Despite the good record this year, I really hoped Mavs would've suckered the Sixers to trade Iverson for dumb Terry and some fillers. Dirk's never going to be the vocal leader and be the primary superstar who's gonna carry the team. He's better at being a Scottie Pippen than MJ. Having a legit superstar like Iverson is what Dirk and the team needs in order to succeed.
^I wouldn't want to mess up what Dallas has going for them this season. They came pretty close last season, and if they don't do anything this season then I would look to make a move like that.
clutch play is one of those things that you either have or don't have....it's not something that develops usually.....
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">dropping 30 points still doesn't equate to clutch play, so he'll still be taunted (I'm not afraid of no Dirk...lol)....but Miami repeating isn't exactly "slim" imo...the east is weak, they have the best player in the league and with the addition of Jones, Kapono playing good, and a healthy Jason Williams and Shaq they could be right back in the finals</div> Even If they make the finals they would certainly not beat the Mavs again. Lighting doesn't strike twice. Dallas are an improved team from a year ago, have added to their roster and have that experience they didn't have last year. Still don't think Miami did enough this summer to be in a strong position to repeat. The play of Kapono has been impressive but after that? not much else. GP seems done to me, Jones coming back won't change that he is badly on the decline and not the player he was. You are underrating Dirk's game. He has hit a number of huge shots over the years in the regular season and in the playoffs. Yeah he had an off series in the finals but he was very good throughout the playoffs before that time. He hit big shots to see of the Suns in the WCF plus the obvious big play in game 7 against the Spurs.
Miami will bring their game come the playoffs I can't say I'm surprised about our record because we were built to only last a season or two after the trades last off-season ('05). I just expected us to pull it out for a bit longer. It feels weird saying this, but Kapono might be one of the keys on far we get the playoffs. Kapono is a really good complimentary player to Wade and Shaq. He can put it on the floor a little bit and hit his jumpshot (money). Plus, with Eddie Jones, we won't have to rely on Wade and Posey (inconsistent) for them to guard the top wing and perimeter players .
Honestly Kapono is the Heat's new Eddie Jones/James Posey. Guy who will hit open threes and give them some energy. Defensively is another matter though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Even If they make the finals they would certainly not beat the Mavs again. Lighting doesn't strike twice. Dallas are an improved team from a year ago, have added to their roster and have that experience they didn't have last year. </div> why wouldn't strike twice...you act like Miami got lucky last year.....all I'm saying is Miami can play with Dallas and the fact that can keep it close would make me favor them in a series, because Miami has Wade (best clutch player) and Dallas has Dirk (suspect down the stretch) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Still don't think Miami did enough this summer to be in a strong position to repeat. The play of Kapono has been impressive but after that? not much else. GP seems done to me, Jones coming back won't change that he is badly on the decline and not the player he was. .</div> they didn't have that much around Wade last year either, but Shaq,Kapono,Posey,Jones,Haslem,Williams,Walker, Payton,Wright etc. is a pretty good supporting cast if you ask me.....combine that with the best player on the planet and we have a legit title contender.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You are underrating Dirk's game. He has hit a number of huge shots over the years in the regular season and in the playoffs. Yeah he had an off series in the finals but he was very good throughout the playoffs before that time. He hit big shots to see of the Suns in the WCF plus the obvious big play in game 7 against the Spurs</div> a "number" is a stretch....I've seen him "shrink" more than be the "guy" down the stretch over his career...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">why wouldn't strike twice...you act like Miami got lucky last year.....all I'm saying is Miami can play with Dallas and the fact that can keep it close would make me favor them in a series, because Miami has Wade (best clutch player) and Dallas has Dirk (suspect down the stretch)</div> They are a year older thats why. The guys that helped them last year don't seem to be producting. Obviously Wade is still very good but really the health of Shaq is a question mark. They just don't seem to have as much weapons as they had last year. Dallas have improved, Miami don't seem to of done. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">they didn't have that much around Wade last year either, but Shaq,Kapono,Posey,Jones,Haslem,Williams,Walker, Payton,Wright etc. is a pretty good supporting cast if you ask me.....combine that with the best player on the planet and we have a legit title contender....</div> Best player on the planet? uhh..NO. Wade is very good but is not the best player in the NBA. The best player in the NBA wouldn't let the Heat drop below 500 in the EAST. He is very good but his game is not the best there is in this league. He is top 5 but best? no. Last year they all had a motivation that no other team seemed to have. The guys that last year knew their role and played It well. This year that hunger has seemed to of dissappeared. Yes they are still a contender but that doesn't mean they can beat a team like the Mavs again in a 7 game series. You can't judge everything on the regular season but as of right now I don't know how well they would do against Dallas if they played a series. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">a "number" is a stretch....I've seen him "shrink" more than be the "guy" down the stretch over his career...</div> You don't average above your season averages in the playoffs by "shrinking" down the stretch. He has had more big plays than bad ones through the playoffs over the years. Yeah he hasn't hit game winners but not many guys do in the playoffs. You can't judge that on him. He had a bad series Vs Miami but if you look at his playoff history he has been impressive. Thats the bottom line. He has come up big more than he has failed.
