Dirk’s New Moves
Dirk Nowitzki, winner of the 2006-2007 regular season MVP, not to put too fine point on it, crapped the bed in the Playoffs. Time and again, he had that deer-in-the-headlights look on his face as the Warriors completed an historic upset over his heavily favored Mavs.
Nellie and his crazy band of basketball gypsies completely took him out of the series, and for the most part, he hung out on the perimeter not doing much of anything.
Going into this season, Dirk has added a new tool to his arsenal of moves, one designed to help him take advantage of his touch and size: A post game.
“It’s to the point now that I’m more comfortable down there,” Nowitzki said. “When Avery first put me down there, it was pretty awkward. But it’s getting better.”
“He was good that night with his back to the basket,” said Johnson, who joked that it was the new weight training that had Nowitzki going stronger to the rim.
Now, if Nowitzki could just get that not-being-intimidated and becoming-a-leader thing down pat, then the Mavs would be right back in this thing.
65 Responses to “Dirk’s New Moves”
Oct.19 at 12:35 pm
Ken says:
first
Oct.19 at 12:36 pm
Ken says:
Yeah, I dunno how much a post game is going to help him. It seems like his issue is more with quick defenders crowding him, and the aforementioned leadership questions.
Oct.19 at 12:36 pm
Hoop Dreamz says:
avery johnson could probably take Dirk in the post
Oct.19 at 12:41 pm
namik says:
Man, Russ is about lose his sh*t again….
Oct.19 at 12:49 pm
Myles Brown says:
Yeah he was being swarmed by much quicker guards and forwards in the playoffs Ken, but he didn’t even have the proper post moves to spin out of a double or even see it coming for that matter. Some post training should shore up that part of his game and make him a more dangerous player. I don’t think Dirk gets intimidated as much as he is nervous. And as much as I’d love to rail on him for that, it really just means he’s human like the rest of us. The Jordan gene doesn’t exist in everyone.
Oct.19 at 12:55 pm
Jake Appleman says:
Amen, Myles.
Oct.19 at 1:02 pm
Andrew says:
Quickness = Bigs
Oct.19 at 1:11 pm
ic3 says:
“It’s to the point now that I’m more comfortable down there,”
He can be as comfortable as he wants at the practice gym. Doesnt mean he still wont go missing during pressure games.
Oct.19 at 1:20 pm
JJ says:
I wanna see Dirk man up and dunk on someone.
Oct.19 at 1:51 pm
Jukai says:
This is pointless. He doesn’t have to be a better post attacker because he’s one of the best perimeter shooters in the league, and he can already take it to the hoop well enough. He’s always top ten in the league scoring with a percentage of a center. What Dirk needs is mental training.
Oct.19 at 1:52 pm
Jukai says:
Man, why the hell is everyone telling a 50/40/90 shooter to change his game?
Oct.19 at 2:07 pm
Bryan says:
Man that’s gonna make him even more clutch.
Oct.19 at 2:34 pm
TJ 3000 says:
All he’s gonna do is shoot fallaways on the baseline, its pointless
Oct.19 at 2:42 pm
white hot eboy says:
If he can develop the post game, he might be able to take some of the pressure off of being swarmed by smaller guys when he’s handling on the perimeter. We’ll see…..
Oct.19 at 3:41 pm
fudi mardo tari says:
dirk is da best.
Oct.19 at 3:44 pm
John E. Sanford says:
Dirk will never dominate on the block, but he does need to incorporate some post moves into his game. Jukai, he needs to modify his game a bit because he takes contested jumpers. He can get away with that against most of the league, but when teams see him of 5 or 6 games in a series, his FG % lowers. I’m eager to see what happens with him in the playoffs.
Oct.19 at 4:02 pm
jbn74sb says:
Because the 50/40/90 guys is a max player/ alleged superstar who has disappeared during the key moments of his last 2 playoff series. And led his team to as many playoff series victories last year as the Hawks.
Oct.19 at 4:45 pm
FLUXLAND says:
Jukai is right, I think. Doesn’t Dirk need help with his mental game rather then his skills? Who would be the leading authority in bringing this guy over this mental barrier? Cuban has enough money for the best shrink in the biz. If thats what it is, of course. As Mr. Brown pointed out.. not everyone has the “take no prisoners killer” gene.
Oct.19 at 5:08 pm
Allenp says:
I think establishing a post game will help his mental game. Like Myles said, Dirk can get nervous, but with a constant diet of touches near the goal, which makes for higher percentage shots, he’ll be able to get into a rhythm with less difficulty. Dirk has played well at time and played poorly at others. Last year was a horrible series for him, but the year before that he did dismantly the Spurs and the Suns in the playoffs. He’s kind of a an up and down player in clutch moments.
Oct.19 at 5:36 pm
Jukai says:
That 50/40/90 guy disappeared in ONE series. Everyone remembers Dirk playing like horrible crap in two outta six of the Miami series but people forget him hitting insane off balance shots to tie the game and finding open men by drawing two or three defenders. Everyone forgets how awful Wade played in the first two games of the series because Miami won. Bah, I was gonna make this into a 30 paragraph post but I’m not going into this again.
