2010 NBA Playoffs

sonnyboy · Apr 30, 2010

I sad to say that the Mavericks will never win a championship with Dirk. I have sensed this for
years and will continue to do so. I am a Mavs fan but I am sick of all
this experimenting with putting people around Dirk thinking it will make
a difference. It will not. Dirk puts butts in the seats and that's it. I
would fire Donnie Nelson and get a real GM who knows how to evaluate
talent and rebuild this team through the draft or sell the team to a
owner not so visible who allow his GM to do the work. Mark Cuban is
heck of owner and basketball fan, but his loyalty to Dirk hurts his
chances to win a championship. Don Nelson(Sr.) traded Dirk, his son is
here to make sure Dirk stays put to make sure it did not look like
wasted pick. Seven-footers are supposed to dominate, but not at a power
forward position. If Dirk wasn't afraid to play center because of his
fear of contact, then the Mavericks could get a reliable third scorer at
power forward along with Butler. Almost no points consistently from
center hurts Dallas mainly in the playoffs. During the season it doesn't
matter, but a seven game series everything matters.Cuban does not
understand this for some reason. Hence, back home to Dallas for more
questions than answers.

sonnyboy · Apr 30, 2010

I don't like Kobe because of past issues, but you have to admit he knows
how to play B-ball.....

jaxvid · Apr 30, 2010

sonnyboy said:
I don't like Kobe because of past issues, but you have to admit he knows
how to play B-ball.....

If you've come on this site to just rip Dirk and pimp for Kobe get lost or you'll be banned.

guest301 · Apr 30, 2010

white lightning said:
I still put most of the blame on his teammates. To say Dirk isn't a gamer is a lie. The guy scored 25 of his 33 points in the 2nd half. The Spurs could not stop him. Dirk is tough! He is a legend with or without the ring. I like Ginobli, but he isn't half the player that Dirk is. Manu is just lucky to have great teammates around him.

The Mavs need to go get David Lee in the offseason and maybe one other free agent. Get Dirk some help. It is still not too late. The guy averaged 27 points per game in the first round. What else can he do?

I agree. Dirk had a hell of a second half and his numbers averaged throughout the series were superstar numbers. Both of the Jason's were horrible in the playoffs and Kidd got real old all of the sudden and I don't know what happened to Terry. So next year give Dirk something he has never had and sign a low post guy like a David Lee who can score inside and start to phase out Kidd. I also wouldn't mind seeing Marion go away because his game is useless in the halfcourt. Butler is fine and a good #2 guy.
Sonnyboy...just go away, sick of you after just three posts.
Go Suns and Nash.

Fightingtowin · Apr 30, 2010

If Dirk ever had a Kobe, Shaq, Wade, Gasol to play next to he'd have a championship. Instead he's had Josh Howard, Jason Terry and a 37 year old Jason Kidd.

What's he supposed to do?

Look how bad Kevin Garnett did until he was traded to Boston. Mello has only gotten to the WCFs and will probably be eliminated in the first round this year. Wade only won with Shaq....an many people--not just on this site--believe he was given a ridiculous amount of favorable calls that entire playoffs. The Lakers sucked before they were gifted Gasol.

Dirk might choke once in a while, but I've also seen him be incredibly clutch. If you want to find somebody who chokes, look to Karl Malone, Scotty Pippen and Rasheed Wallace. Those guys always folded in the big moment. Dirk simply has a mixed record, but it's tough when you're the only real option.

icsept · Apr 30, 2010

sonnyboy said:
Please stop saying the Mavs got robbed in 2006 already. Stop blaming the refs. 3 MELTDOWNS in 4 years?? You gotta start pointing elsewhere. Dirk just ain't a finisher. He does NOT have that killer instinct you see in MJ, KOBE or WADE. I don't care if he scores 50 in a game. What matters is the finish. He's SOFT. He's better off in TORONTO with all the other SOFT Euros. He doesn't have that 'strong-to-the-basket-move' that carries a team down the stretch. Mavs robbed their fans in 2006, that's a better way of saying it. Dirk is getting OLD and needs to accept the fact that maybe it's time to play ROBIN to a better Batman now. Sorry, Dirk. You had your chances.

Nobody on this site is comparing Dirk to Kobe and MJ, two of the top 5 all-time players. Dirk is a hall-of-famer, for sure. He is the best player on a team that has won 50+ games 10 straight years. A consistent winner and a prolific scorer over 20,000 points. For the last ten years, the Western conference has been stacked. Either the Spurs or Lakers have always been better. The Mavs have not had the consistent nucleus of Duncan/Parker/Ginobili or Kobe/Odom/Gasol. Dirk's sidekicks have either been past their prime (Stackhouse, Kidd) or baked out on weed (Josh Howard). Dirk is clutch, competitive and anything but soft. And, he is not showing any signs of age, so you will have a few more years to hate Dirk.

guest301 · Apr 30, 2010

Solid posts Fightingtowin and icsept.

