Dirk should be league MVP01:25 AM CST on Thursday, January 18, 2007[By Tim Cowlishaw / The Dallas Morning News]The Mavericks reach the season's halfway mark tonight. That can only mean Dirk Nowitzki is halfway to his first and the franchise's first MVP award. It can only mean that, of course, if all the voters think like me, but why shouldn't that be the case? Nowitzki has developed into the all-around player who most critics thought as recently as the 2005 playoffs he would never become. Even coach Avery Johnson was hard-pressed recently to find an area in which Nowitzki needed to make significant improvement. He's the best player on the best team in the NBA. Some voters, taking a flawed viewpoint of what makes an MVP, will vote for him simply on that basis. It's why Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups, nowhere near a true MVP really, was in the discussion for much of last season when the Pistons owned the league's best record. Being the best on the best is only a start for Nowitzki. In the league's efficiency ratings, he is second only to Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, who has managed to make a career of being great in this category without leading his team to anything. Efficiency rating doesn't measure which player takes over games in the fourth quarter and which one shrinks. Nowitzki had a long stretch of games in which he failed to score 30 points this season. That's when Josh Howard was proving himself worthy of All-Star status. But recently, the team has needed Dirk to win games. At Indiana, he had 17 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. At Toronto, he had 12 of his 38 in the fourth quarter. Nowitzki understands his role and his responsibility. You watch the Mavericks these days, and even when Tracy McGrady is going nuts as he did Tuesday, you sense that Dirk is going to do something to make sure that this team wins. And 32 out of the last 36 isn't bad. Today, we examine Nowitzki and his competition for the league's MVP award. 1. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs: I thought he should have split the award last year with Cleveland's LeBron James when Steve Nash (wrongly) won for the second time. Now, Nowitzki is even better, and his team is even better. Among the other candidates, only Nash has better field goal and 3-point percentages. And despite what his coach might complain about, Nowitzki is very efficient at getting to the foul line. Johnson doesn't believe Nowitzki gets the proper respect. That's hard to quantify. Nowitzki shoots a free throw for every 2.08 field goal attempts. Kobe Bryant shoots one for every 2.18. James shoots one for every 2.33. Those players drive to the basket, too. Johnson may want more calls, but Dirk is getting it done. And, other than Nash, he's the least selfish player on this list. 2. Kobe Bryant, Lakers: His transformation is staggering. The guy who led the league in scoring at 35 a game last year but pouted when it counted in Game 7 against Phoenix is gone. Not sure if he read Terrell Owens' highly acclaimed book, Little T Learns to Share, but that's what Kobe has done. And he has done it with the team's second-best player, Lamar Odom, missing half the season. Kobe took over 27 shots per game last year. He's down to fewer than 20 this year but his percentage is up, assists are slightly up, and the Lakers are threatening to bust their way into the Big Three and make it a Big Four. This is the only team that's beaten the Mavericks in the last five weeks. A year ago, Kobe took 1,248 more shots than any other Laker. That didn't work. A more patient Bryant is turning the Lakers into a force. 3. Steve Nash, Suns: By season's end, he may be the best player on the best team. If a 32-4 run is pretty good, how's 27-2 sound? The race between Phoenix and Dallas for best record could go to the wire. But if it does, it means Amare Stoudemire has continued to play like a monster. And Shawn Marion and Boris Diaw are not exactly role players. Yes, Nash makes everyone around him better. But his numbers are skewed by the Suns' HOV lane style of play. He's a joy to watch ... at one end of the floor. And he has great talent around him. Here's hoping voters don't get carried away a third time. 4. LeBron James, Cavaliers: The best player on the best team in the worst conference in professional sports. James hasn't reached Kobe's or Dirk's level of understanding how to incorporate his teammates. And he's still not much of a free throw shooter, which is a significant thing if you want the ball in the fourth quarter. He's still a great talent and he may carry his team to the East's top seed. If he doesn't, then it will be... 5. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards: Who isn't cheering for this guy to keep it going? He has three 50-point games already, and those buzzer-beaters he's making to win games all look like the same replay. Washington hasn't been a factor in the NBA since Elvin Hayes left town. Arenas is making Wizards games into must-see TV. His percentage is well below the others on this list, and that has to be a consideration. But if he can hang a couple more 50s up there and lead the Wizards past the Cavs in the "B" Conference, Arenas will capture more votes.
