Oh, dear. Time for Game 7. I guess the Force is not strong in this one…
5 for 19. 8 for 21. 9 for 16. 4 for 14. 9 for 22. 5 for 22. = 40 for 114 (35.1%)
These are the shooting numbers for our big German through 6 games. In Dirk’s entire career , which has spanned 7 years, he has played in over 500 games in the regular season. He has NEVER shot below 40% in a season. In fact, subtract his rookie year in which he was acclimating to American Basketball at the old age of 20, and the worst he has ever shot over a season is 45.9%.
Before this year, he has played 40 games in the playoffs. 40. And the worst he ever shot during a playoff year was 42.3%. He also shot 44.5%, 47.9% and 45% in the playoffs.
The point of this exercise is to establish that he is not this bad. You might say that this is all about his defender Tracy McGrady, but I suggest to you that he has played Utah, Sacramento, San Antonio, and Portland, and he has been guarded by pretty strong defenders in all of those series, too. But, through it all, he rose above, and shot the ball because that is what he does as well as almost anyone in the world.
Yet now, we wonder what has happened to him. Ever worse, we wonder what we were thinking when we suggested he was one of the top 5 players in the world. And, we wonder what Mark Cuban was thinking when he refused to include Dirk in discussions about Shaquille O’Neal last summer.
Game 6 was another disturbing page in this most disturbing chapter of the Dirk story. He was more aggressive, but the results were not much better. Much like in Game 5, he defended well, rebounded effectively, and did the little things that help a team win. But he did not do what they need him to do. Take over a game offensively like he has hundreds of time in his career. He has not “gone off” in this entire series.
Before Game 6, I claimed that would be the game. Do you know why? I was playing the obvious percentages. He does not go through slumps this long. He is simply too good a shooter to look this average over the course of an entire series. I was clearly wrong. He shot worse in game 6 than he shot the entire series.
Where is Dirk? With a normal Dirk performance in Game 7, they will advance. Without him stepping up, his reputation will be forever tarnished, and the Mavericks season will be over.
There is no telling what happens next.
There was another element of last night’s game that had to bother Avery Johnson. There was a ton of lost composure last night. Devin Harris melted down. Josh Howard melted down. Only Finley and Stackhouse looked ready and willing to play within themselves.
Tracy McGrady is a superstar. He needs wins to validate himself to the masses, but he now has me convinced. I was wrong.
Links:
Lebreton on the Mavs failings ...
Justice on the Game 6 win for Houston …
COMEDY ALERT: Tech Coach Mike Leach does the weather …
The Kellen Winslow bush on Ebay …
Is Jimmie Johnson insane? …
New Star Wars = a bloodbath! …
Better late than never: Essay on Clemens – Maddux faceoff of last week …
Study looks at clutch hitters …
Email:
Hey Bob. I never watch the show Survivor, but I did this past Thursday because nothing was on, and the Pres. set CSI back an hour and I have a question about the show and I figured you watch so you might know. From what I know about the show, they are left on an island with no belongings. So I am watching the show and I noticed something, the guys all have some beard growing from the lack of shaving, but all the women have smooth hairless legs. How are they shaving if they have no belongings? Or do I just not have a grasp on the show? Peace, Jason.
This has never occurred to me. But I will investigate further as soon as possible.
Am I the only one who was mad at how the Mavs got pushed around? Sura gives Howard a hard foul, and then that SOB Barry clobbers Harris on a three when Houston is way up at the end of the game AND NOT ONE OF THE MAVS DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT!! Why are the Mavs so stinkin soft?!?!?!?
ReplyDeleteBob:
ReplyDeleteYour quote from yesterday (regarding Liverpool) -- "Like I said, Burleson, I will explain the whole story, and then you can sort through the details and decide whether or not I am allowed to follow them"
this morning I rushed to the Blog in tingling anticipation of your well thought out reasoning...... crickets..
Burleson
Grow some sack Bob and suck it up. Game 7 is ours...mark it
ReplyDeleteBurleson-
ReplyDeleteHang in there, bro- I will get it done soon-
B
I hate to sound like whiny, bitchy Rockets fan, but somehow Josh Howard draws his 6th foul while running alongside Mike James with his left hand on the waistband of his pants, and it's not a foul on Mutombo slings Dirk down on a drive to the hole (when they called the double-foul on Stack)? Mutombo should've fouled out midway through the 4th. Starting to buy into Van Gundy's crazy conspiracy theories. Can Cuban please find Bubba Wells, get him on the roster, and order him to run out onto the court and punch Jon Barry in the nuts? I'm starting to hate thay guy as much as A-Rod. Overall, this series is giving me ulcers.
