Dirk on previous five Spurs-Mav series, just a great guy

[hitmantb]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4701407/dirk-goes-down-mavs-spurs-memory-lane

I personally believe he is a lot closer to Duncan than the number of championships indicates. 2011 Dirk was the only thing that stopped Miami Heat (even if they weren't as good then) and they beat both defending champion Lakers and Duran/Westbrook/Harden thunder. It was to me on par with Duncan's amazing 2003 one-star championship.

He will never be considered as great as Larry Bird but if you put him on these stacked Celtics rosters I don't think he would have done any less. If anything he has been healthier for longer and may have won more.

[Mark in Austin]

Never had anything but respect for Dirk (aside from no defense - but as a Spurs fan that isn't really an issue for me). It was always Terry I didn't like on those Mavericks teams. Classy guy & great career. That being said, I hope he loses.

[Darius McCrary]

He was without a doubt the greatest basketball player on the planet in that 2011 run.
Was incredible.

[koriwhat]

Screw dirk and them boys in blue. No love!

[TampaDude]

He was without a doubt the greatest basketball player on the planet in that 2011 run.
Was incredible.

^ this

Dirk was clearly on a mission and would not be denied. Nobody was beating the Mavs that year. What they did to the Lakers was a glorious thing to behold. Dirk deserved at least one ring and I'm so glad he finally got it. :toast

[FkLA]

Was Dirk a defensive anchor in '11? Great playoff run but lol at comparing it to '03 Timmy.

[Captivus]

Dirk did it all in that championship.
Off course other players did their thing too...I remember games when Barea couldn't miss. It was a well balanced team.
Still, Dirk was the key, clutch as hell.

[Dingle Barry]

Dirk brings an absolutely unstoppable jumper and that's about it. He is underwhelming on the boards and on D and his legacy will reflect that.

[Budkin]

Love Dirk. Rooted for him in 2011. Glad he got his ring. One of the classiest guys around.

[Sean Cagney]

Dirk is that dude twice.

[HemisfairArena]

Great respect for Dirk,,,,its a shame he had to play for a douchebag like Cuban.

[jag]

I've never rooted for a non-Spurs player like I did for Dirk in 2011. Great dude. Great player.

[ElNono]

I've never rooted for a non-Spurs player like I did for Dirk in 2011. Great dude. Great player.

I couldn't get behind that team, tbh... not with Donatello in it...

[baseline bum]

Just from this thread you can tell the Spurs won today. :lol

If Dallas wins game 2 there will surely be one calling him a flopping pussy.

[dunkman]

Bird was more clutch, was the better rebounder, had better ball handling, fantastic passing, some defense and toughness in the mix too. Dirk however does compare with Bird in shooting. During 3 seasons Bird was clearly the best player in the NBA. The C's won 2 'ships and made it to the finals during that period of time.

McHale was another star is his own right, but Bird made everyone better.

[Juggity]

Dirk did it all in that championship.
Off course other players did their thing too...I remember games when Barea couldn't miss. It was a well balanced team.
Still, Dirk was the key, clutch as hell.

I mean...he did it all on offense, no doubt. But it took a DPOY-level Tyson Chandler on defense to cover up his deficiencies there.

[exstatic]

Bird was more clutch, was the better rebounder, had better ball handling, fantastic passing, some defense and toughness in the mix too. Dirk however does compare with Bird in shooting. During 3 seasons Bird was clearly the best player in the NBA. The C's won 2 'ships and made it to the finals during that period of time.

McHale was another star is his own right, but Bird made everyone better.

Yeah, Bird was pretty much a 6'8" trash talking Ginobili. Dirk is probably a better shooter, but Bird was better at every other facet of the game.

[bigfan]

I hate the Mavs but totally respect Dirk. The guy is a class act both on and off the court.

[InRareForm]

that 2011 year was spectacular

[Captivus]

Yeah, Bird was pretty much a 6'8" trash talking Ginobili. Dirk is probably a better shooter, but Bird was better at every other facet of the game.

I agree. Not many can excel in both ends. Chandler was huge that year, and other players also had great games.

[Old School 44]

Just from this thread you can tell the Spurs won today. :lol

If Dallas wins game 2 there will surely be one calling him a flopping pussy.
Lol. Thinking the same thing. Now that I reflect on it, Jason Terry wasn't that bad. Likewise for JJ Barea. They were both fierce competitors. And I know I'm not the only one on this board who would have loved to hangout and smoke a joint with Josh Howard.

[Raven]

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4701407/dirk-goes-down-mavs-spurs-memory-lane

I personally believe he is a lot closer to Duncan than the number of championships indicates. 2011 Dirk was the only thing that stopped Miami Heat (even if they weren't as good then) and they beat both defending champion Lakers and Duran/Westbrook/Harden thunder. It was to me on par with Duncan's amazing 2003 one-star championship.

He will never be considered as great as Larry Bird but if you put him on these stacked Celtics rosters I don't think he would have done any less. If anything he has been healthier for longer and may have won more.

:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao:lmao

[Spur|n|Austin]

Never had anything but respect for Dirk (aside from no defense - but as a Spurs fan that isn't really an issue for me). It was always Terry I didn't like on those Mavericks teams. Classy guy & great career. That being said, I hope he loses.

Bingo.

[Dex]

Hate to say it, but really hard to say what happens in that 2003 WCF series if Dirk doesn't get hurt in Game 3.

Interesting to hear Dirk's side of The Foul. He might as well have said, "We were down three and I drove for a two and Manu came over and fouled me like a jackass."