2 weeks playing at full form doesn't make you a MVP. you have to play the whole season well. Dirk isnt even in the MVP race for me
2 Weeks? If your just looking at numbers, then you don't even know the impact Dirk has had all season long. This guy thrives when it counts, notice how he averages 6 more points on the road and is always there in the 4th quarter. Just like Nash and Kobe, Dirk makes this team. Without him, it crumbles despite Howard's emergence. The fact it looks like he's been coasting just shows how good of a player Dirk is.
^Well you just proved you have absolutely know right to even be posting in this forum.Do you even know baskeball?Dirk's not even in the MVP race. That's the most ridicilous thing I've read on this board...ever.He's not only IN the MVP Race, there are only 4 guys that can even be considered at this point in Nash, Dirk, Kobe, and Arenas.The guy doesn't have to play a perfect game every night for the Mavs to win like Kobe, Nash, and Arenas do...and he shouldn't be penalized for it.But if you read the article, and watched Mavs games, you'd know that there are times when he just about single handily lifts the Mavericks up and leads them to victories.He doesn't where himself out anymore being "The Man".Now he can let others help him, and step up only when he has too...he's one of the most unselfish guys in the NBA, but still knows when to be selfish at the same time, and take a game over.Get off this board if you want to spew crap like that funk99
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The guy doesn't have to play a perfect game every night for the Mavs to win like Kobe, Nash, and Arenas do...and he shouldn't be penalized for it.</div>I was going to mention this as well, I mean Nash, Kobe are two guys in the MVP race who at times don't put up big numbers but that doesn't take anything away from them because people just say their presence and ability to involve their teammates make them a MVP candidate. I think the same can be said for Dirk.
I'd have to agree. Dirk is leading the best team in the NBA right now. That automatically makes him an MVP contender in my book.
na hes not the MVP I would pick LeBron,Kobe,Nash,T-Mac,KG,Wade,Duncan over him and Spurs>Mavs and suns>Mavs so its not the best
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Grass @ Jan 19 2007, 08:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>na hes not the MVP I would pick LeBron,Kobe,Nash,T-Mac,KG,Wade,Duncan over him and Spurs>Mavs and suns>Mavs so its not the best</div>Glad you didn't show any bias in your opinions. lol What next? Hornets>Mavs. Dirk is a scrub? lol
Out of all the other "mvp's" kobe has the least to work with. He is the end, be all of the team with odom out. He is single handedly keep the team aflot with a top 4 record in the league. The whole offense stagantes without him. With odom out, the only reason why Phil's triangle is working is because of kobeThis lineupC- Bynum/TuriafPF- Cook/ Vlad radSF- Luke/evanssg- kobe/evanspg- parker/sasha/farmarNow please tell how that team is even afloat. The front court is horrendous. No rebounding. No defense. Kobe is the reason why the team is working.If kobe manages to get a top 3-4 record he is the mvp.