<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Since Miami looks like an amazingly inferior team to the Mavericks right now (check the records), Wade should just keep his mouth shut. If they meet in the Finals again, then maybe, just maybe these comments would be relevant. Dirk's team is owning Miami's right now, and it doesn't matter what excuse Wade uses, Dirk is a step ahead right now. If Miami makes it back to the Finals again then yeah, this would be a fair assesment. For now, shut up and play Wade.</div> Are you forgetting that Dirk was the person who said that Miami's championship was GIVEN to them. Wade is simply responding to Dirk's idiot comment.
I don't even believe that the Heat will beat Pistons in the ECF this time. I have a feeling that Pistons will win it this year. IMO they have all the pieces together, despite the fact that Big Ben is gone. There are so many possibilities, but I believe the most realistic ones are Dallas vs Pistons, Dallas vs Heat, Phoenix vs Pistons, Phoenix vs Heat. But unfortunatelly, it' going to be Lakers vs Raptors ! Dirk < Wade, Dirk < Kobe, Dirk < Nash. Let the topic fight begin now !
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">clutch play is one of those things that you either have or don't have....it's not something that develops usually.....</div> That's not true at all. Some players have a knack for stepping their game up in tight situations, but experience is usually the biggest factor for everyone else. Just look at Bosh from last year to this year. I guarantee that Dirk won't perform as poorly in this year's playoffs as he did last year, because he's had more experience in that situation. On the comments, I don't see anything wrong with it. Dirk talked trash and I'm actually surprised it took Wade this long to respond.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They are a year older thats why. The guys that helped them last year don't seem to be producting. Obviously Wade is still very good but really the health of Shaq is a question mark. They just don't seem to have as much weapons as they had last year. Dallas have improved, Miami don't seem to of done. </div> Posey and Haslem aren't old so they're still capable of producing.....Shaq didn't produce much last year either, but just his presence alone can make a difference...Miami still matches up very well with the Mavs...the combo of Posey/Haslem can still give Dirk fits come playoff time... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Best player on the planet? uhh..NO. Wade is very good but is not the best player in the NBA. The best player in the NBA wouldn't let the Heat drop below 500 in the EAST. He is very good but his game is not the best there is in this league. He is top 5 but best? no. </div> who can you honestly say is better than Wade????....Kobe is the only one I can see someone making a legit argument for....the best player in the league was also injured himself and had a lot of key pieces missing around him...he didn't "let" them drop to below .500...you see what Miami is doing now that they're getting healthy again...Wade is top 2 easily.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Last year they all had a motivation that no other team seemed to have. The guys that last year knew their role and played It well. This year that hunger has seemed to of dissappeared. Yes they are still a contender but that doesn't mean they can beat a team like the Mavs again in a 7 game series. You can't judge everything on the regular season but as of right now I don't know how well they would do against Dallas if they played a series. </div> fair enough, but don't be fooled by a bad record....I try to look at a teams rosters and their strengths and weaknesses...and imo Miami would still give the Mavs fits in a series (or anybody for that matter)... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You don't average above your season averages in the playoffs by "shrinking" down the stretch. He has had more big plays than bad ones through the playoffs over the years. Yeah he hasn't hit game winners but not many guys do in the playoffs. You can't judge that on him. He had a bad series Vs Miami but if you look at his playoff history he has been impressive. Thats the bottom line. He has come up big more than he has failed. </div> Even a Mavs fan admits that Dirk shrinks when it counts....when it comes to clutch play, Dirk has "choked" more than "step up"...and a lot of that has to do with his game, he's a finesse player, and when it comes to making plays down the stretch he doesn't do it, because he doesn't look to take it to the rack, doesn't have a post game, therefore he ends up settling for jumpers...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">That's not true at all. Some players have a knack for stepping their game up in tight situations, but experience is usually the biggest factor for everyone else. Just look at Bosh from last year to this year. I guarantee that Dirk won't perform as poorly in this year's playoffs as he did last year, because he's had more experience in that situation</div> experience can help "some" of the time, but you usually know if a player has "it" early on his career....
