Dirk's Last Stand

[Calispursfan11]

We all know that Timmy D has slowed down and taken a more secondary role on the Spurs. Dirk is approaching 33 years old and wears his7 foot tall body out running up and down the floor. When can we expect to see a signficant decline to where he can no longer be the number one option for the Mavs?

[lefty]

Not anytime soon

The combination of zone D and Dirk's outside touch will extend his career

[Calispursfan11]

Not anytime soon

The combination of zone D and Dirk's outside touch will extend his career

Makes sense, but he's still a really big guy. I can't think of many other bigs who have lasted much older than 33 as the number one option. Possibly number two, but not number one. I'm sure I am forgetting some of the all-time greats who stayed good into their 30s, but generally I think bigs break down around this time.

[ernest787]

dirk has never played like a big though. he doesn't really bang in the post and plays like a 7 foot guard

i think he has another 2-3 years as a top tier player on the offensive end. he's never been on the defensive end and as lefty said, zone defense helps to limit his exposure there.

[nkdlunch]

doubt it. shooting guards usually have longer careers than centers/forwards

[Cane]

Dirk's already started to break down a little bit this season and it seemed like he was rushed back from injury. IIRC he's missed the most games this season than in any other as well.

As long as Dirk's tall and can shoot he should still be an elite offensive option and the Mavs need it as seen with their record when he was sidelined.

Imo Dirk should've already started to take a backseat in the regular season to guys like Butler and the emergence of Roddy but unfortunately for MavNation those guys were injured. The less miles for Dirk the better if Cuban wants to contend.


Makes sense, but he's still a really big guy. I can't think of many other bigs who have lasted much older than 33 as the number one option. Possibly number two, but not number one. I'm sure I am forgetting some of the all-time greats who stayed good into their 30s, but generally I think bigs break down around this time.

Off the top of my head: Karl Malone and Hakeem are great bigs that played well even in their 30's both offensively and defensively. EDIT: But yea it is rare for players to compete on a high level into their 30's especially on both ends of the court.

[lefty]

doubt it. Shooting guards usually have longer careers than centers/forwards
+1

[jermaine]

He's one good knee injury away from a downfall. If he had the foot or knee injures Duncan has had, he'd be on his last leg also.

[Crytek]

The Decline has already happened. Dude is shooting .528 .424 .888. Will only get worse.

[TD 21]

What would he wear down from? He never played a man's game to begin with, like Duncan. He's played as easy as possible a game for a big man throughout his career. There's no reason he should suddenly begin to struggle shooting fade and fall away mid-range jumpers over defenders four inches smaller. That's not based on athleticism or mobility.

[Russ]

Did Dirk ever have a first stand?

[Lukor]

What would he wear down from? He never played a man's game to begin with, like Duncan. He's played as easy as possible a game for a big man throughout his career. There's no reason he should suddenly begin to struggle shooting fade and fall away mid-range jumpers over defenders four inches smaller. That's not based on athleticism or mobility.

easy as possible? He's perhaps the only person in the world who can regularly knock down jumpers like he does. No other big man has a shooting touch like his.

[moisaenz]

His game will decline but to his advantage with more experience he will stop choking...

[jermaine]

easy as possible? He's perhaps the only person in the world who can regularly knock down jumpers like he does. No other big man has a shooting touch like his.

That's sooooo true. Love or hate the Mavs, you gotta respect Dirk an all he has done. The man is wet. Wetter the water itself. Lmao, but seriously he can't be stopped if he put his head down an his mind to it. It's like you think everything he throws up is going in . An if for some reason he misses, you gotta go down an get 2. You just gotta if you want a chance to win. Id rather Dirk take my last shot over anyone in the Nba.

[Blake]

Dirk is approaching 33 years old and wears his7 foot tall body out running up and down the floor.


dirk has never played like a big though. he doesn't really bang in the post and plays like a 7 foot guard


That.

I recall a reporter asking DRob one time how worn out he felt after playing against the run n gun Nuggets of the early 90s.

