The Dallas Mavericks didn't earn the trophy, but they'll be back. Dirk will have to keep evolving as a player. Last year, bensheets' boy, Bruce Bowen, shut down Nowitzki. This year, Dirk disappeared in the Finals. I believe if Dirk makes a commitment to taking the rock to the rack, he will win next year's MVP. (Especially if he gets half the calls D. Wade got--which is another story altogether. Getting bailed out by the refs, it's like a knowing a smart black dude who gets into Dartmouth. You figure he could get there on merit alone, but you'll never know, because wasn't given a chance to do so.)
Now that the NBA season is over, and the World Cup doesn't matter, and watching the Cubs is a human rights violation, I've decided to pursue more friendships in my life. This afternoon, I invited a coworker over to the crib, since he mentioned he needed to kill time until 8 P.M. I was rejected in favor of "making phone calls". I already feel my soul growing.
3 comments:
I don't believe that Rony is too worried about the ring, particularly with former SI Swimsuit Edition covergirl Elsa Benitez waiting to make him dinner at home.
As for Dirk, how he played during the finals was what I was alluding to during the NBA MVP debate - it's hard to change the game by yourself from the wing. It's a little easier to do so from the post, since the doubles that you draw will lead to a layup or an open J's off of the first pass. When you're on the wing, it often takes two passes to get to the open shooter. Adding one more piece to the equation makes a huge difference in the long run. And it's only when your teammates are successful for a few plays in a row where the superstar may get back to getting a few 1-on-1 looks.
Of course, Dirk set himself up in the high-post a lot during the playoffs, and was definitely a MVP-level player for that stretch where the Mavs were looking the best team in the NBA. I don't think that Dirk is done improving. There's still a lot of room to improve his game. A little more refinement in the low block will probably be needed in the coming years as his body ages. And some work on his passing from the high post (think Bill Walton or Arvydas Sabonis) will make him a legit MVP frontrunner in the years to come.
I still think that the MVP debate next year falls to Kobe/LeBron because they're the two most talented players and they're the ones doing it by themselves. But at some point (2 seasons, maybe? - next year goes back to San Antonio, I'm guessing), Dirk should put up a season that's going to be undeniably MVP. Which should be when the Mavs and Avery Johnson get it all figured out for their ring. And maybe another one the following year.
-Chairman
I'm guessing Rony is eating out quite a bit, since when searching for his stunning picture, I came across a couple stories saying Elsa was divorcing him. Par for the course.
I agree that Dirk will continue to get better. I don't follow your logic for the wing vs. the post, as surely passing out of the post double-team often requires two passes to find the open look.
I went back and watched the Game 6 of the '96 Finals, MJ and Pip vs. GP and Kemp. Jordan got called for a charge, a travel, a handcheck. They didn't baby him with free throws every time there was contact. It just further illegitimized Miami's trophy, and D. Wade's performance.
Poor Rony. You start losing your hair, and your supermodel wife leaves you. Such is life, I suppose.
As far as my comment on where someone is doubled:
If you're doubled on the wing, it's easier for a defense to recover. Your passing options are near corner, post, or top of the key. The open man is generally completely across the court, and the only way to get it to him directly is with a high lob. Cutters still have to contend with two players waiting near the basket. You typically need a couple passes to get there, and the defense has a decent chance to recover.
If you're doubled in the block, you have the chance to make that pass out of the double anywhere on the court (most importantly, both corners are available for 3's), plus it's easier to hit cutters for a layup since the players that would be waiting for them are already doubling. It's just more difficult for the defense to recover.
Mark Jackson or Shaq come to mind as examples of this.
But you're right, sometimes, it takes more than just 1 or 2 passes to get to that open shot, regardless of where someone's doubled.
If Diop continues his improvement, the Mavs will be very tough to beat next year.
-Chairman
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