Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

I like Dirk. Except when he plays the Bobcats. He killed us again.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

The Dirkinator Struck Again last night.

[Sarah]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

That was the first year the Mavs ever had to go up against their mentor, Don Nelson. He was the architect who created the Mavs --- he drafted, signed, or traded for every single player on that Mavs roster. He handpicked the entire Mavs coaching staff. He brought in his own son to be the Mavs GM. He personally trained Dirk since he was a teenager from Germany, and personally groomed Avery Johnson to replace him as coach. The Mavs were clearly Don Nelson's team from top to bottom, inside and out. He knew the players and the schemes better than the Mavs knew themselves.

Don Nelson then used that knowledge to dismantle the very team he had created. He made the entire Mavericks team --- including NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson --- look like befuddled amateurs in that playoff series. It's utterly ridiculous for anyone to blame that fiasco on Dirk alone. Of course, if you're only getting your info from 30-second clips at Sports Center every night... then you would make that kind of weak assumption.







Interesting theory.

Gee.. you know what team had a "physical low post defender" to go along with a "Bruce Bowen type" defender? Well, the San Antonio Spurs, of course. Why, they even had Bruce Bowen himself! But they've been losing to the Mavs consistently since 2005, including a playoff series that came in the midst of that Spurs' 3-championship run. Kinda puts a damper on your theory, eh?

The Spurs had won the Championship in 2005 & 2007, so I'm pretty sure they qualify as a championship caliber team. Why didn't they win in 2006? Because they lost to Dirk Nowitzki's Mavs. That's a 7-game playoff road series at san antonio... where 6 of the 7 games either:

1. went into overtime, or
2. were decided by 2 pts or less.

That's the most gruelling 7-game series in NBA history, on the road, against a team that won the championship the year before (and the year after). Don't tell me that Dirk Nowitzki is incapable of beating championship-caliber defenses in the playoffs. That would be an argument that makes absolutely no sense.

Your theory about Don Nelson knowing Dirk inside and out can also go the other direction. DAL also is familiar of Nelson's coaching style knwoing that the team has been run by his system for a long time. DAL could have adjusted thier strategy because they would also be familiar with Nelson's system that can be used against GS. Dirk could have adjusted his game. I would have taken your reasoning if it was only GS. In MIA, Haslem and Posey rape him. AGainst PHX, Dirk is intimidated by Marion. Against SA Bowen pester him.

Duncan was running on one leg during the 2006 playoffs. Winning a series 1 time against a championship team does not equal consistency (more of like luck). Look back prior to 2006 and see what was going on when Duncan was fine. The following year when Duncan was fine, they won the finals. If DAL was that consistent against a championship caliber healthy SA, GS should have been a cake walk. But nooo, just like in MIA the year before, Dirk settles down on the outside because he is incapable of taking the defense players smaller than him gave. If it makes you feel better, Dirk looks great offensively against non playoff teams.

[hipster.doofus7]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

Duncan was running on one leg during the 2006 playoffs. Winning a series 1 time against a championship team does not equal consistency

LOL... 1 time? Now you've resorted to inventing fake stats.

The Spurs Dynasty have won 4 championships under Tim Duncan. In that era, they've played in a playoff series against the Mavs FOUR times. Each team has eliminated the other team twice. In those 23 playoff games, Tim Duncan won 12 times. Dirk Nowitzki won 11 times. That's about as even as you can possibly get. FYI: Dirk hasn't lost a playoff series to the Spurs since the 2002-3 season.

I'd like to see you twist those facts around to prove your ridiculous assertion that Dirk is incapable of beating "championship level" teams. Let me guess... next you're gonna claim the Spurs Dynasty don't even qualify as a "championship level" competition?

AGainst PHX, Dirk is intimidated by Marion. Against SA Bowen pester him.

Are you talking about the same Shawn Marion and Bruce Bowen whose teams have been eliminated by Dirk Nowitzki THREE TIMES in the past 4 postseasons? Wow, that must be some kind of weird intimidation tactic.

Dirk averaged nearly 35 ppg & 12 rpg in a playoff series against the toughest, dirtiest defense in the NBA last year (Denver). Are you gonna blame Dirk for getting "intimidated" in that series too? Gimme a break.

If it makes you feel better, Dirk looks great offensively against non playoff teams.

Sorry, but your "arguments" are a colossal joke. You really believe Dirk doesn't look good against playoff teams? Then explain how:

• Dirk has eliminated NINE teams from playoff contention.
• Dirk's career playoff stats (ppg, FG%, rpg) are all higher than his non-playoff stats.
• He has won all four Game#7 situations in his career. Never lost once.
• Dirk is one of only 5 players in NBA history to average 25+ ppg & 11+ rpg in playoffs. (FYI: Tim Duncan is not on that list. Neither is Kevin Garnett, nor Larry Bird for that matter.)

I find it ridiculous that some people still keep dissing on Dirk, even though it's painfully obvious they've never bothered to actually watch the man play a game.

.

[hipster.doofus7]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

Additional Clutch stats (according to sports guy Chuck Cooperstein's research):

In the past 4 years, Dirk has made EIGHT game winning shots with under 2.0 seconds remaining in the game. That is waaaaaaaaaay more than any other player in the league.

Next guy on the list is Dwyane Wade with five. Nobody else has more than four, including LeBron, Kobe, and Carmelo. Did I mention Dirk has EIGHT?

That's the kind of uber-clutch stat people don't know about Dirk. And yet... some people still question the man's grit.

[VDusen04]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

Hipster has presented his case quite well throughout this thread.

I have no issues with Dirk's game. I like him for who he is and I think he'll go down as one of the all-time greats.

However, I prefer this 76ers buzzer beater video to the one that was originally posted.
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[Stumbleweed]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

Dirk's one of my favorite players... I love how he gets all scruffy and weird-looking after every off-season haha.

I think he's so clutch because he has SO MANY different shots in his arsenal and his normal jumper (especially the fade) is nearly unblockable due to the release angle/height. You give the ball to him at the end of a game and he can and will get the shot off against anyone and it will likely be quality (by his ridiculous standards, being able to shoot from anywhere, at weird angles, etc.)... can't ask for much more than that from your superstar. Plus he's a weirdo, which always gives points in my book. German saxophone basketball robot hippie.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

Dirkinator vs. Durant tonight? Awwwwwww man.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Now Presenting: Mr.Clutch Himself

Dirkinator vs. Durant tonight? Awwwwwww man.

"DN41" was ballin' tonight.