Dirk To 20,000: Another MVP Effort In Loss To LA

Mavs' Nowitzki Lauded By Kobe As 'A Rare Breed' As He Hits Milestone

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

      Before the game that would mark Dirk Nowitzki’s 20,000-point milestone, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle tried to put into perspective what it all means. Carlisle talked of how it’s “a part of history but not what Dirk’s about; he’s about trying to win a title.’’ He talked of how The UberMan is probably destined “for 25,000 points.’’ He talked of how (headline-worthy, I think) Dirk is “one of three or four guys in contention for the MVP this year.’’

   “But 20,000 …’’ Carlisle said. “I mean, 20,000 anything is a lot.’’

   And then, in a moment that probably will not be etched into Nowitzki’s plaque when he is someday installed into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, Mavs play-by-play voice Mark Followill reacted to Rick’s “20,000 anything is a lot’’ pronouncement.

    Followill wondered aloud whether Carlisle was referencing the 20,000 mark allegedly attained by Wilt Chamberlain.

    The feel-good moment of Dirk’s accomplishment didn’t mesh with the final score, LA winning 100-95

on Wednesday at the AAC. Nowitzki scored 30, including the left baseline jumper at the 10:57 mark of the fourth quarter that allowed him to become just the 34^th player in NBA history to reach 20,000.

   But the respect for Dirk did extend to the pregame LA locker room, where no less an authority on greatness than Kobe Bryant called Nowitzki “a rare breed.’’

    “He's tough," said Bryant. "That's what I like about him. He's not a punk. A lot of superstar players don't like to get touched. They're kind of finicky about how they go about things. Dirk's nasty and that's what I like about him. He'll take the gloves off and go at it. … If you look at some of the games that he's had against great players, it's amazing. I think his coming out party years ago was against Garnett. Garnett is a phenomenal player and Dirk was putting up 35 and 20 rebounds. That's ridiculous. I'm looking at that like, 'Whoa, Garnett's one of the best defensive players ever and he torched him.’’’

   Afterwards, Nowitzki wasn’t in much of a mood to discuss 20,000. He’d scored 16 in the final quarter, including not only the milestone-maker but also a 3 to tie the score at 95-all with 59 seconds left. With 22 seconds left and Dallas down two, he made another sweet basketball play. … but one that would nutshell the night.

    Dirk was inside the top of the key, but instead of taking the jumper, he found Erick Dampier cutting to the basket. He hit Damp on the entry pass. Damp went up for the shot and was fouled. … his shot didn’t go down, but Erick had a chance to make two free throws to tie it.

   He missed them both. … causing the second-guessers to suggest Dirk should’ve taken the shot.

    "Basketball is a game of reactions and plays that are made,’’ Carlisle countered, “and if Damp makes a dunk and makes a free throw, we're all singing another tune. You can't deprogram a guy from making the right basketball play.’’

    And that’s what it was. The 20,000 points, yes. But then at the end, one simple smart play that didn’t work out.

    But like I say, to Nowitzki’s credit, he had less interest in discussion the 20,000 than he did the defeat at the hands of the team everyone in the West is chasing.

    “We were resting for three days and just lost at home so I thought we should have had a lot more energy," said Nowitzki, who showed up with his long locks shorn. "We should have played a lot better."

    There will be other days for that, other days for Dirk to chase 25,000, other days for the league to catch up with Carlisle’s view that The UberMan is a top-four MVP candidate. For now, we’ll leave the evaluation to Kobe.

    "Hopefully,’’ Kobe concluded, “the fans in Dallas can appreciate what they watch: a 7-footer that can put the ball on the floor, can shoot it from the outside, can post. Dirk's a rare breed, man. A rare breed."