Last night I saw a fire in Dirk Nowitzki that I haven't seen...maybe ever. I don't know. I don't ever recall him being so pumped and so confident and brash to the point that he walks to the fans in the front row and gives a flex.
Dirk Nowitzki is just too good right now. Everything is going down when the Mavericks need it most. He hasn't been money for all 4 quarters in most games this year, but he's been near 100% shooting when the Mavs most need a bucket and that's what Dallas needs more than anything from him. If he's hovering around 40% shooting on the night and doesn't exactly seem on fire...it doesn't matter. If he's missed 4 or 5 straight shots in a row...doesn't matter. If he is going to the lane, getting to the line and missing free throws...IT DOESN'T MATTER. For the first time in Dirk Nowitzki's career, none of that matters. Because even if all that is happening, he's shown this year that if there's 30 seconds left in the game and the Mavs down by one, he's going to isolate just above the free throw line and drain it every time. Whether he takes it to the rim and finishes or does his trademark fadeaway...either way...we all know it's going down this year.
Dirk is having an MVP season. I know it's only 12 games into the season, but I haven't seen this fire in him before. In past years the team has almost had an attitude of "We're young...we'll get em next year."
This year, Dirk seems to be of the mindset that tomorrow may never come and so it's all about today. Boy...as if Dirk Nowitzki wasn't dangerous enough, the league should be terrified if he's playing with the swagger and fire he has right now.
In addition to Dirk's special season, you're starting to get the feeling that this Mavericks team is special too. They just find ways to win. They're 9-3 and still have yet to play a game with their full compliment of players. If Marion is playing, Howard isn't. If Howard is playing, Tim Thomas isn't. If Tim Thomas is playing, Marion isn't. It's been like that all year for Dallas and they're still 9-3. Can you imagine what's going to happen when they get everyone healthy?
PG - Jason Kidd
SG - Josh Howard
SF - Shawn Marion
PF - Dirk Nowitzki
C - Erick Dampier/Drew Gooden
BENCH
Jason Terry
Roddy Beaubois
JJ Barea
Kris Humphries
Tim Thomas
Quinton Ross
Holy cow...that's a deep roster. With Ross playing MUCH better defense than he was earlier in the year, Humphries becoming more patient with his shot and the emergence of one Roddy Buckets, the Mavs are looking really scary. There's not really a weakness on the roster right now. It was thought to be the Center position, but the combo of Gooden and Dampier starting has been stunningly effective. The Mavericks have gotten an average of 9.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game from the starting Center in their games this year. Gooden specifically is averaging 16.6 points, 12 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in games he starts as well as playing the team's tough guy role.
I guess the one real weakness the team might have right now is it's jump shooting. If you can stick Dallas in a half court game and make them knock down contested 18 foot jumpers, you have a real chance. For Dallas to be effective, they need to be running. If they're running, they're impossible to stop due to their athleticism which allows easy buckets and in turn will lead to open transition threes. But if you can make them play half court offense and shoot late into the shot clock, Dallas has been known to struggle on offense.
However, if Beaubois continues his rapid growth and Thomas can come back healthy from his knee problems and Jet can FINALLY start hitting shots we know he can make, then Dallas becomes that much more dangerous since the only thing left to fix is the perimeter game.
Also, on the subject of Terry's jumper not falling, some people complained about Terry taking the final shot in the fourth quarter that sent it into overtime. I've been frustrated with Jet lately, but I have to give Carlisle a break on this one. With two seconds left, Dirk would pretty much have to catch and shoot since his shot creation is usually a slow process. Carlisle went with the guy he knows can get open in a flash, and that's Jet. Had there been 4 seconds left, I have no doubt that Dirk would have taken the shot. I just think with that little time on the clock, Carlisle was looking for someone who could get their look as quick as possible and that was Jet.
Finally, a story was released yesterday that says Tom Hicks is putting together a group to try and save his majority stake in the Rangers. Before you go to sleep tonight and say your prayers, ask God to not let Tom Hicks retain ownership of the Rangers. It's for the best.
