49 PM

Dirk is a unique player, and there never will be another like him. Will there be another player that's 7' or taller and who has guard skills comprable to Dirk? Possibly, but that still won't make them another Dirk, just as Vince Carter being a 6'6" guard from North Carolina that can jump out of the house doesn't make him the next Jordan.

rakesh.s · 12-05-2004, 04:11 PM

I don't think there'll be another player like him

There'll be a lot of wannabes who will be referred to as "a poor man's Dirk Nowitzki"

jibikao · 12-05-2004, 05:32 PM

It's a GOOD thing that we can't find another Dirk-alike player. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

It's an honor. Even Steve Kerr can't think of anyone like Dirk. Dirk is quick for a 7'1 guy and his shooting ability is awesome. His defense has been improving and I am sure with the absence of Nash, Dirk will be on the sameboat with KG, Duncan, Kobe and Shaq. Or he already is? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Dirk has another 30 pt game on 10/19 shooting. That's darn good!

Jimmy

bloodyhell · 12-05-2004, 08:31 PM

Future great players. Here's two young guys that are said to be very promising. They don't have dirk's height. One is around 6'10 and the other is about 6'5

http://opel-skyliners.sport1.de/core...2004_2F05.html

http://opel-skyliners.sport1.de/core...2004_2F05.html

An older player that I think has a lot of potential

http://www.euroleague.net/plantillas/jugador.jsp?id=BPB This one looks like a vampire from blade.
http://www.euroleague.net/noticia.js...nada=2&id=1211

twelli · 12-06-2004, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Waschdel
But they are still working on the seven levels Holger has formulated. This year they were working on his defense and that helped to reach the sixth level.

There is still a seventh level to come? AWESOME!

I wonder how much money Geschwindner gets from Dirk. It should be a lot, a very lot...

Waschdel · 12-06-2004, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: twelli

Quote:

Originally posted by: Waschdel
But they are still working on the seven levels Holger has formulated. This year they were working on his defense and that helped to reach the sixth level.

There is still a seventh level to come? AWESOME!

I wonder how much money Geschwindner gets from Dirk. It should be a lot, a very lot...

Dirk probably pays Holger well. But they have started to work when Dirk was 16 and no one (besides Holger) could foresee that Dirk will play in the NBA as an all-star. Hodge (Holgers nickname) is Dirk´s mentor and friend and they seem to have a special chemistry that fuels their cooperation much more than money.
As much as I know the seventh level includes the ability to play at all positions from guard to center.
To reach the seventh level Dirk needs to improve his passing and his court-vision. Wouldn´t be too bad now that the offense runs through Dirk that much ...

Murphy3 · 12-06-2004, 07:54 AM

I suppose the hook shot fits in the 7th level. Low post shots such as this will be what keeps Dirk at a high level even when he loses some of his ability to drive around other players. If he can develop a good hook shot, he will be unstoppable for awhile while he still has his driving ability, but he'll have the opportunity to be a 25+ ppg scorer for another 10 years with the addition of such shot.

SeriousSummer · 12-06-2004, 08:57 AM

It's my understanding that the Seventh Level includes both the powers of levitation and invisibility. They Dirk really will be able to dunk out of nowhere.

Waschdel · 12-06-2004, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by: SeriousSummer
It's my understanding that the Seventh Level includes both the powers of levitation and invisibility. They Dirk really will be able to dunk out of nowhere.

That´s level 7b - called Dirk the ghost. It requires a trade that brings van Helsing to Dallas because he´s the only guard who averages more than 3 assists playing with invisible power forwards.