BTW props to Dirk

[boutons_deux]

My respect for Dirk went up a lot when he started driving more a couple years ago. eg, his drive and 1 that won him the 06 Spurs series @ATT.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

My favorite thing about Dirk is that he never whines to the press. He just plays his game.

[jestersmash]

I only hate him because he's too good. It's a respectful hate.

[Strike]

I'd probably like him more if he played for another team not named the Lakers. The fact that he's a Mav forces me to despise him. I have plenty of respect for him as a player, but he's a Maverick.

[badfish22]

Dirk is probably gonna have to score 40+ for the Mavs to win tonight.

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't think it can be said enough: Dirk has really been fantastic in this series, as he has been for a very long time now.. As a Spurs fan, I hate to see him with the ball. As a basketball fan, I appreciate what a special talent he is. Among the many blessings to basketball fans who've closely followed the Spurs/Mavs rivalry since 2001 has been watching Dirk mature as a player through the years. He's truly among the greats and he's quite capable of carrying the Mavs to 3 straight wins in this series.

[rayray2k8]

Dirk is probably gonna have to score 40+ for the Mavs to win tonight.

He's been playing very well against the spurs, but Dirk has yet to get any help from this team mates.
The only 2 I've seen play well against the spurs were Barea and Terry.... That's about all.

I still don't get why mav fans knock on those 2 when they've given the spurs a hard time.

[SPURSCHAMP]

imagine him on the spurs

[Spurs7794]

He's on offensive prodigy on the court, but his ringless fate is of the same cause as Nash's - zero defensive responsibility. They just don't play smart, position defense at all. A big part of the reason the Spurs own the paint is because Dirk is soft on D.

I love comments like this. Even if you believe that he plays no D, they were one foul call away from being up 3-2 and heading back to Dallas in 2006. And who hit the shot to give them the lead before Bennett Salvatore won the series for the Heat? Dirk. Soooo basically one play is why he is ringless, not his defense.