Dirk - WC Player of the Month April 2009

[Shank]

NOWITZKI NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL

DALLAS—Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April the NBA announced today. Nowitzki earns the honor for the fifth time in his career and first time since February, 2007.

“It is important for me to play well at this time of year and I want to play my best basketball when there is something at stake,” Nowitzki said. “We had a lot to play for in April and it is an honor to be named player of the month this close to the postseason. We are looking forward to a great playoff run.”

Nowitzki led the Mavericks (50-32) to a 6-2 month as they clinched the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. In that stretch, Dallas was 6-0 at home, winning by an average of 12.7 points. The Mavericks won four of five games versus +.500 opponents (including four straight from 4/1-10).

Nowitzki averaged 30.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in eight starts while shooting 55.1% (87-158 FGs) from the floor, 35.3% (6-17 3FGs) from 3-point range and 87.3% (62-71 FTs) from the line. The 10-year veteran recorded five 30-point outings with two double-doubles.

In the regular season finale vs. Houston (4/15), Nowitzki helped Dallas to its ninth consecutive 50-win season with 30 points and a season-high tying 15 rebounds in 41 minutes.

Dallas becomes only the fourth franchise in NBA history to win 50 games over nine straight seasons (San Antonio, Boston, L.A. Lakers).

Nowitzki, the NBA’s fourth leading scorer (25.9 ppg), closed the regular season by scoring 20+ points in each of the last 25 games dating back to vs. Oklahoma City (2/27) – the longest such streak in the NBA this season. Nowitzki also ranked 16th in rebounds per game (8.4) and seventh in free throw percentage (.890) among NBA leaders.

The Mavericks open their first round playoff series tomorrow night in San Antonio (7:00 PM CT on ESPN).

[redzero]

You got Chris Paul's name wrong.

[lurker]

Choker.

[Shank]

Soft Euro jumpshooter.

[beefanus]

He deserves it, gotta respect the germans

[sribb43]

and your 2009 Finals MVP....we will ride Dirk to the promise land

[Morg1411]

He deserves it, gotta respect the germans

Fuck the Germans.




Wait. I am German. FUCK!!!!

[Morg1411]

and your 2009 Finals MVP....we will ride Dirk to the promise land

I get the sentiment, but that sounds wrong. :wow

[Sportstudi]

Dirk has proven himself as a premier playoff performer
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archi...emier-pla.html
Quote:
There is a perception that Dirk can't get it done in the playoffs. You hear fans and talking heads say every season that the Mavs are too soft to do much playoff damage, starting with their 7-foot Euro superstar.

That's so silly that Mark Cuban can't even be bothered to shoot it down.

"That's like giving credence to people who still think that the earth is flat or that man didn't land on the moon," Cuban said, scoffing and rolling his eyes.

OK, since Cuban won't take the case, I will. Let's start with the stats.

Dirk has career averages of 22.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the regular season. His playoff averages: 25.3 points and 11.1 rebounds.

To put into perspective how impressive those playoffs stats are, he's one of only five 25/10 playoff performers in NBA history. The others: Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit and Shaquille O'Neal.

You certainly shouldn't hear anybody in San Antonio questioning Dirk's playoff chops. His 37-point, 15-rebound effort in Game 7 against the Spurs a few years ago, highlighted by an and-1 drive to force overtime, ranks as the most memorable playoff performance in Mavs history. (Right above his 50-point night in Game 5 against the Suns the next series.)

And Dirk proved his toughness against the Spurs when he was a peach-fuzzed lad in his first playoffs. The outmatched Mavs lost the series, but Dirk made sure they didn't go down in a sweep. The German kid, suffering from food poisoning, needed two IVs to play in Game 4 at Reunion Arena. Then he took an elbow from Terry Porter, knocking out his front tooth with a little less than five minutes remaining. After missing 33 seconds to stop the bleeding, Dirk snatched a rebound his first possession back on the floor and scored the final four points to seal the victory.

"What a gutsy guy," Don Nelson said after Dirk's 30-point, nine-rebound performance.

But Dirk is well aware that he'll be judged as a playoff performer based on winning and losing. And the Mavs haven't won much in the playoffs lately, losing 12 of their last 15 games dating to the parade-canceling Finals collapse against the Heat.

Dwyane Wade, not Dirk, dominated crunch time during that series. (Cuban not-so-subtly hints that there were other factors, which wore whistles around their necks, that helped Wade's cause.)

The Mavs followed that disappointment with a 67-win season, which only set up a devastating first-round exit. Dirk had the worst series of his career against Nellie's Warriors, giving his critics a ton of ammo.

Dirk doesn't complain that folks tend to point out his playoff failures much more often than they highlight his postseason heroics. He accepts that it's part of the deal for an NBA superstar who doesn't own a ring.

"Whoever doesn't win the championship is going to be known as a guy who can't get it done in the playoffs," Dirk said. "That's the only thing. Look at KG [Kevin Garnett]. For 10 or 11 years, he was known not to get it done, then he wins a championship. Now, he's the greatest, so it's just what it is.

"We've got to find a way over the next couple of years to bring a championship to Dallas."

You can count on Dirk to do his part.