Romo should follow Nowitzki's lead (great article)

[fan62]

I really don't care if Dirk had Michael Jordon numbers, he will never win a ring with him as the leader on the floor. If someone else comes in and takes over the team as the leader, than it might happen.
Don't give me Dirk's numbers and call him a success! I don't consider Marino a success either. If I was picking HOF players neither one would be there. Danny White had great numbers.
I do consider Marino and White successful in live and great contributors to their communities, but neither should be in the HOF. We will have to see where Dirk goes.

 

[Plumfool]

the refs were bad but the mavs had a 2-0 lead and after the heat erased a 15 point lead in game 3 here was the end of game 3
[youtube]Y7cG9NrfhM0[/youtube]

than the just like Dirk did in the video above, him and his teammates choked in the next 3 games too and lost the series 4-2.

And some Spurs fans will tell you that the refs gave the Mavs that series so that arguement is not a good one.

 

[casmith07]

And averages like 6 ppg

actually more like 13.3ppg and his team is in a pivotal Game 7 to decide who goes to the Eastern Conference Finals...

...but carry on with your Dirk man-crush


and to those saying I don't watch basketball. please. any time. any court. anywhere.

 

[Clove]

I really don't care if Dirk had Michael Jordon numbers, he will never win a ring with him as the leader on the floor. If someone else comes in and takes over the team as the leader, than it might happen.
Don't give me Dirk's numbers and call him a success! I don't consider Marino a success either. If I was picking HOF players neither one would be there. Danny White had great numbers.
I do consider Marino and White successful in live and great contributors to their communities, but neither should be in the HOF. We will have to see where Dirk goes.

Blah blah blah. Kobe couldn't win anything without a dominant big man in the middle, to this day he's not won a championship without him.

Give Dirk a dominant big man like Kobe was afforded, then we can have a civil conversation. Until then, you're hating on a fabulous player.

 

[Nav22]

Yes, Dirk is 4-0 in game 7s.

Because Miami and Golden State didn't let him reach a game 7. Dirk choked those series' away in 6.

Carry on.

 

[Rampage]

Blah blah blah. Kobe couldn't win anything without a dominant big man in the middle, to this day he's not won a championship without him.

Give Dirk a dominant big man like Kobe was afforded, then we can have a civil conversation. Until then, you're hating on a fabulous player.

Dirk could be a dominate big man if he could play in the post and wasn't so soft.

 

[ZB9]

I really don't care if Dirk had Michael Jordon numbers, he will never win a ring with him as the leader on the floor. If someone else comes in and takes over the team as the leader, than it might happen.
Don't give me Dirk's numbers and call him a success! I don't consider Marino a success either. If I was picking HOF players neither one would be there. Danny White had great numbers.
I do consider Marino and White successful in live and great contributors to their communities, but neither should be in the HOF. We will have to see where Dirk goes.

Nowitizki was a Bennett Salvatore whistle with 1.8 seconds left away from winning a championship...My point is that he has already shown that he can lead his team to a championship

you can also consider the fact that the Mavs are the only team besides the Lakers to defeat Tim Duncan in the playoffs. He also beat Karl Malone in the playoffs, and swept Kevin Garnett. When Dirk goes up against the best PFs in the game, he does very well obviously.

some of you are overanalyzing. Dallas has shown they can win at a high level with Dirk. They have shown they can compete for a title with Dirk if you surround him with good players. They just need to upgrade this team around him.

but mainly, again some of you sound clueless to those of us that have watched Dirk and the Mavs, and you need to WATCH.THE.GAMES.

 

[Nav22]

Give Dirk a dominant big man like Kobe was afforded, then we can have a civil conversation.

Add another entry to the long list of ridiculous excuses used by Dirk apologists.

Since when do 7 footers need a "dominant big man" next to them?

Shaq and Erick Dampier were a wash in the finals. Miami had no "dominant big man". The difference was that Dwyane Wade took over the series... and Dirk stood idly by twiddling his thumbs as it happened. C-H-O-K-E.

Same story the next season when Golden State slapped Dallas silly. Who was the Warriors' "dominant big man"?