To paraphrase, he said he felt good and that he would rather do that all night instead of bang down low with the bigs.

[Blake]

You just gotta if you want a chance to win. Id rather Dirk take my last shot over anyone in the Nba.

lol no

[jermaine]

lol no

Who would you rather?

[Sigz]

Dirk gets a ton of hate from people.

I don't really understand why? He's a genuine superstar who stays in his element.

So what if he's a "pussy" 7 foot shooting guard? Talk about someone having to CARRY his team.. he does it year in and out without complain.

When I can't root for the Spurs, I root for Dirk.

[Calispursfan11]

Who would you rather?

I'd rather have Manu take the last shot.

[TD 21]

easy as possible? He's perhaps the only person in the world who can regularly knock down jumpers like he does. No other big man has a shooting touch like his.

I wasn't clear on one point. The way I wrote it, it reads as if I'm inferring Duncan, like Nowitzki, didn't/doesn't play a man's game, which is in fact the opposite of what I meant.

I don't necessarily mean it disparagingly, though I know it'll be interpreted strictly as such. What I meant was, he plays an easy game. In the sense that he's not routinely banging in the post against players of similar and greater size/strength, he's never been counted on to anchor a defense and all that encompasses, from a shot blocking, rebounding standpoint. He's routinely guarded by players significantly smaller, who have no chance at bothering his shot. He's also been saved from guarding the majority of dreadnaught post players. Among 7-footers, only him and Garnett have enjoyed that luxury. Always had to have someone else to do the dirty work for them.

[Blake]

Who would you rather?

Kobe for one.

I might be biased, but I'd also prefer Manu over Dirk.

If you want to really want to get to it, go into the NBA forum downstairs and start a poll thread on clutchest players in the NBA.

Dirk mighhht finish top 5.

[Lukor]

I wasn't clear on one point. The way I wrote it, it reads as if I'm inferring Duncan, like Nowitzki, didn't/doesn't play a man's game, which is in fact the opposite of what I meant.

I don't necessarily mean it disparagingly, though I know it'll be interpreted strictly as such. What I meant was, he plays an easy game. In the sense that he's not routinely banging in the post against players of similar and greater size/strength, he's never been counted on to anchor a defense and all that encompasses, from a shot blocking, rebounding standpoint. He's routinely guarded by players significantly smaller, who have no chance at bothering his shot. He's also been saved from guarding the majority of dreadnaught post players. Among 7-footers, only him and Garnett have enjoyed that luxury. Always had to have someone else to do the dirty work for them.

Fair enough.

[Greg Oden]

Kobe for one.

I might be biased, but I'd also prefer Manu over Dirk.

If you want to really want to get to it, go into the NBA forum downstairs and start a poll thread on clutchest players in the NBA.

Dirk mighhht finish top 5.


What the fuck are you talking about? He would finish top 3 at the worst. His late game stats back it up. You're talking out of your ass.

But then again, this is coming from the guy who said he would take Ben Wallace over Hakeem.

[Blake]

What the fuck are you talking about? He would finish top 3 at the worst. His late game stats back it up. You're talking out of your ass.

ok, then top 3 would be in the top 5. 3 wouldnt surprise me, but I doubt it.

I'm going by some of the things I've read from of your krompadres.

My curiosity has peaked enough to start a rare thread downstairs.


But then again, this is coming from the guy who said he would take Ben Wallace over Hakeem.

you're talking out of your ass.

[Greg Oden]

right because you didn't say that :rolleyes

[Blake]

right because you didn't say that :rolleyes

right because I never said I would take Ben over Hakeem in the general sense you are throwing out here.

Why are you being a dumbfuck? :lol

Is it because of tonight's disappointing performance by a top 3 clutch player?

[Greg Oden]

saying he was a better defensive player because he he has more DPOY awards (:lol) than Hakeem is retarded.


Is Camby a better defender than Duncan?

