The Ifs and Buts Sports Barbershop

 

For the last ten years, The Dallas Mavericks have won 50+ games.  Yet they have only made it past the Western Conference Finals twice (including this year).  Dirk Nowitzki has been a steady scorer for Dallas in all of those playoff runs from the 2000-2001 season.  The consensus was that Dirk was soft and couldn't hit the big shots.  I knew that it wasn't true, but the reality is that they don't have a title even with all their regular season success.  I've heard a few reasons for that, including that he never played with a superstar in his prime....which is utter nonsense!  Here are a few of Dirk's former teammates that were in the top 4-5 in scoring on his team:  Michael Finley 27, Juwan Howard 27 (yes The Miami Heats Juwan Howard), Steve Nash, Nick Van Exel 30 (a little long in the tooth, but still effective), Antoine Walker 27, Antawn Jamison (and not the version Lebron got in Cleveland), Jason Terry 27, Josh Howard 24, Jerry Stackhouse 30 (a little toothy but still avg 15 ppg), Devin Harris 23, and Caron Butler 29.

 

"They aren't Dywane Wade, LeBron James, or Chris Bosh" you say?  Maybe Bosh, but now Wade or Lebron.  That is true, but let me rundown a few stats you may not know (or want to know).

- Michael finley averaged 21 points per game for the 3 years before Dirk was drafted.  Then he averaged close to 20 ppg for the next 4 years after that, and was routinely doubled in the playoffs which opened it up for Dirk.

- Juwan Howard avg'd 18 and 13 ppg 7 reb and 3 assist in his 1st 2 years in Dallas.  The reason his stats went down his second year was because of the acquision and/or emergence of: Van Exel, Tim Hardaway and Raef LeFrentz.

- Antoine Walker avg'd 14 ppg 9 rpg and nearly 5 apg his shooting % of terrible, but his presence left Dirk in one on one coverage a lot.

- Antawan Jamison avg'd 14 ppg and 6 rpg.  He anchored the front court scoring when Dirk was off the floor.  While his playoff numbers weren't spectacular, but he was steady just as he was in the regular season.

- Jason Terry had avg'd 16 ppg in his 5 years with Atlanta before coming to Dallas.  After his first year, he avg'd 17 ppg and 4 apg ever since.  Besides the 6th man of the year award, Terry's defense and clutch shot making was overshadowed by his superstar teammate.  He has been a steady force for the Mavericks for the last 6 years.

I haven't even started to talk about the intangilbes like the veteran Jason Kidd!  Had 2 finals appearances with the Nets, is 3rd in 3 pointers made ALL TIME!  Not to mention that his defense and passing is legendary.  Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, the now hurt Caron Butler, Jerry stackhouse, Devin Harris (a member of the 2006 Mavs finals team), etc.

I'm not giving The Miami Heat a pass!  Far from it.  I'm just trying to let everyone know that Dallas is not a one trick pony!  They are stacked, and for the majority of the last 10 years....THEY HAVE BEEN STACKED!  For those of you that labeled Dirk soft those 10 years and especially in 2006 and 2007 are now hoping and praying Dirk, Terry, Kidd, and the rest of the Mavs get the title.  Especially over the most polarizing team since the Detroit Piston Bad Boys...and they are not even close to matching the flagrant foul mark that the Pistons put up those 2 title years!  LOL!