Look, Dirk is a very good player. I like watching him play, and I don't dislike the guy. He's just not good enough to carry a team to a title. He's a big man who doesn't play like it, and isn't a guy you can depend on to contain his man when you need a key defensive stop.

If he wants a title, he needs to go somewhere where he can be a complementary piece instead of the alpha dog... because he would be a GREAT #2 on a championship-caliber team.

Imagine the matchup nightmare you'd be creating if you played Dirk at small forward on a team that already has plenty of size and post defense in the frontcourt, like an Orlando or a San Antonio. Dirk's weaknesses are exposed at PF or C.

 

[ZB9]

Add another entry to the long list of ridiculous excuses used by Dirk apologists.

Since when do 7 footers need a "dominant big man" next to them?

Shaq and Erick Dampier were a wash in the finals. Miami had no "dominant big man". The difference was that Dwyane Wade took over the series... and Dirk stood idly by twiddling his thumbs as it happened. C-H-O-K-E.

The difference in that series was the WWE, er I mean NBA's shady agenda towards Dwhistle and the Heat

I didnt want to get into this BS again, but some people have revisionist memories.

------------

2006 NBA finals
Game Five

Dwyane Wade scored 43 and shot as many free throws as all of the Mavericks combined . After a controversial play in which many thought Wade committed a backcourt violation, and an offensive foul, Wade hit the game-winning free throws with 1.9 seconds left, after an out of control Wade was bailed out with a whistle from Bennett Salvatore. He set an NBA Finals record for most made free-throws in a game.

dont see how it can get any worse than game 5 when talking about shady NBA games...even without the insane volume of one sided calls...the worst thing about that game was the phantom bail out whistle FTW with 1.8 seconds left in the game. Ive never seen a whistle in that situation in a regular season game, much less game 5 of the freaking NBA finals with the teams tied 2-2.

When Salvatore blew that whistle, he knew he was giving the win to the Heat. If he wouldnt have blown the whistle, the Heat would have gone back to Dallas for the final two games down 2-3...and Dwhistle would not be "clutch"

----------------

but im a Dallas fan....

let's hear from someone that isnt a Dallas homer, that watched the series. Actually, let's hear from an NBA player

Interviewer: Was it a little ridiculous how Dwyane Wade
got all the calls?

TMac: Yeah, yeah it really was. I'll tell you man, it
seems if you were watching that game, seemed like it was
rigged. Seriously. I know the NBA.... (cut off by
interviewer)

Interviewer: You just got fined (sarcastically)

TMac: I dont care. So what? But yeah it seemed like it
was rigged. With all the calls he was getting. Jesus. Did
you hear me? We are talking about the NBA Finals, I wish
I could say I was just kidding, and thats what it seemed
like.

Im serious alot of my friends watched the games, watched the
finals, and thats the way they say it to me. They are like,
from watching the game here, it seems like it is rigged.
--------------------

microcosms of the series

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anyway, it should have been obvious to anyone who watched that series that the officials had agendas

again, it would be chicken **** to hold the WWE crap in that series against Dirk. Im guessing you didnt even watch it.

Same story the next season when Golden State slapped Dallas silly. Who was the Warriors' "dominant big man"?

The reason the Mavs lost to the Warriors in '07 was a man named DON NELSON. Don Nelson is the man who drafted and developed Dirk Nowitzki. Don Nelson hand-picked and assembled virtually the entire Mavericks roster and coaching staff. It was all about the Mad Scientist coming to haunt a team he personally created, using all the tendencies and weaknesses he knows too well.

Dirk has played in a crapload of playoff games in his career. Nice job cherry picking an anomaly. It was a substandard series for Dirk, but those have been very rare in his playoff career...but he doesnt have the luxury of KG with the Celtics being able to play with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

Every playoff veteran in the league has had a bad playoff series.

Look, Dirk is a very good player. I like watching him play, and I don't dislike the guy. He's just not good enough to carry a team to a title. He's a big man who doesn't play like it, and isn't a guy you can depend on to contain his man when you need a key defensive stop.

again, he's already shown that he can carry Dallas to a title. Only Salvatore and his crew prevented that.

