Like most other media pundits out there, I predicted that the Dallas Mavericks would win this series in six games because I think they are the superior team. I think Dallas' lineup is equal or even superior to the Hornets:
Dallas
PG:Kidd ; SG:Howard; SF: Bass ; PF: Nowitzki; C: Dampier
New Orleans
PG:Paul ; SG: Peterson; SF: Peja ; PF:West ; C:Chandler
But one thing stood out to me during the Mavericks-Hornets game : David West repeatedly poked Nowitzki's jaw with his finger after an unintentional elbow by Dirk. And Nowitzki just stood there, didn't do anything, showed no kind of emotion nor did he even attempt to push down David West's hand. And the other telling part was that none of Dirk's teammates came to his defense neither.
A day later a similar incident happened with Kobe: Anthony Carter shoved Kobe Bryant after an unintentional elbow by Bryant. Kobe reacted, he screamed at Carter's way and his teammates came and pulled him away from the scene. Same thing happened with LeBron who also had the same reaction as Kb after Haywood stood over him. What happened later? the Cavs and Lakers both pummeled their opponents(Wizards and Nuggets respectively)
In the NBA, mental toughness, heart and confidence really matter and any lack in either one will be your downfall. It's even worse when it is your best player-leader that lacks one of these components. And Dirk lacks heart, which is why the Dallas Mavericks have a hard time succeeding.
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5 months ago
I don't agree at all. The fact that player have some self control doesn't mean he has no heart. I'd rather see a player show his heat while playing the game rather then pushing and screaming and making a scene like a 12 year old.
5 months ago
I disagree too, but in a different way. I believe the missing anatomy is not his heart, but a set of cojones.
from 5 months ago
that's what i meant by saying heart. That was a bad look on Dirk's part. He just stood there with no reaction at all.
@Mark
that's not self control, that's being a punk. self control would be to knock his hand down without striking him. and now that David West see that Dirk didn't retaliate, he will show Dirk even less respect.
from 5 months ago
Just because he's a self-respecting induvidual who takes it to the court rather than a savage out of control player who rather take it out back....
Please....if you dont know what you're talking about. just dont talk.
Dirk is one of the hardest working players with a passion....he doesnt lack anything...
He doesnt go around disrespecting his teamates or the franchise like some other players...
He's a talent that many great players would want to play with him...
So please...dont go there...
Just stop trash talking....
5 months ago
This entire thing was blown out of proportion.. some people seem to be oblivious to the fact that a slo-mo instant replay that stretches a half second long moment our to a minute long moment are 2 different things..
The actual event lasted a half a second and the refs were right the breaking it up.. West didn't exactly look agitated either.. nor dirk.
If Dirk did'nt have a repuatation for being "soft" this isn't even an issue. and that he has a reputation for being soft is a huge joke. Magic thought the Warriors thought Dirk was soft. The Warriors were triple teaming Dirk through that whole series. They respect Dirk more than anyone. Who they punked was Dirk's teammates. Any decent team punishes someone for trying to take their superstar out of the game like that.
It's hilarious to me that people call dirk soft and Kobe a Warrior. Kobe was the one demanding a trade to come play with Dirk! Kobe was the one whining his team wasn't good enough. When he's got Phil Jackson and Lamar Odom. Kobe couldn't even make the playoffs without Phil jackson and Shaq. Dikr led just as bad a team to the NBA finals.. without an Odom even.
Dirk is the first white player to lead a team to the Finals in over 20 years. And Bird had McHale and Parrish. Dirk has nobody.
from 5 months ago
see what im saying man? you getting personal with black and white issues. this aint about being white or black. It's about being perceived as soft. Do you actually watch basketball? that Dallas team was loaded, its that same Dallas team that won 67 games in one season and had a winning record without Dirk in the lineup last year.
Dirk got: Jason kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Dampier, Stackhouse, Bass....
Since you brought up Kobe, who did he have? K. Brown, the guy who cant even play for the grizzlies! Smush Parker, got bought out of his contract in miami ! an Old Aaron mckie, a washed up Jim Jackson, Von Wafer, laron profit, Devean george....
Nash is white, you dont hear people calling him soft ! Stockton wasn't Soft ! bird wasn't soft!
5 months ago
Nothing personal here.. the fact is Dirk is viwed differntly because of his race. Nasha dn Dirk can't get calls in the playoffs because of their race. Basketball officiating is compeltely subjective. White referees are afraid of looking prejudice or biased so white players will always get the short end of the stick there.
A winning record without Dirk in the lineup? He missed 2 games? Any team can win one or 2 game without their star. Kobe's Lakers have a better winning percentage without Kobe, too. They di early on as well when Shaq was there.
Howard? Howard was drafted as the 29th pick. Dampier? You act like Dampier is good? stackhouse? Washed up. Terry? Big name but poor play. People overrate these players because they refuse to give Dirk credit. Kwame Brown was the number one pick. Kobe has a LOADED frontline. Dirk has all his good players in the backcourt. That's a recipe for playoff disaster. While Kobe should be successful in the playoffs with a deep frontcourt. Nash isn't a bigman so he isn't considered soft. Bird played with Parrish and McHale if he was on a nbad team surroudned by bad players and couldn't win in the playoffs ebcause of it he would probably be called soft, too. Watch the college championship game where Magic and Bird play.. it was a virtual carbon copy of dirk's mavs in the Finals or the Warriors series. Both were one-man-teams. Kobe couldn't make the playoffs with Caron Butler and Odom.
But the fact remains.. Dirk was triple teamed in the Warriors series and his coach and teammates couldn't punish the opposing team. That proves emphatically how poor his teammates are.
Just look at this game the Mavs just won against the Hornets.. Dirk has a monster game and the Mavs barely win. A huge part of the problem is Avery though.. he doesn't even use Kidd well... let alone Dirk.
5 months ago
This article is pointless. Great timing.
Game 3 - Dirk 36/19/6.
Are you still looking for heart?
Critics can continue their jabbing on Dirk, but it's worthless talk.
Go pick on Steve Nash. Search/replace Dirk's name with Steve Nash in this article. It would make more sense.
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