Oct.19 at 5:37 pm
Jukai says:
People hate Dirk cause he’s German. It’s so hard to find something German you can really love.
Oct.19 at 5:44 pm
Dark says:
Yeah I’m with Allenp, jukai, Flux. That GS series, horrible by some standards, he basically averaged 20 and 11. The 07 finals he averaged 27 and 9. Not bad. Adding to the post game is definitely a positive, but he just needs to make sure that clutch mentality is on for every game.
Oct.19 at 5:54 pm
Dark says:
Dirk needs to do this more often. http://youtube.com/watch?v=wH823SZGSXk
Oct.19 at 5:56 pm
Dark says:
One move Dirk definitely has down is that head/shot fake of his. Everybody bites on it.
Oct.19 at 6:20 pm
Galo says:
Jukai: Heidi Klum
Oct.19 at 6:49 pm
jbn74sb says:
German things I love:
1. Mercedes
2. Beer
German things eboy loves:
1. Sausage, in all forms.
Oct.19 at 6:57 pm
H to the izzo says:
Bodie:He loves gravy sausages,get it right
Oct.19 at 7:28 pm
john says:
ya his new move is to fight brad miller
Oct.19 at 8:17 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
hasn’t this been the same story for five years? dirks is working on his post game, much improved post game, etc. yadda yadda yadda. we will see
Oct.19 at 9:30 pm
Trace says:
dirk just amazes me. off the court he looks like a sub-standard european center who can’t even hit his free-throws.
but then he steps on the court and, offensively, he is doing things which you most probably have and never will see from a guy of his hight. he can shoot the ball from every angle, every wrong foot-position, every off-balance position as he wants to. he even scores on you with the 3point rainbow and a whole fist in his face. he’s got, next to bean-town ray, he smoothest and most beautiful shot in all of nba basketball. his angle is so high, so perfect, its just ridiculous.
i just don’t understand why all you guys hate o n him SO much…
just let him play basketball, he improves every summer, and he WILL win his championship, no matter what !!
just wait, learn, one day shut up, and see..
Oct.19 at 9:30 pm
Teddy aka Air Haiti says:
it wud b nice 2 see dirk get some type of first step wit his slow ass
Oct.19 at 9:41 pm
Jukai says:
Slow for what, a 6′3 guard or a 7′0 center? I’d be hard pressed for you to find someone as fast at his height. Certainly not Duncan, maybe Garnet? No one else.
Oct.19 at 9:45 pm
RV says:
Teddy, the guy is seven feet tall, he plays like a small forward…i wouldn’t exactly call him a slow ass
Oct.19 at 10:17 pm
Sesa says:
A great person always tries to be better than yesterday.
Oct.19 at 10:50 pm
Jukai says:
Today this horrible offensive player had 25 points in 26 minutes, on 10 of 14 shooting. I bet people’ll whine that he took too many outside shots.
Oct.19 at 10:51 pm
Jukai says:
Eight rebounds, 3 assists and two steals too. If he was in the post, maybe he woulda got ten rebounds. That horrible horrible player.
Oct.19 at 10:55 pm
foolio_iglesias says:
I’m 6 feet tall and didn’t develop a post game til I was 31(I’m 34 now),but let me tell you,having a post game does wonders for your overall game.Most defenders have a hard time with an offensive player backing them down,spinning,up faking,head faking,drop stepping and what have you.I mean,I wasn’t exactly putting bigger dudes in the torture chamber,but it made plenty defenders real uneasy because they knew I had the speed and agility (plus the moves )to be unpredictable and versatile on offense.Plus I could pass….
Oct.19 at 11:08 pm
Todd D. says:
when avery called dirk’s leadership into question he wasn’t being a good leader.
Oct.19 at 11:42 pm
mcnugget says:
the post-game is EVERYTHING and could make the Mavs a legit championship level team (for the first time EVER)., that and devin harris breaking out at point is huge for the mavs, nothing as huge as this development in Dirk though. that is so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so HUGE!!!
Oct.19 at 11:46 pm
mcnugget says:
it doesnt mean he changes his game, it means he ADDS THIS dimension to his game, which is HUGE and will be a big part of his game. But the things that made hiim the mvp and the best player on a 67 win team and a west champ will still be used as well obviously, but this SHOULD and WILL be a huge addition to his game and WILL be a huge part of his game making him even more effective and his team much better
Oct.19 at 11:47 pm
mcnugget says:
50/40/90, but 34%fg in the playoffs, thats why
Oct.19 at 11:50 pm
mcnugget says:
jukai did you watch the game tonight? he WAS in the post, and it was BEAUTIFUL
Oct.20 at 12:32 am
Kayce Online says:
part of me is wondering why it took this long before someone figured out that having a post-up game would help a 7-footer.. even if he’s one of the best shooters in the NBA..