Thrashen · Apr 30, 2010

sonnyboy said:
I sad to say that the Mavericks will never win a championship with Dirk. I have sensed this for
years and will continue to do so.

None of your posts indicate that you are in fact "sad"Â about Dirk's lack of success in the playoffs. More like the restrained glee of the DWF.

pistol pete · Apr 30, 2010

The Mavs have never been built for the playoffs. Lots of scorers and very good players but no
enforcers or true topflight role players. What they need is a superstar that will either defer or coexist with Dirk (they must complement each other). Then add some tough guys and spot up guys. If I were them I would think about getting David Lee and Joe Johnson getting a defender for the small forward role and drafting a backup shooter (like a Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher, or Brian Shaw. Keep Kidd, Dirk, bubois, Najera, and their two veteran centers and get rid of everyone else. If they can get value for Jason Terry then they can also keep JJ Barea (who can take over Terry's role).
Then you would have a number one super star,a super star 1a, a great third option in David Lee and a perfect distributor in Kidd. Haywood and Dampier are good, solid centers. Najera is a good veteran enforcer. Bubois and JJ Barea round out a great four guard rotation. You can then go really big with a Jason Kidd and Joe Johnson back court with Dirk, Lee and Haywood/Dampier up front. Then pick up another enforcer in free agency or draft a guy like Harangody. Then get a long, athletic wing who will defend and drive to the basket. They might have to train a guy to play that role. Daquan Cook could come relatively cheap. My Grizzlies have Ronnie Brewer but he is a free agent. Or if they can they should draft Kyle Singler.Perfect fourth option now and a great 6th man right out of the gate. Could play either the two or the three. If the Mavs could also acquire Brian Zoubek then that would be perfect! He would be a great option in a three man rotation at center or as a backup power forward.Zoubek could then be a combination of David Lee and Najera -- only taller.

j41181 · May 1, 2010

The Lakers advance thanks to Pau's surprising GAME-WINNING put-back!!

The Jazz knock the THUGGETS out their season. Poetic justice for Dirk!

j41181 · May 1, 2010

I can't help but pity Dirk at this point. It's as if the Gods have cursed him to fail, and blessed Pau to succeed. Hence, Dirk's demise is Pau's gain. For all the frustrations Dirk is enduring, it's amazing Dirk's not resorting to bad habits (drinking, smoking, drugs). Goes to show what an unbelievable professional and person Dirk is.

What I find disturbing is that for all of Dirk's amazing INDIVIDUAL accomplishments, he has NEVER won a basketball championship of any sort at any level. German Bundesliga, Eurobasket, World Championship, Olympics, NBA, etc.. you name it, NEVER. He does have silver and bronze medals, and several MVP's, but NO FIRST place championships or GOLD medals whatsoever. Hard to believe Dirk never won a title of any sort in 16 years of pro basketball (turned pro in 1994). Although Dirk enjoyed decent playoff trips from 2001-2003 & 2005-2006 (2004 an exception), he did miss his biggest shot ever in 2006. Dirk was often regraded the BEST European player up to that point. Then things went bad to worse for Dirk starting in 2007, and it persists to this day.

Pau had a similar pattern to Dirk, but he did win some titles and MVP's back in Spain prior to the NBA. From 2001-2008, Pau was practically in limboville (Memphis), and he was destined to suffer a worse fate than Dirk, despite winning the World Championship Gold in 2006. Then came the miracle trade to the Lakers, and everything went right for Pau. First, he vaulted LA to the 2008 Finals, then he won the 2008 Olympic Silver, then he WON the 2009 NBA title, then won the Eurobasket Gold the same year. Pau was also MVP in the 2006 World, and 2009 Eurobasket tourneys. How's that for a change in fortune?

Despite Dirk posting far superior stat numbers, and way more heroic clutch performances, Pau has been regarded the BEST European player as of now. This has to do more with team success than to numbers. There's even NO way to compare Pau to Dirk, but unless things change for the better for Dirk, Pau will be regarded as the NBA's most accomplished European player ever. A growing number of fans are actually pinning that distinction on Pau. Dirk's brilliant basketball is long overdue for a championship.

white lightning · May 1, 2010

I still don't think your being fair to Dirk. Put Dirk on the Lakers and you would be talking about how great he is. Even Michael Jordan lost over and over until they got the right players around him. Dirk is an exceptional player. An all star and a hall of famer. It is partially his fault for the losses but more blame in my honest opinion goes to the team he had around him. K.Butler played good for the most part but alot of the other guys choked besides Dirk. He was very good as usual. Out of 6 games, he only had 2 average games with the other 4 being very good.

