<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It takes one to know one. And if anybody should know an elite-level player, it's one who has scored 81 and 62 points in games this season. In Kobe Bryant's estimation, Dirk Nowitzki needs to take a back seat to nobody when it comes to his NBA reputation and being an MVP candidate. "How could he not be?" Bryant said. "He's a phenomenal player, and he does it on a consistent level. He's probably the only 7-footer who can stroke it from the outside like he does." In a bygone era, 7-footers who made a living beyond the 3-point line were known as soft and, sometimes, by even less-flattering terms. But Nowitzki has earned the right to be regarded as a unique talent rather than a novelty, Bryant said. Having Don Nelson for his first NBA coach didn't hurt. "Maybe it was Nellie who started extending the defenses with those big guys," Bryant said. "Now, you got a lot of gaps in the defense when you got a big guy out there who can shoot it like that. Dirk's been terrific." </div> Source
It's good to hear an elite-level player, quite possibly the best player this year, talk like that about Dirk. We really have a well put-together team; I hope the front office doesn't make a stupid trade before the deadline
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WhiteManCanJump:</div><div class="quote_post">It's good to hear an elite-level player, quite possibly the best player this year, talk like that about Dirk. We really have a well put-together team; I hope the front office doesn't make a stupid trade before the deadline</div> I think Mark Cuban's tinkering days are over with. The only player I could see being traded is KVH. I read one rumor about swapping him + Draft Pick for Antonio Davis. Adding another goon to defend against Tim Duncan in the post-season makes a lot of sense. Last night the Lakers were able to get back in the game by hitting the offensive glass. I still see rebounding as an area of concern for Dallas, and AD could help out there. Whether he's boxing out two guys, or grabbing the rebound himself. The Mavs never know what they are going to get out of Dampier/Diop from game to game.
Good point; I was hoping for a KVH move myself. To me that move depends on the pick; the Mavs have had a recent history of draft genius and i hate seeing us with no picks to work our magic with. That trade would make a lot of sense though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VeNMaN:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobes little speech there was all PR...</div> Well Mark Cuban is intimidating.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Mark Cuban is intimidating. </div> I think everyone should want to play for the Mavs. Plush locker room, great fans, and an owner who can single handedly make your team 38-10! Please. I dont know what it will take for us to get some respect
I think Kobe told Jerry Buss that he preferred Lamar Odom and Caron and those guys to Dirk when the Shaq trade was going down. Wow was that a mistake. Not that Cuban would have let go of his golden boy. As far as Respect; If the Mavs beat the Kobes in the playoffs, they will get some respect. If the Mavs beat the Suns in the playoffs, they will get a bit more respect. If they beat the Spurs, they will get mad respect. If they beat the Pistons, well they will be one of the alltime cinderella NBA teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WhiteManCanJump:</div><div class="quote_post"> I think everyone should want to play for the Mavs. Plush locker room, great fans, and an owner who can single handedly make your team 38-10! Please. I dont know what it will take for us to get some respect</div> I don't think a championship will do it either, which is unfortunate. Watching TNT yesterday, Barkley and the gang were already focusing on SA's injuries as the reason Dallas has a better record. I'm not a Mavs fan, at all, but even I'm getting annoyed at how much crap they take from those jokers on TNT. They ended up beating Memphis after being down by 19 or so points, and Barkley was focusing on them being down big to Memphis because "they don't play defense." As if SA and Detroit could NEVER be trailing in a game against Memphis.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think a championship will do it either, which is unfortunate. Watching TNT yesterday, Barkley and the gang were already focusing on SA's injuries as the reason Dallas has a better record. I'm not a Mavs fan, at all, but even I'm getting annoyed at how much crap they take from those jokers on TNT. They ended up beating Memphis after being down by 19 or so points, and Barkley was focusing on them being down big to Memphis because "they don't play defense." As if SA and Detroit could NEVER be trailing in a game against Memphis.</div> I think the reason they take all the heat is because there is one very important thing that this San Antonio and Detroit teams have won. A Championship. Until this new look defense orriented Mavericks wins a championship, it will always be cracked on its "No D in Dallas" jokes or how their like Peyton Manning in the playoffs.
Okay, I'm a Toronto fan because I come from this area, but how could Kobe not want Dirk ahead of Lamar. In my opinion, Lamar is such an underachiever it's not funny.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">There is one very important thing that this San Antonio and Detroit teams have won. A Championship. Until this new look defense orriented Mavericks wins a championship, it will always be cracked on its "No D in Dallas" jokes or how their like Peyton Manning in the playoffs.</div> Nothing against you, but that is the same crappy reasoning everyone including Sir Bark-A-Lot gives us. Only 5 teams - Lakers, Spurs, Pistons, Bulls and Rockets have won titles in the last 15 years. What have Indiana and Miami won to get more credit than the Mavs, especially on TNT? There's much more than just blantant hate.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dallasdude:</div><div class="quote_post">Nothing against you, but that is the same crappy reasoning everyone including Sir Bark-A-Lot gives us. Only 5 teams - Lakers, Spurs, Pistons, Bulls and Rockets have won titles in the last 15 years. What have Indiana and Miami won to get more credit than the Mavs, especially on TNT? There's much more than just blantant hate.</div> My bad, I forgot to clarify that is the reason they take much heat. Their "No D in Dallas" over the past few years and their inability to win in the playoffs. As for Indiana I really don't get why they get more credit than the Mavs because I seen no credit given to them, maybe they went to the finals one year? Of course that team was COMPLETELY different so I don't know about them. As for Miami they have a proven winner leading their squad in Shaq. The same guy that led a team to 3 consecutive championships.
