Here are all of my reasons...-26.3 PPG (career high)-8.9 RPG-41.9% 3FG (career high)-48.1% FG (career high)-89.7% FT (career high-2.8 APG-1.1 BPG-Only "star" player on team, as well as only reliable player.-Hit 10 points in Toronto overtime, a 24-point comeback-8 straight points in 2-minute warning in first Toronto matchup in a 93-91 win. Dirk hit two treys and a 15-foot jumper over two defenders.-Hit 11 straight points in the 17-point comeback against Phoenix on opening night. Dirk started with 2 free throws, then hit three straight treys.-Had a 51-point performance in 41 minutes, even in a loss, to Golden State. Dirk was 16-24 shooting, 3-4 from beyond the ark, 16-17 from the charity stripe, had five assists, two steals, a block, and 51 points.-Mavericks are on pace for 63 victories (a would-be franchise high)-Team only getting better with Dirk only player left in spotlight (Finley and Nash both left)-Consistent top 20 player in Tendex Defensive Ratings.-You can insult Dirk's defense, but watch a game today, and Dirk isn't being attacked on on defense. You can see it for yourself.-NBA record for free throw percentage for a seven footer.-NBA record for three-pointers made by a seven footer.-Best team performance between him and Nash.ADD MORE OF YOUR OWN :rock:
Josh Howard has definitely played as well this year as Finley ever did but the big surprise is how Dirk got so much better after Nash left. I actually think Dirk working on his one on one game made him better and not Nash leaving. Dirk definitely is an MVP imo with Nash a close second.
Nash and Dirk are pretty much the only two players left that deserve to win the award, in my opinion, but I'm giving the nod to Nash.Yes, Nash does have Marion, but he didn't have Amare for the majority of the season (just returned), and they traded Joe Johnson and Q-Rich in the offseason... two big components of their teams from last year. For Nash to lead that team to such a good record without Amare is truly remarkable. And, most, if not all, of their regular players are having career years because of Nash.Nash is the MVP, in my eyes, but Dirk is right there with him.
Nash has Bell, Marion, Diaw, and Kurt Thomas. Bell's breakout year was last year with Utah, Diaw was on a bad team with Atlanta and was playing the wrong position, Marion is a better player than any second player Dallas has but Howard is the second, and Kurt Thomas helped Phoenix with rebounding and defense. Also don't forget the emergence of Barbosa and addition of Eddie House so Phoenix definitely improved their team this year if they had a healthy Amare. Nash didn't exactly have to carry his team this year despite the loss of Amare.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Josh Howard has definitely played as well this year as Finley ever did but the big surprise is how Dirk got so much better after Nash left. I actually think Dirk working on his one on one game made him better and not Nash leaving. Dirk definitely is an MVP imo with Nash a close second.</div>What a joke of a statement to start it off for a Mavs fan. And why is it such a surprize how much Dirk got better without Nash? Dirk had to become the man of the team with Fin declining and Nash leaving. Nash leaving helped Dirk take that leadership and that is why he's playing the way he is. Now, I know Dirk works and improves his game every year, but with Nash here, Dirk would get less work with the ball. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Yes, Nash does have Marion</div>A guy getting top 5 MVP consideration as well. Who else on Mavs gets that? They replaced Joe and Qrich pretty well. Diaw, Bell, Jones, Barbosa, House all have stepped up and hit those open 3's that JJ and Q hit.Honestly it would be cool if Dirk got it, but I seriously doubt he wins.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Waqas @ Mar 24 2006, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>-8 straight points in 2-minute warning in first Toronto matchup in a 93-91 win. Dirk hit two treys and a 15-foot jumper over two defenders.</div>Ok, about TOR, any player and any team can have their way with this team, that's how poor their D is. How else do you think KB got his 81 --> absolutely no defense. So you can't use TOR to support ur claims.
Nash leaving wasn't the reason for Dirk's improvement. Dirk was bound to get better anyways because of his age and talent. Getting rid of Walker and Jamison was a positive for Dallas because both of them were taking shots away from Dirk and Finley as well. What was a joke about the Howard and Finley comparison? Howard has been the perfect compliment to Dirk while Finley wasn't.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What was a joke about the Howard and Finley comparison? Howard has been the perfect compliment to Dirk while Finley wasn't.</div>Um to say Howard has played better then Fin ever has is a joke. And how doesn't Fin compliment Dirk with his ability to hit the long bomb just like he does with Terry? Also, weren't we 20-1 last year when Dirk/Fin had over 20 each together. Not a bad compliment, too bad Fin was on the decline. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Nash leaving wasn't the reason for Dirk's improvement. Dirk was bound to get better anyways because of his age and talent.</div>Dirk was bound to get better but would never take over the team with Nash here. They would both play off each other and never fully carry the team themself. That is why Nash leaving opened Dirk to take that role and get to use his abilities by having the ball in his hands more. Nash creating would limit Dirk.Both are needed for Dirk to establish himself as a MVP candidate.