If he wants a title, he needs to go somewhere where he can be a complementary piece instead of the alpha dog... because he would be a GREAT #2 on a championship-caliber team.

It's quite interesting that Dirk is held to a different standard than most players

according to you, I guess most of the stars in the league are chokers.

Imagine the matchup nightmare you'd be creating if you played Dirk at small forward on a team that already has plenty of size and post defense in the frontcourt, like an Orlando or a San Antonio. Dirk's weaknesses are exposed at PF or C.

Dallas does need to bring in a threat at center. Nowitzki is NOT a center and he has never been able to play with a good center since he has been in the league.

 

[GOLDENCHILD1688]

If Tony picks a role model to follow, I hope he picks a winner.

Hmmm... let me think:

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v321/Schenk/TonyRomoDuncanesque1.jpg

exactly thats the man he should be emulating

 

[Clove]

Dirk could be a dominate big man if he could play in the post and wasn't so soft.

Teams can't stop what he can do, so why change it? The only way to stop it is to double team him. Again, give him a Garnett or some big stud down low, then get back at me. Until then, you should focus on your own softy, mr Romo.

 

[Clove]

Add another entry to the long list of ridiculous excuses used by Dirk apologists.

Since when do 7 footers need a "dominant big man" next to them?

Shaq and Erick Dampier were a wash in the finals. Miami had no "dominant big man". The difference was that Dwyane Wade took over the series... and Dirk stood idly by twiddling his thumbs as it happened. C-H-O-K-E.

Same story the next season when Golden State slapped Dallas silly. Who was the Warriors' "dominant big man"?

Look, Dirk is a very good player. I like watching him play, and I don't dislike the guy. He's just not good enough to carry a team to a title. He's a big man who doesn't play like it, and isn't a guy you can depend on to contain his man when you need a key defensive stop.

If he wants a title, he needs to go somewhere where he can be a complementary piece instead of the alpha dog... because he would be a GREAT #2 on a championship-caliber team.

Imagine the matchup nightmare you'd be creating if you played Dirk at small forward on a team that already has plenty of size and post defense in the frontcourt, like an Orlando or a San Antonio. Dirk's weaknesses are exposed at PF or C.

You're not very good at football or basketball, why you still post is comical.

A combination of Zo and Shaq in the finals were devastating. And he's a 7 footer who shoots better than some shooting guards. Why play under the basket when no one can stop you from mid range?

Be dominant at what you do, is the point. Only thing Kareem was good at was the hook shot, but since no one could stop it, why do anything else?

I'll say it one more time, give Nowitzki someone to play with who can demand double teams as well, then you will see 2 or 3 championships in a row.

 

[Rampage]

Teams can't stop what he can do, so why change it? The only way to stop it is to double team him. Again, give him a Garnett or some big stud down low, then get back at me. Until then, you should focus on your own softy, mr Romo.

Romo is "your softy" too. if he's not go root for the bills or whoever you like.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Romo is "your softy" too. if he's not go root for the bills or whoever you like.

well played

 

[BAT]

I have to ask... Have you been watching the series?? It's like the Miami/Atlanta series from the first round, with each team taking turns getting blown out of the building. Did you think that they played a great "TEAM ball" game when they got beat by 40 the other night?

You know what Pep, I think you are going on my ignore list. Take heart, you would be my first. I mean if you are going to compare either the Heat or Hawks with the Lakers you are seriously lacking something between the ears.


To dismiss what the Rockets have done, as short handed as they have been, is completely and utterly imbecilic. And don't make it sound like what I am saying is coming completely out of left field, the Rockets/Lakers game 6 was the most watched NBA game in ESPN history. Most experts predicted the Lakers would sweep the series, and that was BEFORE Houston lost Yao Ming.


You sound like a hater to me. I still say the Cowboys would do well to emulate the hard nosed play and team oriented play of the Rockets.

 

[Nav22]

You're not very good at football or basketball, why you still post is comical.

That's nice. A personal attack to start things off.

I can already tell what you're about to say will be very, very stupid.

