So, This Is Why Dirk Choked in the Playoffs?
Even the biggest Dallas Mavs homer can admit the following: Dirk Nowitzki, winner of the 2007 regular season MVP, took a heaping dump on the court (apologies for the visual everyone) during the postseason last year and basically placed an enormous asterisk on the glorious season he and his team were enjoying.
We blamed it on his so called “softness”; some thought the Warriors (and specifically, Stephen Jackson) intimidated the big German; others still placed the blame on his coach Avery Johnson for getting outfoxed by his former mentor, Don Nelson.
Whatever the case, the man came up small on the biggest stage, and unless he can redeem himself, it’ll leave an almost-impossible-to-ignore stain on his otherwise stellar (and Hall of Fame worthy) career.
In today’s Dallas Morning News, there’s a lengthy profile on Dirk Nowitzki, and in it we find out that Dirk was carrying a heavy heart during the Warriors series. It turns out that his father, Jörg, was undergoing surgery in Dallas:
“It was not easy for him to deal with the pressure of the playoffs and my dad’s surgery at the same time,” Dirk’s sister Silke e-mailed from the family’s hometown of Würzburg, Germany. “But Dirk is good at being able to focus on his game when he is on the court.”
The specifics of the surgery aren’t made available to the public, and not make excuses for Dirk’s poor Playoff showing, but this is an important reminder that despite these guys being paid more than handsomely and living the kind of life most of us can only dream of, they’re still human beings with real problems – problems that can certainly affect performance – like you and I.
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Dirk chokes when it matters the most. Sorry to hear his dad went under the knife at that time, but still in those big games after the 3rd week of April, he chokes.
And to the ‘he needs a end game backup player’ or whatever, that role goes to Stackhouse.
Tarzan, cut that sh*t out.
Tarzan’s Jane, why are you with this fool?
Dirk’s got some clutch in him. Remember how he took out the Spurs to get to the Finals? The “career-defining” performance he put on the Suns in the same year? Unless you’re MJ, the ball won’t drop for you every time, defenses will occasionally get the best of you and sometimes you’ll lose to team’s in the Finals. Sh*t happens. I think the Mavs will probably get to the top of the mountain before Dirk’s done. No one said it was easy.
This kind of ignorant back and forth is an unfortunate footnote to a good article. What a shame.
he played well in playoffs except the 2007 ones
and now we all know why…
so please stop it
start bitchin on mcgrady, this guy is even worse man, he hasn´t got out of the first round ever, or man! yao! he´s the same…
or kobe (kay you´re already doin this)
there are so many guys out there in the league, worth calling them a bitch
so why you all chose nowitzki?
he just came short a bit in the `06 playoffs
did your by all loved garnett ever get in the damn finals?
so please stop it
i´m out
Hisham: It started with “z,” ended in “z,” and in the middle there were a lot of “z”s. You can figure out the rest.
The article does show why Dirk is one of my favorite players though- just an incredibly nice and humble guy, but I guess most people here are still more obsessed with the need to front to appreciate that. Doesn’t matter, Stephen Jackson needs some love too.
He is the best NBA player known right now!
The Mavs are one of the Best NBA Teams!, but right now I now Bass, Harris, Dampier, George are injured! But they will be back and stronger than ever!
So don’t hate on the Mavs yet!
Wait ti’ll they come back to help the Mavs out!
They will crush every single team!
: D
So Dirk will keep on doing his best and will not fail…..that’s what I say..so don’t hate on the MVP!
: D
But he’s so good in the regular season that they defend Dirk really good to win….but they fail casue they have other weapons like The JET! J-5! and my man Stack!
So they defend Dirk really good in the playoffs and well he will find away to break through that!
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