[Nick Manning]

saying he was a better defensive player because he he has more DPOY awards (:lol) than Hakeem is retarded.


Is Camby a better defender than Duncan?

Right now, yes.

[Greg Oden]

cool maybe Blake meant Ben Wallace was a better defender present day as well!

[Nick Manning]

Hakeem is on the Mt. Rushmore of bigmen, offensively and defensively...anybody taking Ben Wallace over him is a fucktard

[Blake]

saying he was a better defensive player because he he has more DPOY awards (:lol) than Hakeem is retarded.

Ben has 4 DPOYs in a 5 year span.

I give the nod to Ben having the better defensive career than Hakeem.

saying simply that I would "take Ben over Hakeem" when I didnt is more retarded.


Is Camby a better defender than Duncan?

Camby's had one incredibly great defensive year in 07 where he won the award.

For his size, he's been a very good rebounder, but Duncan has been better, averaging a full rebound and a half more over the course of their careers.

Blocked shots: Camby 2.6 Duncan 2.3

Aside from his one DPOY, he's been a defensive first teamer twice and a second teamer twice.

Duncan has been a first teamer 8 times and a second teamer 5 times.

Nod goes to Duncan because he has more than 3 times as many total defensive team selections, imo.




any more? or is this about the time you just throw out an lol wallace?

[Blake]

cool maybe Blake meant Ben Wallace was a better defender present day as well!

retarded zing

[Greg Oden]

by your very own criteria, Camby > Duncan, defensively speaking.


this doesn't need to be hashed out any more. Taking Ben Wallace over Hakeem in any aspect of the game is bad enough.

[Blake]

by your very own criteria, Camby > Duncan, defensively speaking.

Winning an award means a lot by my creteria, but I've never said it was the only creteria.

Again, why are you being such a dumbfuck tonight?

Was it really because of the way the Spurs came into Dallas and manhandled the Mavs?


this doesn't need to be hashed out any more. Taking Ben Wallace over Hakeem in any aspect of the game is bad enough.

The only other player to have 4 DPOYs is Dikembe. Nobody else has 3.

I'm still good with saying Ben had the better defensive career even if you're still stuck on tonight's crushing loss.

[Greg Oden]

:lol I'm not the one making retarded statements like Ben Wallace is a better defender than Hakeem based on DPOY (:lol)

[Blake]

:lol I'm not the one making retarded statements like Ben Wallace is a better defender than Hakeem based on DPOY (:lol)

Ive never seen you take a mavs loss this hard before. :depressed

[Greg Oden]

It'll be better when I chow down some McDonald's breakfast in the morning.

[Calispursfan11]

In the general sense of the word, Ben is a great defensive player. But Hakeem was a superstar.

[Agloco]

We all know that Timmy D has slowed down and taken a more secondary role on the Spurs. Dirk is approaching 33 years old and wears his7 foot tall body out running up and down the floor. When can we expect to see a signficant decline to where he can no longer be the number one option for the Mavs?

I think we will see at least another 2 years at this level from Dirk.

[Calispursfan11]

I think we will see at least another 2 years at this level from Dirk.

Very reasonable prediction IMO, although I've also noticed that his rebounding has dropped off quite a bit this season. This may be a prelude to a significant dip in production even sooner. Part of this might be the addition of chandler, however, who eats glass very well thereby reducing the need for Dirk to board.

[Harry Callahan]

The Mavericks don't really have a number #2 option because I don't consider Terry a legitimate option (he is a clown).

A ton of pressure has been on Dirk since Nash and Finley left Dallas. He has done a really good offensive job and while he is not a fearsome defender - I would put the poor team defense at the front of the line for blame there.

Once again, not providing adequate help for Dirk falls at the feet of Mavericks "Management". The place where nothing gets managed and deck chairs get moved around.

Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks GM (in name only) spends a bunch of his time in Frisco with the Texas Legends D-League team. He glad hands with fans and dances on the sideline during breaks. We know where the buck stops in Dallas.