A combination of Zo and Shaq in the finals were devastating.

Yep, I was right.

Zo and Shaq were anything but "dominant" in the Finals. Shaq was basically a non-factor... Erick Dampier did a phenomenal job defending him, and one could easily make the argument that he outplayed Shaq.

And he's a 7 footer who shoots better than some shooting guards. Why play under the basket when no one can stop you from mid range?

Versatility is ideal. Dirk's lack of ability in the low post keeps him from reaching the level of a Kobe, LeBron, or Wade. Two of those guys are have championship rings, and the 3rd (LeBron) will likely earn his in about a month.

When those guys have a midget guarding them on a switch, they back them down and beat them in the post-up game. Dirk doesn't have much of a post-up arsenal, which hurts his versatility and is one of the reasons he's not a truly upper echelon player. His defense is an even bigger reason than this one. He's in the class of "very very good... but not great."

Be dominant at what you do, is the point. Only thing Kareem was good at was the hook shot, but since no one could stop it, why do anything else?

Dirk isn't Kareem. His midrange game hasn't won championships... Kareem's skyhook helped him win 6, with 2 of them before his 30th birthday. Dirk turns 31 next month.

Therefore, if you want Dirk to become a championship-level alpha dog, then he needs to expand his arsenal and improve his game.

If you're okay with annual playoff appearances but 0 championships, then Dirk's your guy.

If you want a championship, find someone to take the alpha dog role and maybe keep Dirk around as the #2... or else Dirk will simply have to get better.

I'll say it one more time, give Nowitzki someone to play with who can demand double teams as well, then you will see 2 or 3 championships in a row.

Yeah, maybe. But for the time being, he has shown that he's not quite good enough to lead a team to a title as the #1 guy.

Look at all the NBA championship teams' #1 player over the last 20 years. With the possible exception of the 2003-04 Pistons (who had an outstanding defense), every one of those team's #1 player is better than Dirk.

That tells me that Dirk will not win a title as the alpha dog on a team.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Nowitizki was a Bennett Salvatore whistle with 1.8 seconds left away from winning a championship...My point is that he has already shown that he can lead his team to a championship

If I rememebr correctly, the only reason that the Mavs were in the finals was a phantom foul on Dirk, called against the Spurs that allowed the Mavs to advance.

 

[ZB9]

If I rememebr correctly, the only reason that the Mavs were in the finals was a phantom foul on Dirk, called against the Spurs that allowed the Mavs to advance.

phantom foul? No, you dont remember correctly (see picture below)

you cant compare the play

1. it was an and 1

2. It was for the tie

3. there were 35 seconds left in the game after that foul

4. It was actually a foul

5. the official was in position, and was not 35 feet behind the play like Bennett Salvatore was when he bailed out Dwhistle for the win with 1.8 seconds left

Duncan shot more FTs than Dirk in that series, and the Spurs shot more FTs than Dallas....dont let the facts get in your way though.

 

[ZB9]

When those guys have a midget guarding them on a switch, they back them down and beat them in the post-up game. Dirk doesn't have much of a post-up arsenal, which hurts his versatility and is one of the reasons he's not a truly upper echelon player. His defense is an even bigger reason than this one. He's in the class of "very very good... but not great."

WATCH.THE.GAMES.

because you obviously havent been...if you had watched, say game 4 of the Denver series, you wouldnt be making such a comment

Nowitzki's bread and butter is the midrange jumper...but he can, and will, score from anywhere on the court. He will often take it inside if the matchup dictates, or if his shot isnt wet. Dirk obviously has "more in his arsenal" than post moves, but he CERTAINLY has post moves in his arsenal. The fact that his total arsenal is so much larger than most other players is the main thing that makes him such a matchup nightmare.

If you think "he never scores on the block", or "he never backs people down", or that "he doesnt drive people to the hole", then you simply have not been watching enough to comment on the subject in the first place.

 

[mmurray21]

This article is a joke. It completely bypasses the fact that in game 3 Dirk completely stunk up the joint in the 4th quarter when the team needed him most.

The team needs Romo to play consistently well in big games. Since when has Dirk done that?