<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Dirk Nowitzki suggests to DallasBasketball.com that not only can he play center, but that there is only one player in the NBA who is clearly better at the position than he is. ?Shaq,? Nowitzki tells us, ?is the only center I can?t guard. Really, there is only one center in the West to worry about. We can pretty much handle everybody else. There aren?t that many dominant centers in the league, period.? </div> See thats what im talking about and as BIASED as I AM. I agree. Shaq is the only Center better than him. Put him at the 5, he may get a lil wore out, but Ill make it better, in a game of 1 on 1 of course (get your minds out of the gutter). That would be nice to see him at the 5, then to see the whole Crew on the floor. Wow. How would you stop that? Full Story
I don't buy it. He's one of the worst defenders in the league and would get killed every night. Yes, he's a 7 footer, but he is not a true center. I don't see Yao Ming, Shaq, Erick Dampier, etc..taking 3's nightly. If he was in the east, things would be different.
oh God If he was in the east he would lead the league in scoring. off topic. I dont see him playing the 5 day in and day out
i believe dirk could actually play the 5. although theres no D in Dirk. I believe withthe style of play that this team plays and the bench that they have. All of that running would force shaq to sit on the bench or force him to have a heart attack. they cant adjust to shaq and opposing teams they need to make the teams adjust to Dallas.
True I agree but this can teach him experience in learning D. I mean think about it, Yao Ming isnt that good in the post, Dirk now has a new weapon, a hook shot. How is anybody gonna guard that? ps I live in Bethany Celtics
The hunt for Ilgauskas? Dirk could quite easily play center. I remember something Kenny 'the Jet' Smith said on Inside the NBA, about how Hakeem used to tell him that he only needed to play hard a couple times a year because there were so few good centers, which was true then but more true now. Dirk would only have to play hard against Shaq, Yao, and a few other guys. Its not that different between east and west. The west just has more marginal centers, while the east doesn't even have that. But guys like Damp, Divac, Camby - none have real low-post moves, and Dirk could easily play them. Most teams in the west, like Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, the Clips, Utah, don't have dangerous centers either. If Dirk is willing to bang, then let him play the five. Then you can lay out 5 scorers on the floor and just kill people. Of course, Nellie would still bring Jamison off the bench for that extra punch, but a Nash-Finley-Howard-Walker-Nowitzki fiver would just be rough. And its not like Nellie hasn't already done that a couple times.
I say why not. Get your best 5 players on the court. There is no answer to Shaq, so why bother trying with a Fortson, or a Bradley. Force teams to adapt your play, rather than adapting yourself.
dirk cant play much d, but hey he is averaging 1.25 blocks a game.. and he had 3 blocks and 3 steals against sac... not bad for dirk
I don't want to see him at the 5. I think offensively there's better use of his skills and better matchup problems outside the paint. I also think those big feet of his just get tangled up in that mess down low.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cylinder:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't want to see him at the 5. I think offensively there's better use of his skills and better matchup problems outside the paint. I also think those big feet of his just get tangled up in that mess down low.</div> Just because he plays 5 doesnt mean he has to play offense down low, it would make more sense if he played outside of the paint and could make a slower defender such as shaq try to guard him on the perimeter At my highschool we run an open offense.. every player plays every position, which is a good strategy for the kind of players we have. it works out good
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deestillballin:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq is the only Center better than him.</div> Brad Miller, Yao Ming, and JO (when he plays center), and technically STD plays center as well. Dirk could not guard a paper bag, let alone the center in this league. If Dirk played center he would be more tired from getting banged around in the post (regardless of how little effort he put in on D). This would do nothing be decrease his offense. That would defeat Dallas' whole game plan, which is to outscore their opponents.
No argument <div class="quote_poster">Quoting WhiteManCanJump:</div><div class="quote_post">Just because he plays 5 doesnt mean he has to play offense down low, it would make more sense if he played outside of the paint and could make a slower defender such as shaq try to guard him on the perimeter At my highschool we run an open offense.. every player plays every position, which is a good strategy for the kind of players we have. it works out good</div> You're right of course, but it doesn't fix the problem of a low-post presence if Dirk plays outside - where I think he should play. To be clear, I'd like to have Dirk as a Forward and a legitimate Center in the same lineup. Dirk can guard most centers defensively, but offensively it leaves no Maverick taller than Walker to fight for an offensive rebound. That hasn't been bad - Jamison and Howard have helped - but I can't help but think this would be a better team if Bradley could perform well for 25 MPG or we had another legitiamte center who really liked the paint. This is really a Nelson issue. I'm not fond of his rotation-by-committe (he's done better the last 2 games), and his insistence on throwing players in mixed positions in a single game. When consistency is your worst enemy, as it is this year, I don't think you fix it by throwing in more variables.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Brad Miller, Yao Ming, and JO (when he plays center), and technically STD plays center as well. Dirk could not guard a paper bag, let alone the center in this league. If Dirk played center he would be more tired from getting banged around in the post (regardless of how little effort he put in on D). This would do nothing be decrease his offense. That would defeat Dallas' whole game plan, which is to outscore their opponents. </div> True enough he might get banged up, but whos going to be be able to guard him when he gets hot? Most centers will look for him to be in the post, thats when he will blow past you like a PG, go the 3pnt line and shoot a 3 in your face. I know he wont be able to guard Shaq, Duncan or KG, but who can? See the thing is, if Dirk plays his game, Shaq, Duncan and KG wont be able to stop him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Just because he plays 5 doesnt mean he has to play offense down low, it would make more sense if he played outside of the paint and could make a slower defender such as shaq try to guard him on the perimeter </div> Exactly! Took the words right out of my mouth. Lets say for instance Dirk is at the 5, Shaq is guarding him on the perimter, that leaves the paint open, boom feed Walker/Jamison.. IMO one of 3 things are gonna happen, BUCKET, FOUL or BUCKET + 1 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Dirk can guard most centers defensively, but offensively it leaves no Maverick taller than Walker to fight for an offensive rebound. That hasn't been bad - Jamison and Howard have helped - but I can't help but think this would be a better team if Bradley could perform well for 25 MPG or we had another legitiamte center who really liked the paint. </div> With the SADAM line up the rebounding has raised alot, they are 2nd in the leauge and rebounds and 1st in the leauge in offensive rebounds. Big Improvement for the Mavs, which like you said most credit goes to Jamison and Howard. Only thing Bradly is good for is rebounds, and he doesnt get alot of those.
My point - which may need some tweaking - is that someone scary needs to be making guys like Bonzi Wells, Zach Randolph, or even the little twerps like Bibby nervous about throwing a shot up in the paint. No one on the Mavs roster does that - with the exception of Bradley on rare occasions when he decides to play. My guess is that only a legitimate center could make that happen. Playing Dirk at the 5 means there's still no one doing that - otherwise they'd be at the 5. This team is too soft defensively. Layup drills are still too common for my liking. Someone has to patrol the paint. That shouldn't be Dirk.
