a) DeSagana Diop --> yeh the guy who is touted of one of the biggest busts of all time and worthless. He turned into a starter and he's a key part of the teamb) Adrian Griffin --> unsigned free agent. Starter for the Dallas Mavericks, top 3 team in the leaguec) Josh Howard --> picked 29thd) Marquis Daniels --> undrafted. Now has biggest contract of any 03 draftee'e) Josh Powell --> undrafted. Backup PF f) Rawle Marshall --> undrafted. Started a few games and showed promiseg) DJ MBenga --> who? Mavs sign him and he's an alright contributor when he comes in. Probably doesn't speak english well and didn't play bball until he was 17Fact is, when players come to Dallas - they play better. Maybe it's Dirk's desire to win, unmatchable enthusiam and team spirit -- or maybe it's something in the water
dirk didn't make these guys better.-Diop list like 50 lbs. in the offseason. His hard work got him where he is. You think Dirk made him a better shotblocker? what a joke.-Griffin is known for his defense. He was signed, and he plays bc he is an excellent defender and an unselfish player. Once again, Dirk has nothing to do with this.-Josh Howard was already good, where he got picked is irrelevant. -His contract is completely off the topic, and Dirk doesn't make him better, he is a pretty good defender, and he creates for himself if he scores.-Rawle Marshall? are you kidding?-DJ Mbenga? that guy is just a veast with no offensive talent. Dirk has NOTHING to do with his play.Dirk does NOT maek his teammates better.
Have you ever watched a Mavs game? Dirk draws double/triple teams opening up shots for his team mates, Dirk's enthusiasm and desire to win makes the team work harder.
You have to credit to some of those players as well. But guys like Rawle/Powell/Benga haven't played enough to be on the list. Griff is just playing the same way he has always been, and Diop as dogma said lost weight on his own which was his biggest setback in his years as a Cav.And for Daniels, the only reason he got that contract is his year contract was up and we had to sign him to the MLE because his value had risen due to his playoff performance. That wasn't Dirk's play, it was Nellie's system that allowed Daniels to exploit other team's mismatches by playing point forward, also his ability to post up Kings smaller guards.I do think Dirk makes players better by letting them work off him, because of all the attention he gets. It's takes the pressure off other players to do their thing. Without Dirk, some of these players would be having a difficult time getting their shots because other teams don't have to zone on a single player.
See, the problem with you, dogmatist, is that WHY THE HELL DOES DIOP's LOSING 50 MATTER!?!? He only averages 2 PPG, you know, and he doesn't do too much on offense, even on setting picks...Adrian Griffin is usually found open for lots of shots.ALSO, Dirk had a game-winner on the Clippers, crunch time baskets in San Antonio, let his teammates PLAY in the New Orleans game (Josh Howard took more shots than Dirk), and does lots of stuff.I think you are an idiot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think you are an idiot.</div>Funny coming you, I said Dirk helps his teammates but you don't give him all the credit for making the players around him better. They play a part in it too dumbass.And Diop losing 50 pounds is important because if he was fat, then he wouldn't be starting or even on the team. Him losing those pounds helps him move on the court better, and be able to block shots. But no to you that doesn't mean jack <Censored>. Dirk is the reason he starts. Diop didn't help in any way.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Adrian Griffin is usually found open for lots of shots.</div>And that's only because of Dirk?
Yeah, but lots of Josh Howard setups are from Dirk Nowitzki, and I've seen his passing improving a lot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Saint Baller @ Apr 13 2006, 07:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Have you ever watched a Mavs game? Dirk draws double/triple teams opening up shots for his team mates, Dirk's enthusiasm and desire to win makes the team work harder.</div>If he were really drawing doubles and triples like you say, with the shooters the Mavs have, he should be averaging more than 2.7 assists per game.He is an excellent player, but it is questionable whether he makes his teammates that much better.
That's because of ISOLATIONS.Dallas is 28th in the league in the NBA, so you can't really insult 2.7 APG.
Guys look, Dirk doesn't make his teammates better like a guy like Kidd or Nash.But you have to admit something happens when player come to Dallas. It's either Dirk or the coaches, or the owner or something.I mean for about the last 7 years or so players that have either been bad attitudes or problem children or just not very good players have come to Dallas and basically been reborn.I mean the only who really failed at that was Antione Walker, who stayed the same player. But Van Excell, and Stack are the biggest examples of players who had bad attitudes who have redone their image here. Now I don't know if that has to do with Dirk or the management, but you have to admit it happened.Guys like Najera, who hasn't been quite the force he was when on the Mavericks(allthough he has played well with the Nuggs). Guys like Raef hasn't been as good since he left Dallas either.I mean overall, I think Dirk does help out, but he's not a PG, and doens't make guys better like Nash or Kidd.But then again neither does TD or KG obviously...I mean the only big man that really makes that much of a difference is Shaq.Just my thoughts on it.
I was watching the first quarter of that old Miami Heat - Mavericks game from this season, when Dirk went 4-5 from beyond the ark. The only other full game I had was Mavs and Lakers, so I just did Mavs and Heat. Here was his stats after one.Dirk's Points: 5Other Potential Feeds/Asssits: 8 Points Missed (OPEN Dirk-to-Terry trey, Dirk-to-Howard open trey, and Dirk-to-Howard missed layup)Responsible for Other Points (Assists, Points from FT from Dirk feed, good feed with a basket, etc.): 5 pointsTotal Mavericks Points with Nowitzki's 9 minutes: 23Total Mavericks Points with Nowitzki's absence 3 minutes: 4I know, only one quarter, but at least it's a good sample to start off.