I didn't say Howard was better but just as good as Finley ever was. Finley was streaky and when he is on than the mavs were unbeatable. Finley's shot selection was never as good as Howard's. Finley relied on fadeaway jumpers and 3 pointers much like Dirk but just not as accurate. Unfortunately Finley went downhill quick and the mavs made the right decision in releasing him. Nash created for Dirk instead of Dirk creating for himself. At the same time Finley, Walker, Jamison, and Howard were all needing their shots. So too many scorers really hurt Dirk's rhythm and Nash had to make everyone happy. Who knows how good Dirk would do if they kept Nash and got rid of Walker, Finley, and Jamison.
Alrite, Hm01, I know that, but he still came up clutch, at least, lol.To mavsfan1000, I think Dirk is finally proving to others that he does NOT have a super supporting cast. Howard's missed about 20 games this season, Stackhouse at 24, Andre Griffin at around 10, I think, etc.And if you really want to take ANOTHER look at MVP, READ THIS!!!Everybody is talking about Amare being back, and even I was last night, but look at it this way.The Suns basically lose a 25 PPG, 10 RPG guy in Amare, and Nash is leading them to a 56-win pace.The Mavericks basically lose a 20 PPG, 10 APG guy in Steve Nash, and Dirk is leading them to a 64-win pace.Get the point?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Waqas @ Mar 25 2006, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Suns basically lose a 25 PPG, 10 RPG guy in Amare, and Nash is leading them to a 56-win pace.The Mavericks basically lose a 20 PPG, 10 APG guy in Steve Nash, and Dirk is leading them to a 64-win pace.Get the point?</div>This makes no sense to me. Why are you comparing Steve Nash losing Amare to Dirk losing Nash? Dirk "lost" Nash two years ago, so it's not like he lost a 20 and 10 guy from last year's team.
No, what I'm saying is that Dirk lost a super point guard and his team is doing better than the Suns losing a super forward and not doing as well.
Nash without Stoudemire=56 wins while Stoudemire without Nash= No playoffs or 8th seed at best. Dirk did lose Nash but he gained Josh Howard since Howard really improved his game from his first year to second and also got Terry and Harris. Though Nash is obviously the best player the mavs got enough in return to keep winning.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Nash created for Dirk instead of Dirk creating for himself. At the same time Finley, Walker, Jamison, and Howard were all needing their shots. So too many scorers really hurt Dirk's rhythm and Nash had to make everyone happy. Who knows how good Dirk would do if they kept Nash and got rid of Walker, Finley, and Jamison.</div>Stop using that one year. We had Nash and Dirk for 5 seasons. And your only pointing out one season, our worst.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Finley's shot selection was never as good as Howard's.</div>Please, Howard takes bad shots as well and is malcontent on the fastbreak. In his earlier years, Fin would drive as much as Howard did. Hopefully Howard can develop a jumper and remember to keep driving, something Fin went away from.
Good point, Rok.By the way, most people LIKED the signing of Jamison and also using Walker, because when Dirk got injured in the WCF, who was there to save the Mavs?It was a failed experiment, but yeah, Dirk is the only player to have started/played every game this season.Josh Howard DOES have a bad shot selection, and I wish he could be a better passer, because most of his shots are setups by Nowitzki.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Josh Howard DOES have a bad shot selection, and I wish he could be a better passer, because most of his shots are setups by Nowitzki.</div>Yes at times, I wince as some of the shots he takes.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>By the way, most people LIKED the signing of Jamison and also using Walker, because when Dirk got injured in the WCF, who was there to save the Mavs?</div>We didn't sign Jamison, we traded for him.
Yeah, but still two back-up PF's, or one if you considered Walker a center in Dallas.Josh Howard can play defense, though, so that's what we need from him.
Honestly I expected Jamison to start at SF when we got him. Then we got Walker, and the lineup had to be changed.