Easy. The mavs don't lose with Dirk. 33-8. Sure they got a lot of talent around Dirk but Dirk is what anchors that offense to be as good as it is along with helping a lot on the boards. His defense is very underrated as well. The lakers started the season without Kobe and were doing well. During tonights game the lakers played better with Kobe on the bench. Kobe just didn't make a huge impact like an MVP would do.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 19 2007, 07:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Easy. The mavs don't lose with Dirk. 33-8. Sure they got a lot of talent around Dirk but Dirk is what anchors that offense to be as good as it is along with helping a lot on the boards. His defense is very underrated as well. The lakers started the season without Kobe and were doing well. During tonights game the lakers played better with Kobe on the bench. Kobe just didn't make a huge impact like an MVP would do.</div>Silly.The games we won were a) a suns team which was in disarray. They were horrible in the early games2) A crappy warriors3) A crappy atlanta team.Tough competition I might say. With kobe we have beaten you guys and the spurs. This is with absolutely no front court. We have turiaf having to play minutes at center. Thats' why we got demolished today. Undersized. Also, remember kobe has been injured all season long.Also, again absolutely silly stuff. The lakers in the pass 2 games are have been outscored by 17 points with kobe on the bench. Yesterday, the whole offense stopped working when kobe went out. The only reason why the triangle works lately is because of kobe. Lately, every time kobe goes out, the team looks disastorous.Also, what impact did dirk have against the lakers a week ago?. Nothing. He didn't even take the shot to tie the game.edit: Today, first quarter lakers have the lead. 2nd quarter, kobe sits out for first 6 min and guess what? We lose the lead.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Grass @ Jan 19 2007, 02:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>na hes not the MVP I would pick LeBron,Kobe,Nash,T-Mac,KG,Wade,Duncan over him and Spurs>Mavs and suns>Mavs so its not the best</div>I can't believe someone could actually post garbage like this.The Mavs have outplayed both these teams this season, and beat BOTH in the playoffs last year.Dirk, Kobe, Nash, and Arenas at this point for MVP...that's it, that's the list.The rest of your list is almost laughable, especially TMac, who needs to be healthy for a few weeks first, and KG, who has played well, but isn't a winner.
I think Dirk Nowitzki is a great player but he is not having the type of season that Steve Nash, Gilbert Arenas, or even Kobe Bryant right now.At best I would put Dirk at number 3...1)Nash2)Arenas3)Kobe4)Dirk
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>At best I would put Dirk at number 3...1)Nash2)Arenas3)Kobe4)Dirk</div>Yet he's number 4. :g:
I know I'm saying at best I would put him at 3 but my real lineup would look like that with Dirk at 4
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (moses2121 @ Jan 30 2007, 04:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know I'm saying at best I would put him at 3 but my real lineup would look like that with Dirk at 4</div>Lame. Dirk does what is needed for Dallas. Anyone that watches mavs games know they don't need him to score a ton. If needed Dirk could easily score over 30 points. Avery wants to get everyones confidence up in expense to Dirk's numbers. Dirk is the MVP because of his incredible efficiency.
Although I think that Dirk deserves to get it, and that he shouldnt be pentalized for having a good supporting cast, alot of voters would unfortunatley say that he doesn't have the numbers to get the MVP. I think its ridiculous, but thats the way some of those voters think. Steve Nash is just a great choice right now for MVP in alot of those voters minds. He won it the last two years, and this season, he is personally having a better year, and so are the Suns.Although I will disagree with you moses....I will give you the order in which "I" would put the top 4 voters, and then what I think they will be.My list1. Dirk Nowitzki2. Kobe Bryant3. Steve Nash4. Tracy McGradyReal List1. Steve Nash2. Dirk Nowitzki3. Gilbert Arenas (even though I disagree with it)4. Kobe Bryant
How could you even put T-Mac on there Sena I mean I know he is having a good year and all leading his team with Yao out but he is not going to get much consideration from the voters. I personally haven't heard his name even mentioned about being an MVP all year.
Notice how I put him in "my list". He is completley getting overlooked by the voters as well. If you just look at what he has been doing in Yao's absense, it has been astonishing. There was a topic on it in the General NBA Section by Nitro, and it was completley true. He is putting up like 28, 6, and 6 since Yao has been out, and more importantly, his team has been winning just as many games compared to when they did have Yao. People need to let Tracy out of their dog house. It is not fair that just because he was injured, that he is no longer a good player. When healthy, the guy is a top ten player, and people need to start recognizing that.
