Being a choker is a problem... don't act like its not for Dirk Nowitzki

[JtotheIzzo]

remember when Dirk hit the shot and got the block the game that the Mavs finally got past the Spurs the year they went to the finals?

Why do people always forget how clutch Dirk was then?

[dirkdiggler41]

Becaus they did not watch that game. "Ohh, Spurs is so boring to watch. They dont dunk and block shots out of bounds"

[Artillery]

remember when Dirk hit the shot and got the block the game that the Mavs finally got past the Spurs the year they went to the finals?

Why do people always forget how clutch Dirk was then?

Dirk choked bigtime in his last two playoff series. Terry carried the team against the Heat and JHo was the only one that showed up vs the Warriors. Dirk almost shed away his choker image last year after winning 67 games while having an MVP season but he threw all that down the toilet by playing HORRIBLE against the Warriors.

He's supposed to be the franchise player of his team but his second banana outplayed him! Compare their statlines against GS:

Dirk:19.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.3 bpg, 2.33 TOs on 38.3% shooting(21.1% from the 3).

JHo: 21.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.2 spg, 0.8 bpg, 2.00 TOs on 51.5% shooting(38.9% from the 3).

You can't blame anyone for calling him a choker when Dirk puts up those pathetic numbers against an 8th seeded team(especially after a 67 win season and being voted MVP).

Fab will keep spouting the same tired excuses about the double teams but the fact is that Dirk couldn't validate his MVP award in the post-season. What kind of leader/MVP gets bumped from the first round while shooting an embarassing 38.9% against the lowest seed in his conference?

[dirkdiggler41]

Did you watch that serie? If then, you would might notice how Avery got outcoached by Dirk's maker Don Nelson. Did you see how GSW played the last 20games? Did you notice how good Dirk is when he choked big time and Josh Howard had his best playoff series, they both had the same stats (else from fg and some points)
GSW always knows what to do against Dirk. Don Nelson made Dirk. He was there for him from day one. Dirk did not want to play in the NBA, but Don saw what he could be. Don knows exactly what to do and when to, to stop Dirk. In other words, he knows exactly what time you double him. How you force him to go away from his game. Dirk was extremly well defended, and Avery did not adjust.

If Kobe would ever play against a team coached by Phil Jackson, do you think it would be harder or more easy for Kobe to score? Nah, forget that. Lets say you take the current Lakers made by Phil Jackson, then you let Phil Jackson be the coach for the opposite team. A assistance will coach the Lakers. Who will win?

Nobody has yet to come with some other games else from rox, heat and gsw. The rest must have been all great games for Dirk then

ps. why cant we use the argument that Dirk was doubleteamed?

[Brunch@Five]

You know you're a great player if 20/11 is considered pathetic for you

Not saying he didn't play bad for his standards that series, but him choking was not the main reason Dallas lost. They lost because no one else stepped up, Avery was outcoached and no one was able to really benefit from Golden State's complete focus to shut down Dirk.

[Artillery]

You know you're a great player if 20/11 is considered pathetic for you

It's pathetic when you're shooting 38.3%(21.1% from the 3). Plus anyone could have grabbed 11 boards against a smallball team like GSW.

[Artillery]

ps. why cant we use the argument that Dirk was doubleteamed?

Every MVP-calibre has to deal with double teams. Just seems like a weak excuse to me.

[JtotheIzzo]

It's pathetic when you're shooting 38.3%(21.1% from the 3). Plus anyone could have grabbed 11 boards against a smallball team like GSW.

not true a team like GS shoots a ton of threes and quick shots, big men are likely to grab more rebounds against half court teams when they are more often in position and there aren't so many long rebounds.

[jo3y91]

not true a team like GS shoots a ton of threes and quick shots, big men are likely to grab more rebounds against half court teams when they are more often in position and there aren't so many long rebounds.

what? no they dont there usually first 2 get rebounds for a reason there the ones that are always back on D straight away(unless ur shaq)

[raiderfan19]

It's pathetic when you're shooting 38.3%(21.1% from the 3). Plus anyone could have grabbed 11 boards against a smallball team like GSW.

this would be alot more legitimate if he didnt average 11 rpg in his career in the playoffs.

[dirkdiggler41]

Every MVP-calibre has to deal with double teams. Just seems like a weak excuse to me.

Could you please answear my questions. That quote was ment for you

[Sharas]

basketball-reference.com is your friend, as jeff would say.

it shows that most of dirk's stats actually increase in playoffs compared to the regular season during the most of his career...while, say, kobe bryant's stats decrease.

and if you look at talent levels, lakers and kobe had a choke in 2004 finals which is comparable, if not even bigger, than mavs last year loss to warriors.

[Sneakerpro]

Kobe Bryant scored 8 points in a NBA Finals game that his team got blown out in.

He also scored 2 points in the second half of a Game 7.

He had the most dominant player of all time of his team.

Kobe's choker too.

[DatZNasty]

no comment. People from other boards are watching me.

But yea, if Dirk is a choker, which I would generally agree, there are also many more who don't get that label thrown on them nearly as much who are as bad or worse. In fact, when Dirk choked the finals in 06, where was Iverson? Garnett? Hell, the #1 players on 28 other teams in the league? Home watching on the couch wishing they could even make it there to be in position to choke. How bout Jermaine O'Neal, who proclaims "nobody can guard me 1 on 1," then proceeds to get locked up by Kenyon Martin for the rest of the series?

Dirk just crashes and burns more spectacularly, in hilarious fashion. Like in the all star game when the score in tied 125-125 late in the 4th, then all of a sudden Dirk turns the ball over, airballs, and gets dunked on. You can't write funnier stuff than that.

And getting embarassed by the likes of a Ryan Bowen or much smaller Stephen Jackson, straight emasculated, culminating with a 2- 15 or something elimination game, you almost feel bad for him.

[Blue&Orange]

basketball-reference.com is your friend, as jeff would say.

it shows that most of dirk's stats actually increase in playoffs compared to the regular season during the most of his career...while, say, kobe bryant's stats decrease.

and if you look at talent levels, lakers and kobe had a choke in 2004 finals which is comparable, if not even bigger, than mavs last year loss to warriors.

Kobe Bryant scored 8 points in a NBA Finals game that his team got blown out in.

He also scored 2 points in the second half of a Game 7.

He had the most dominant player of all time of his team.

Kobe's choker too.

wow this thread really backfired.