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">the only big game playoff shot I recall from Dirk was against S.A. last year and even then he needed help from a stupid foul from Manu to get the job done......</div> He hit a buzzer beat against Memphis to send a game into overtime, I believe. He's had plenty of big clutch performances in the playoffs. I don't trust quotes like these, because they're usually taken out of context. Wade has no good reason to say something like that out of the blue.
but that's against "memphis", does that really count???...lol.....all I'm saying is if the games on the line (on a big stage) there are a number of players that I'd take over Dirk down the stretch...and I doubt that quote was taken out of context, Wade sent some jabs towards Dirk earlier this season, and it was mainly because of Dirk saying dallas "let" Miami beat them.....
Jason Terry and Josh Howard out played dirk in my opinion. notice how terry got the potential game winner in game 5, not dirk. But dirk is still a good player.
I think Wade was right in saying that, Dirk tried to make it sound as if the Heat had no shot when he's the one who choked numerous times at the line late in games. I wouldn't say Miami is inferior either, they've won 5 in a row and played Dallas great for not having Shaq so we'll so come playoff time because it's very hard to count us out when we are the defending champs.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">but that's against "memphis", does that really count???...lol.....all I'm saying is if the games on the line (on a big stage) there are a number of players that I'd take over Dirk down the stretch...and I doubt that quote was taken out of context, Wade sent some jabs towards Dirk earlier this season, and it was mainly because of Dirk saying dallas "let" Miami beat them.....</div> Ah I see, so not coming up down the stretch only counts against one certain team? which is Miami as thats the only team in a playoff series he has played bad against over the past few years. Fact is this. Yes Miami are still a major threat this year no matter what the record but as other past champions will tell you just because you beat a team one year doesn't mean you can do It the year after. Mainly If you don't add some talent to your roster. Will see come playoff time I guess.
Dirk doesn't talk trash, it isn't his personality. He gave his honest opinion about how the series went and then people INTERPRETED that as trash talk. I don't think Dirk has made one single overly cocky comment in his career. Wade however likes to call himself "chi-town's finest" and other stuff like that. Dirk may not be known as Big-Shot Dirk, but he has better stats in the postseason in the regular season every year he's played, that's a good start. He may have had a couple of 4th quarter disappearances in his career, but in general, he WANTS THE BALL when the pressure is on and he has made many many clutch plays in his career. It's one thing to miss, it's another to not shoot (see KG). On the clutch scale, I would put him WELL above KG or T-Mac and below Duncan Wade and Kobe. Please. TMac has proved DIDDLEY SQUAT playoff wise and so has KG. Their postseason careers are MINISCULE compared to Dirk's. Dirk is one of the FEW star players in the league that has improved every year, even in his late 20's where most players have already peaked and start whining (see Steve Francis for a good example) Dirk may not be the most confident guy in the league but he is one of the hardest working and he is gaining more and more confidence as he continues to work hard and gain more confidence. Anyone expecting Dirk to choke this postseason hasn't been watching the dude's progress. The difficulty of coming into this game as a German kid cannot be underestimated. Regardless of how the series with Miami went, teams that have their primary guy as a choke artist NEVER MAKE IT TO THE FINALS period, they get blown out in the first round. Give Dirk some credit.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> who can you honestly say is better than Wade????....Kobe is the only one I can see someone making a legit argument for....the best player in the league was also injured himself and had a lot of key pieces missing around him...he didn't "let" them drop to below .500...you see what Miami is doing now that they're getting healthy again...Wade is top 2 easily.... fair enough, but don't be fooled by a bad record....I try to look at a teams rosters and their strengths and weaknesses...and imo Miami would still give the Mavs fits in a series (or anybody for that matter)... Even a Mavs fan admits that Dirk shrinks when it counts....when it comes to clutch play, Dirk has "choked" more than "step up"...and a lot of that has to do with his game, he's a finesse player, and when it comes to making plays down the stretch he doesn't do it, because he doesn't look to take it to the rack, doesn't have a post game, therefore he ends up settling for jumpers...</div> OK, I agree with you in that Wade is the best player in the NBA, but the Heat are not going to repeat this season...where were you last season when everyone was arguing against them? I can see the Heat losing to 2 teams in the ECF (DET & CLE...WAS is pretending), but I still think they have a good chance to make it to the Finals.
