04/19/24
June 02, 2006
Nowitzness.: Dirk drops Fünfzig on the Suns to put the Mavs up 3-2.
posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 12:23 AM - 7 comments
Nowitzki has finally learned how to be a big-game player. What a joy it was to watch him light up the Suns for 50. Dallas has all the tools to take down either the Heat or the Pistons, with Dirk's emergence the chief reason. That, along with the stellar play of Josh Howard, who is really breaking out in this series, makes the Mavs my favorite to win it all. That is, if the Pistons don't suddenly wake up and remember they're the best team in the league. Detroit's yawn-yawn approach to all of this is pathetic. Sure, they came up big in Game 5 but where has that passion been during the entire playoff run. They only seem interested when they have to be, which is a dangerous style to play when it gets down to the final four teams. At some point the Pistons will go to turn it on and it won't be there. Will that be in Game 6 tonight? Or will it be in the finals? Who knows, but that is exactly the problem. Turning it on and off is a risky proposition. So if Detroit can't magically become a bring-it-every-night team again, then it's Dallas over Miami in six for the championship. Even if the Pistons make it to the finals I still like the Mavs because of Detroit's skittish play.
posted by donnnnychris at 05:39 AM on June 02, 2006
I really don't want the Pistons to go any further. They've been the epitome of arrogant this entire post-season and I think they deserve to have their lunch handed to them. They took the Cavs lightly - and in a fit of total moronity - took the damn Heat lightly too. Billups and Rasheed have been terrible. I really want the Suns to go through, but Dirk had a bit of a superstar coming out show last night. What a player. So much better than he was even a year ago. It's like he has a completely new game. In one year he's become one of the more dominant low-post guys in the league. Unreal.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:02 AM on June 02, 2006
I agree, Weedy. Whoever comes out of the West is who I'm pulling for in the finals.
posted by chicobangs at 08:13 AM on June 02, 2006
Showtime v. Blue collar .. that is the West v. East no matter what teams make it to the Finals. So its going to be a 80s flashback to Lakers and Celts. Though no one in the West has an answer for a healthy Shaq.. Wade can take care of any stars from the other being Dirk or Nash.. its going to be exciting.. and almost guaranSHEED a 6-7 game series.
posted by warstda at 09:50 AM on June 02, 2006
I wish people hadn't needed to see this game to realize how great Dirk is because he's been this way all year. I still strongly believe that Dirk should have won the MVP this year over Nash. But Dirk just seemed to be the forgotten MVP candidate because he fit the expected MVP-mold even less than Nash did and does. Especially if people hadn't watched any Mavs games this year, I think they tended to assume that since Dirk has always been known as a 7-foot 3-point jump shooter with little to no D that no matter what his individual stats or team wins, Dirk wasn't an MVP-type player. But if you did watch the actual games, then you saw that on the offensive end, Dirk can create his own shot now, from the elbow, from the low post, from drives, and of course from the 3. His passing out of double teams is now precise, and his D is better than average now. Last night just showed all of his improvements in spades, but he'd been doing that all season. Hopefully, after winning the championship this year, next year Dirk will get his.
posted by platocave at 11:21 AM on June 02, 2006
So its going to be a 80s flashback to Lakers and Celts. yeah, with Riley coaching the Celtics.
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 12:48 PM on June 02, 2006
Dirk was great. Regardless of which teams emerge to the finals, we're going to see a major clash of styles. Will Miami/Detroit be able to slow down the scoring of the west teams? Or will the East teams be able to win playing the west style of play? I'm thinking Dallas might be taking all the marbles.