ReplyDeleteBob,
ReplyDeleteYou're being a bit dramatic, when it comes to how this will effect Dirk's career. Yes, Dirk has had a HORRIBLE series and who the hell knows why our Offensive Machine can not hit the broad side of a barn these days. But there is a plethora of reasons why the Mavs have struggled in this series. Dirk's struggles are a big reason, but lets not forget that there are inexperienced players, an inexperienced coach, and a team that has barely had time to play together in full form. That's not even mentioning the fact that the Mavs have suffered from poor ball distribution THE ENTIRE YEAR.
I anticipate that if the Mavs lose this series, the media will spend the summer putting Dirk through the meat grinder, trying to figure out what spare parts Cuban can trade him for.
Perhaps in retrospect, Cuban should've tried to get Shaq for Dirk. Kobe and Shaq weren't winning titles anymore...but Shaq and MICHAEL FINLEY....now there's a winning combination.
You could say the McGrady's five trips first-round exits tarnish his career. But if McGrady leads the Rockets to a championship, all will be forgotten.
Dirk's been seriously outplayed this series. There's no denying it. It happens - yes, even to superstars. Last year I saw Tim Duncan be contained by Karl Malone, but I didn't see anyone relegating Duncan to the trash pile.
With the exception of the Double Toine Debacle, Dirk has improved his game each and every single year he's been in the league. I expect next year to be no different.
You guys jump on and off the Dirk bandwagon, like David Azceveda jumps on and off his favorite Rape Whore.
Babv Arm
What I meant to say was "McGrady's five consecutive first-round exits..." I think you get the idea.
ReplyDeleteDear Jason,
ReplyDeleteGet out from under that rock.
Its called Laser Hair Removal.
M
Bob,
ReplyDeleteI think you are underplaying McGrady's impact on defense. The type of guy who can give Dirk trouble are the very athletic guys who are very long yet big enough to not let him have his way on the post or the perimeter. He seems to have problems with Shawn Marion too, which incidently doesn't bode well for the next round if they get that far.
On a personal note, Barry has vaulted ahead of stiff competition to be the most annoying human in the world.
And finally, way back in the days of Survivor 1, they used to show the ladies shaving their legs. The shows producers gave them razors as part of the meager supplies. The reason? Who wants to see women with hairy legs?
Go Star Wars
I thought in one of the episodes this year, the tribe won a hygiene kit... and included were razors.
ReplyDeleteI humbly disagree with the premise that I hop on and off the Dirk Wagon- I defend the guy at every turn. I prop him up when people think I am high. I am squarely in his corner, but let's not ignore reality. He has been well below his level, and it is crucial that he snaps out of it...quickly. You will not be able to make claims that he is as good as McGrady after tomorrow. Or Garnett. Or several others who are top 5 or 10 guys. In fact, nationally, he may be relegated to Peja status.
ReplyDeleteGarnett? How are his playoff numbers looking this year? Oh yeah...I guess some players don't have to win to keep their status.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (if that is your name):
ReplyDeleteYour logic = Jon Barry is in the playoffs, Shawn Bradley is in the playoffs, therefore Barry and Bradley > Garnett and Kobe?
Sounds good.
Pay no attention to basketball personnel people who widely admit Garnett is a top 3 player in basketball.
What the hell was Sura thinking when he form tackled Howard?
ReplyDeleteYour logic.
ReplyDeleteBefore series:
"At the age of 26, he appears to be on the verge of joining the brightest stars in the league. And the Mavericks will be in Title contention as long as he is at this level. "
After series
Dirk = Peja
Sounds good.
The Rockets deserve to win because they have the better talent. Dirk isn't much better than Yao, and TMac stands head and shoulders over everyone else on the floor.
ReplyDeleteTime to put Dirk on the back of Milk Cartons.
I wish the Mavs had a do-over on Dirk for Shaq.
Is Dirk's German shotdoctor in Dallas for the series?
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone saved some room for some left-over crow. Dirk has been through slumps and he will get through this one. I think they should bust out the Puff Daddy unis for game 7 and maybe Dirk will relive the 53 point night
ReplyDeleteDear Jason,
ReplyDeleteNot every woman on Survivor has had nice shiny legs. And yes, some female ex-cast members have mentioned they had the procedure done before filming.
Kiss my big toe while you're down there.
M
Who has a better chance of making All NBA First Team this year?
ReplyDeleteGarnett or Dirk?????
Dirk
ReplyDeleteThe next time a Rocket player gets knocked on his ass when going to the rim will be the first.
ReplyDeleteMark in Las Colinas:
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the good hard foul that Henderson gave McGrady a few games back. (but other than that, point taken)