Should Dirk Nowitzki's move be illegal?

[creepingdeath]

Dirk really doesn't get that many calls actually. The level of physicality that defenders are allowed to play on him is something very few superstars face.

And its not just when he has the ball. Defenders bump, grab, and hold the hell out of him because once he catches it...its trouble.

Kobe and Wade get the most BS calls in the league in my opinion.

Kobe? Not so much anymore, imho. He still gets the superstar treatment, but not in an unusual or extreme way. But KD is up there.

[BarberSchool]

We have some serious haters on this board. That is one of the more impossibly complex, difficult, awkward game winning shots I've seen in years.

[BarberSchool]

It's actually a brilliant fade away.
He steps back and puts his knee up on his shot ensuring that his defender can't get to him.

He didn't use the knee to create the space, just used it to stop the defense from getting close enough to disrupt his shot.

Exactly.
It's only an offensive foul if the force is used to move the defender backwards, not maintain one's own space. And to be perfectly fair, Nowitzki isn't even maintaining his established space, he is falling backwards out of his own created space, using the knee for momentum upwards as well as to seal his own falling personal space.

Shaq used to use his tricep and elbow to actively dislodge stationary defenders, and move defenders backwards. Jabbar used to use his off arm to seal defenders away from his towering sky hook. Every great fadeaway shooter used their legs to keep some space while in the air. Jordan, Kobe, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen all used their legs extensively. In the 2006 NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade put his leg out to get numerous phantom calls on jumpshots, including one where Josh Howard literally made zero contact on a bank shot from wade on the opposite side of the floor to Dirk's Game Winner, and it resulted in an AND-1.

Point being, anyone who criticizes Nowitzki for his patented unstoppable move, yet gives full credit to Shaq, Jabbar, Jordan, Kobe, Wade or anyone else doing the same thing in an equal or even more agressive manner is an utter hypocrite.

[TMacsOneGoodEye]

If a player guarding Dirk while he nails that move gets injured and has to sit out the next game for a DNP - self-esteem, then yeah, make it illegal.

Until then, though...

[OldSchoolBBall]

Jabbar used to use his off arm to seal defenders away from his towering sky hook.

Very true. You can see this in a number of highlights, and without giving it too much thought, I'm not sure how it's any different than what Dirk did.

[iamgine]

Exactly.
It's only an offensive foul if the force is used to move the defender backwards, not maintain one's own space. And to be perfectly fair, Nowitzki isn't even maintaining his established space, he is falling backwards out of his own created space, using the knee for momentum upwards as well as to seal his own falling personal space.

Shaq used to use his tricep and elbow to actively dislodge stationary defenders, and move defenders backwards. Jabbar used to use his off arm to seal defenders away from his towering sky hook. Every great fadeaway shooter used their legs to keep some space while in the air. Jordan, Kobe, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen all used their legs extensively. In the 2006 NBA Finals, Dwyane Wade put his leg out to get numerous phantom calls on jumpshots, including one where Josh Howard literally made zero contact on a bank shot from wade on the opposite side of the floor to Dirk's Game Winner, and it resulted in an AND-1.

Point being, anyone who criticizes Nowitzki for his patented unstoppable move, yet gives full credit to Shaq, Jabbar, Jordan, Kobe, Wade or anyone else doing the same thing in an equal or even more agressive manner is an utter hypocrite.

Off arm isn't equal to elbow or knee.

When setting a screen or taking a charge, you can use your arm to block the incoming opponent, but not your elbow or knee. Same principle.