The Mavericks are back in the post-season, and after a road loss in Game 1 to a less-experienced (but more talented) Hornets team, questions are once again being raised regarding the toughness of Dirk Nowitzki. There were actually two plays from this game involving Dirk where you might have reason to re-open this discussion, but here's the one that most people are pointing to.
(I'm sorry, before I get to the analysis, I just have to comment on Michael Cooper. "Pimp slap with a back hand?" Forgetting the fact that that's a completely inappropriate comment considering that Cooper coaches the WNBA's Sparks, I'm willing to bet that his scrawny, high-pitched ass has never done any such thing. And by the way, the next time there's a shot of Los Angeles during a national broadcast, and they show people in the sunshine playing at the beach while much of the country is suffering through inclement weather, maybe remembering that this is the level of local sports that we have to endure will make you hate us a little less.)
Okay, I feel better. Now, back to the question of whether or not Dirk should have responded.
If you look at the expression on West's face and the words coming out of his mouth, it doesn't look like he's being aggressive towards Dirk or trying to disrespect him. It looks to me like he was explaining to Dirk the reason for the foul, and that maybe Dirk was catching him in the face inadvertently, so West was letting him know to watch it, but in a somewhat calm and polite manner. That's why Dirk didn't respond.
Plus, what would you have him do, throw a punch and get suspended? It's just Game 1, and New Orleans only did what they were supposed to by winning at home. It was a no win situation: if Dirk hits him and gets suspended, the Mavs have no chance in Game 2, and he's "out of control" and "selfish." He does nothing (because West's actions -- if you watch closely -- didn't warrant a response) and now he's "soft" again? Please. Dirk did not get punked by David West. If you want to look at a play where Dirk might have been pushed around a bit, it's this one involving Tyson Chandler.
Chandler had made the determination to "man up" on Dirk, so much so that he was nose-deep in Dirk's armpit. Now that's committing yourself on defense. It's also asking for a foul, which Chandler received as soon as Dirk put the ball on the floor. But after the whistle, Chandler then shoved Dirk to the ground, resulting in a technical foul. If there was a play where Dirk was punked, that was it. Physical-as-hell defense followed by a shove to the floor after the whistle ... that's an attempt at intimidation.
Did it work? Maybe a little, but I'd say Game 1 was more a result of Chris Paul's dominance and the Hornets' home crowd than it was a result of Dirk and the Mavs being intimidated. Now if Dirk comes out in Game 2 and gets similarly pushed around while his team gets blown out, maybe then we can wonder about his post-season toughness. But not responding to a play that was clearly non-threatening doesn't make Dirk soft; it makes him a smart basketball player.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-21-2008 @ 2:04PM
alejandro de Castro said...
I agree with your assessment bret, as well as your take on the horrid local coverage here in town. Between having to deal with coop, Joel keeping Stu down, and John ireland, I beg anyone else to tell me a city that has it worse. The only reason why I don't mute Joel Meyers is because I would miss Stu goin to commercial break busting out his "and kobe said to pau, 'do it big fella' and pau says to kobe, 'you know I can,' and kobe saying to phil, 'oh yea...."
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4-21-2008 @ 2:05PM
Sim said...
Good call on the Hornets not being for real, Brett.
And Dirk IS soft. Some of the flops I've seen him do (rather than actually playing defense) makes me think he should be in a Spurs uniform.
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4-21-2008 @ 2:13PM
Marcus said...
Agree about most of the coverage, but one thing about Coop: when he played, he often got in guy's faces. I've got tapes of him shoving, pushing, yes, slapping, guys like mcHale, Rick Mahorn, Ainge, and Rodman during various Finals. His comment was ridiculous, but he did back it up on the court. Of course, back then you could do that. There were games in the 80s between the Celts and Lakers when there were shoves and fights that would have certainly led to ejections today. You just can't be as aggressive as they were back then. "And Michael Cooper says, Magic, I think I'll give you a pass on the fast break. And Magic says, thanks, and gives it to James Worthy for a dunk, and James says, Boston, you better call timeout." Oh, where is Chick?
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4-21-2008 @ 3:17PM
DorseyTheGreat said...
They should've talked about Dirk's reaction to Tyson Chandler nudging him. You would have thought a Dirk stepped on a land mine the way he went flying out of bounds. He's a soft, whiny flopper. Hornets in 5.
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4-21-2008 @ 4:09PM
Antimental said...
I don't blame Dirk for the flop - it appeared that was going to be the only way to detach Tyson's nose from his pits.
Yeah Dorsey, Dirk sure is a soft and whiny player, coming back in four games from a high ankle sprain. What a crybaby, he should have been back the next game! Give me a break.
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4-21-2008 @ 4:40PM
Jared said...
I have to disargree with your thoughts on the Chandler foul. He flopped to make sure he got the call, unethical maybe(not really since Chandler deserved the tech.), but how does that make Dirk soft?
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4-21-2008 @ 6:28PM
Reagan said...
dirk isnt soft.
unlike most nba players, he didnt respond because if he did, he wouldnt be playin the next game.
good job on dirk's part to not react.
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4-21-2008 @ 6:51PM
anny said...
As a woman, I don't know the details of the male psyche, but I agree with the TNT guys. He obviously shouldn't have punched him or anything stupid like that, but if a man puts his hands on your face in a PLAYOFF game, he should have at least slapped his hand away. West was making a statement, and with Dirk's no response he proved his point. I like Dirk alot, but he is soft. His playoff performances have shown it. I like that he didn't cause a fight, but come on man, you have to at least tell a guy to get out of your face. He wouldn't have been suspended for it. The Playoffs is just as much mental as they are physical, and right now the Hornets have the edge on both.
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4-21-2008 @ 6:58PM
DorseyTheGreat said...
The biggest surprise is that Dirk didn't go flailing into the front row when West tapped him.
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4-21-2008 @ 7:49PM
the cooker said...
Brett, why do you think Dirky shoots so many 3 pointers?????? One guess and it is not because he is short. He is a 7 foot sissy.
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4-22-2008 @ 6:26PM
OscarL said...
It would have been stupid for Dirk to "pimp slap" West and get suspended. But how could Dirk not slap his hand away? Dirk may or may not be soft but by slapping his hand away he would have shown the Hornets and his teammates that he's not going to get pushed around. The refs certainly disagreed with your statement that West was "explaining to Dirk the reason for the foul [in a] polite manner" as they quickly moved in as soon as West started poking at Dirk's face.
You obviously never saw Cooper play. He got into a few scraps with bigger(the exception being Danny Ainge) Boston and Detroit players during intense finals matches.
Dirk flopping is no big deal. Get the call any way you can, it's part of the game. As for the comment stating Dirk is soft because he shoots threes, does anyone find it funny that he gets to the line more than KG?
Dirk, I want to be your fan but you need to STEP UP!!
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4-22-2008 @ 7:05PM
ali deCastro said...
Yea, and just because KG looks crazy doesn't make him any tougher.
Crazier yes, but not anymore a gangster.
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