Oct.20 at 3:42 am
Jukai says:
McNugget, I did not. Because it wasn’t televised. But from what I read, he didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.
Oct.20 at 9:46 am
Joel O'a says:
Agreed. Whatever your height is, having a good post game only helps. It’s a great go-to move for someone with a size advantage like Dirk, who isn’t very quick at all, and to this point needed to rely on his height advantage letting him shoot over defenders when he does that pull up J of his.
Oct.20 at 9:49 am
Joel O's says:
Agreed. Having a post-up game, as ANY one who’s played ball can tell you, makes for a pretty damn good go-to move whenever you got a little guy on you. Bout time Dirk developed one, because for all his shooting prowess, it’s hard for a 7-foot jump shooter to be your go-to guy on the perimeter because he isn’t fast enough to get open that easily, and depends largely on his height advantage to shoot over defenders.
Oct.20 at 9:58 am
Joel O's says:
With his shooting touch, Dirk should be able to kill his defender every time he gets the ball in the post, because even if he can’t get past his guy, he’s always got the option of a step back / turnaround J, which at that range should be a piece of cake. Honestly, I think it’ll help him be a better leader, because its harder to stop him there than on the perimeter - it’s just that up to this point, he wasn’t a good post up player at all.
Oct.20 at 10:04 am
Dyce says:
Yall are nuts, other than Golden State playing a defense that he couldnt cope with, Dirk has played well in the clutch. I remember him playing well game 7 San Antonio, but yet you harp on the bad, is it expected for him to be clutch on every oppurtunity? Or do you remember the Jordan commercial when he says how many last second shots he missed…… And as far as being a leader goes, It takes nothing away from him as a player. If he was quiet and jacked the ball and didn’t help his teammates get into the flow of the game, that’s one thing…but on the court I’ve seen him screen at players cheer do the patting on the butt thing…….If they need speaches let the preacher Avery Johnson do it!
Oct.20 at 11:54 am
Dre Baldwin says:
Dirk needs to get nasty for Dallas to have any chance to contend
Oct.20 at 11:55 am
Dre Baldwin says:
Dirk needs a mean streak
Oct.20 at 3:41 pm
Jukai says:
Dyce, I’ve been using that logic for months now. People at SLAM don’t remember anything past a year.
Oct.20 at 3:43 pm
Jukai says:
Also, there is a huge flaw in saying a post-up game is going to improve Dirk’s shooting: It’s not necessarily easy to dribble the ball from the three point line to the post, and there is NO ONE on Dallas who is able to get the ball to Dirk in the post.
Oct.20 at 4:58 pm
Remy Douls says:
better work on D and on his jump
Oct.20 at 8:58 pm
BETCATS says:
mcnuggets are the best
Oct.20 at 10:52 pm
Jeff of InsideHoops says:
First
Oct.21 at 12:14 am
mcnugget says:
no one can throw an entry pass? are you kidding? Stackhouse can do that, and harris did it wellthe past 2 games (not the one vs houston in between) that Dirk was showing skills in the post.
Oct.21 at 4:08 am
Jukai says:
You’re right, Stackhouse with his three assists a game can easily do that. Harris is the best bet but Harris has a longgg way to go.
I’m not saying better post skills wont help Dirk. Better post skills help ANY player. I’m just saying his mental toughness and defense should be worked on first. He’s one of the best and most effective offensive players in the league. He should NOT change his offensive game in the slightest.
Oct.21 at 3:36 pm
Dyce says:
Sure he can improve of passing out of the double team and becoming more away. He had trouble because the warriors sent a fast second guard from his blindside on the doubleteam. If they guarded him one on one from the post or from the perimeter he would have eaten golden state alive.
Oct.21 at 3:36 pm
Dyce says:
Away= aware
Oct.21 at 5:11 pm
BETCATS says:
mcnugget you are not the best
Oct.22 at 2:26 am
Dark says:
The defensive side is where there’s room for improvement. It’s a little bit disappointing to see a 7 footer average less than 1 block per game.
Oct.23 at 4:09 pm
Mash says:
‘a historic’ would be better
Oct.25 at 5:07 am
Pais says:
jukai is obviously a sensitive german who does not play basketball. No matter what you are into, learning more & getting better = getting better. Dirk is really good, and if he were to continue getting better, then he’ll be great, it’s quite simple really. Maybe now he’ll be evrything you want him to be and everyone will finaly agree that Germans are the best in the Universe.
Oct.25 at 5:29 am
Pais says:
…ok, maybe that was a little harsh, but everytime there’s A Dirk post, some people get real touchy. I think Dirk him self realizes that something is missing, that killer instinct that separates the good from the Great, and getting a shrink in all honesty probably is not the answer…but generaly getting better will help your confidence, which is key in developing that killer instinct that helps you overcome the odds when it counts(i.e. Golden State).
Oct.26 at 11:37 am
phunkykarma says:
He needs teammates, in the post and on the wing.