Dirk can still win a title. Look at John Elway. It wasn't until the end of his career and he won back to back superbowls. Regardless of if Dirk wins a title or not, to say he is not a gamer is not fair! Hard to believe that you think that. Your entitled to your opinion but I have to disagree.

j41181 · May 1, 2010

[TUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_s0A3_M2VY[/TUBE]

indianwhite · May 1, 2010

I feel bad for Dirk Nowitzki. He likely will go down as one of the best NBA players of this generation and should be considered the best European player in NBA history and one of the top 50 players of all time.

He has nothing to show for it.

And it's not because he has failed the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks have failed him.

Nowitzki, especially in recent years, has shined during the playoffs. Anyone who says otherwise is not watching or is simply a fool.

Let's take a look at some statistics.

He's just one of five players in NBA history to average at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in the playoffs. The other players are in the Hall of Fame or will be soon ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬" Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit and Shaquille O'Neal.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Thursday night marked the 13th time Nowitzki scored 30 or more points in a playoff game in which his team faced elimination. The only two other players in NBA history to have scored 30 or more points in as many win-or-go-home games ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬" Hall of Famers Jerry West (14) and Wilt Chamberlain (13).

This year alone, Nowitzki averaged 28 points (on 55 percent shooting), nine more than any other Spurs player. The only other players in the NBA to average that many points in the playoffs this season are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.

Nowitzki averages 25.6 points a game and 11 rebounds in the playoffs, better than his regular season averages.

So while Dallas is the only team in NBA history to win 50 or more games for 10 straight years and have no championship to show for it, Nowiztki doesn't deserve the blame. In fact, he's the reason the Mavs have had any championship hope.

Nowiztki may opt out of his contract this summer. I wouldn't blame him. He's in a category with Charles Barkley and Karl Malone as the best power forwards to never win a championship.

While that may be good company, Nowitzki deserves a chance at a ring. It's likely he's not getting it with the Mavs.

whiteathlete33 · May 1, 2010

white lightning said:
I still don't think your being fair to Dirk. Put Dirk on the Lakers and you would be talking about how great he is. Even Michael Jordan lost over and over until they got the right players around him. Dirk is an exceptional player. An all star and a hall of famer. It is partially his fault for the losses but more blame in my honest opinion goes to the team he had around him. K.Butler played good for the most part but alot of the other guys choked besides Dirk. He was very good as usual. Out of 6 games, he only had 2 average games with the other 4 being very good.

Dirk can still win a title. Look at John Elway. It wasn't until the end of his career and he won back to back superbowls. Regardless of if Dirk wins a title or not, to say he is not a gamer is not fair! Hard to believe that you think that. Your entitled to your opinion but I have to disagree.

The problem with the Mavs is that Dirk doesn't have a good enough supporting cast. The last game the only other player other than Dirk that played well was Caron Butler.

guest301 · May 1, 2010

indianwhite said:
I feel bad for Dirk Nowitzki. He likely will go down as one of the best NBA players of this generation and should be considered the best European player in NBA history and one of the top 50 players of all time.

He has nothing to show for it.

And it's not because he has failed the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks have failed him.

Nowitzki, especially in recent years, has shined during the playoffs. Anyone who says otherwise is not watching or is simply a fool.

Let's take a look at some statistics.

He's just one of five players in NBA history to average at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in the playoffs. The other players are in the Hall of Fame or will be soon ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬" Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit and Shaquille O'Neal.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Thursday night marked the 13th time Nowitzki scored 30 or more points in a playoff game in which his team faced elimination. The only two other players in NBA history to have scored 30 or more points in as many win-or-go-home games ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬" Hall of Famers Jerry West (14) and Wilt Chamberlain (13).

This year alone, Nowitzki averaged 28 points (on 55 percent shooting), nine more than any other Spurs player. The only other players in the NBA to average that many points in the playoffs this season are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.

Nowitzki averages 25.6 points a game and 11 rebounds in the playoffs, better than his regular season averages.

So while Dallas is the only team in NBA history to win 50 or more games for 10 straight years and have no championship to show for it, Nowiztki doesn't deserve the blame. In fact, he's the reason the Mavs have had any championship hope.

Nowiztki may opt out of his contract this summer. I wouldn't blame him. He's in a category with Charles Barkley and Karl Malone as the best power forwards to never win a championship.

While that may be good company, Nowitzki deserves a chance at a ring. It's likely he's not getting it with the Mavs.

100% spot on analysis. I personally want Dirk to stay in Dallas because he is the top dog there but if he goes somewhere else I would wonder if the Suns have the cap room to team up Dirk once again with his best friend Nash and of course Amare is there and so that threesome of superstars to go with the Sun's solid set of role players may give them a great shot at a championship. Chicago has maybe enough cap room to sign Wade and Dirk to go with Rose, Hinrich, and Noah.Edited by: guest301

Fightingtowin · May 1, 2010

If Dirk were to win a championship, then, oh my gosh, two, he'd be regarded as one of the greatest of all time, easily. His numbers are just mind boggling. I want him to get thrown into a Boston KG/Pierce/Allen situation this off-season. I don't see it happening in Dallas. He needs to go elsewhere, whether that be in Miami with D. Wade or Chicago with Rose, Noah, etc.

TwentyTwo · May 1, 2010

Solid post on Dirk..the dude is a "big-timer"..plain & simple! He averaged like 33 pts a game in the series?? Caron Butler did not step up in the series like he needed to...J Terry too inconsistent,etc...Could David Lee &/or Gortat have put them over the hump?? The Spurs are savvy...Ginobli is the difference...w/o him they do not advance!

Since I was old enough to keep-up with the NBA in the days of Magic/Kareem...have NEVER liked the LA Lakers! And with Kobe will NOT now! I'm glad to see Gasol make such an impact...Kobe knows w/o him they are in trouble!Kind of pitiful to watch Morrison sitting near the end of the bench onthe regular; half a sleep looking...the Lakers are also lucky to have the "extra-day" for Game 5 after being smashed by OKC in Game 4...and LUCKYthey don't faceUtah Jazz in the next series w/o the injured Okur & Kirilenko(hopes to return?)...

Go Suns! Want Nash to get his ring at age 36...he played tired last game; but stepped it up when he needed late in the 4th with a 3pt dagger! His replacement Goran Dragic IMPROVEMENT is "night & day" from last year...Louis Admundson is very athletic;the "humanpogo-stick".... Stoudamire is finally healthy...I hope they can beat the Lakers if the Jazz can't...

Did not follow Bobcats very much...can't believe they had NO whites of the 12 dressed-out! Maybe
they will figure it out you gotta mix some salt with the pepper...or they will be back home early again next year.

pistol pete · May 2, 2010

Suns have a shot. If Dirk can't get the guys that I talked about to go to the Mavs then he needs
to go to the Suns like someone here said. Put Dirk at the three (small forward) with Amare at power forward with Robin Lopez at center. Great frontline!! Then Amundson, Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, and Grant Hill of the bench. Backcourt of Nash and J Rich with Dragic at backup point and that team is a championship team. Then they need to go get JJ Reddick. And an enforcer like Zoubek in the draft. That would be an awesome team!

j41181 · May 2, 2010

Bucks lose game 7!

Imagine if Bogut had played, they would've won in 6 or 7 games. Bucks were missing Bell who was benched out for disciplinary reasons.

Lakers win a tight one against the Jazz. I see Pau Gasol (25 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks) having a huge series against the Jazz' inexperienced front line of Fesenko and Koufos. Boozer, Miles, and Millsap are too small to guard Gasol. Kirilenko plans to return for either game 2 or 3.

Bynum is having knee issues again, there is a slight muscle tear on his right knee. The situation automatically makes Gasol LA's designated #2, although that's what he's been ALWAYS since coming to LA. Gasol's the ONLY reason why I support LA. Edited by: j41181

Deadlift · May 3, 2010

If the Bucks' would have won that series without Bogut, I personally think that would have been a disaster.

Brandon Jennings (who reminds me of "Allen Iverson"...) would have been hyped even more ridiculously. I'm glad that the DWFs saw all his bricked-shots these last 2 games.

Also, if people want Orlando to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, it's probably best that they be tested by a bigger team like Atlanta, rather than coast-by a depleted Milwaukee squad.

pistol pete · May 3, 2010

Pau is the new Tim Duncan.
Pau is a superstar along with Kobe in a league that needs two superstars
to win a championship. Not only does Pau have a very high basketball IQ he also can put up with and coexist with Kobe meaning that his Emotional Quotiant is also very high.

TwentyTwo · May 4, 2010

Nash is on his game tonight with 21 pts in the 1st half! Suns lead the Spurs at the half 57-47 in Game #1...the 3 days rest did his injured hip some good!

j41181 · May 4, 2010

Suns win 111-102!!!!

Nash - 33 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists
Ginobili - 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

There two are the BEST White guards of our generation, enjoy them while they last. There is an alarming shortage of White NBA guards, and since Nash (36), and Ginobili (33) have only a few years left in them, don't expect to see white guards like them for some time. Dragic (24) and Barea (26) are both fine, but I don't expect neither to become All-Star level guards. Scheyer himself is an even longer shot.

Pau Gasol is as close to a white version of Tim Duncan. He's very lucky to be a Laker while in his prime. He's finally gaining well-deserved recognition, despite being teammates with Kobe. Gasol's the Ying, Kobe's the Yang.

white lightning · May 4, 2010

The Suns will win the series easily. Trust me! Then they will take out your LaLa Boys. That is what you will have to watch for thinking Dirk is a choker. What a joke. You know basketball good but you were dead wrong on that analysis!

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