The Dirk Dilema



As I watch the two time defending champion Lakers fall into a 3-0 hole, one thought is prominent in my mind. What is Dirk doing to his legacy? Is he breaking away from the Charles Barkley/Karl Malone mold as colossal playoff choke artist or is he just setting us up for his greatest choke ever? 

"Wait, let me explain what I'm doing"



There is no denying the greatness of this future hall of famer. Hands down the greatest European player ever, best shooting 7 footer that has and ever will play and he is certainly etching his way onto the NBA’s 50 greatest of all time as he continues to perform at a high level year in and year out. However, despite all of the things that are great about Dirk, his off the court antics (i.e. this, this or especially this which is surprisingly the only picture where he's sober) are almost as entertaining as his game performances; it is hard to look past his post season failures.



	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Player A	36	8	15.6	0.51	5	6.8	0.69	3	8.4	11	3.1	0.7	2.3	2.6	3	21
Player B	37	8	16.8	0.48	6	6.5	0.88	1.2	7.2	8.4	2.7	0.9	1	1.9	3	23

Above are the career stats for two Power Forwards from the modern era. Which player would you rather have? Player A will give you three more rebounds and an extra block per game but Player B has the edge in just about ever other category; more PPG, better free throw percentage, less turnovers. Both players are former MVPs, both players have been to the Finals, both are 10+ times All Stars, both have multiple All NBA first teams. Most of you would probably take Player B. The truth is Player A is Tim Duncan, Player B is Dirk. Now you would probably take Player A. If we’ve learned anything about sports, it’s that people value rings over statistics. This is why we consider Bill Russell and Will Chamberlain equals despite the fact that Wilt once scored 100 points in a game. It’s the reason why Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning is a worthy debate. It’s the reason some think Derek Jeter is the greatest short stop ever. Rings are what count; finishing on top at the end of the season. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett’s legacies are written entirely different if they didn’t capture the Celtics 17^th title. Tim Duncan has four rings, Dirk has none. There isn’t a single statistic that will ever show which of the two players had a better career like the number of rings they have.

They are more alike than you think
or are they?

While Dirk is in rare company with just two other players to average 25 PPG and 10 RPG for his career in the playoffs, he is also in distinct company for being the best player on teams that have had monumental collapses. The Dirk led Mavs are the only team since 1985 to blow a 2-0 lead in the Finals. The Dirk led Mavs are one of just four teams to lose a playoff series to an eighth seed. The Dirk led Mavs are also one of the few two seeds to lose in the first round and they are certainly the only team to ever lose to an eight seed and a seventh seed in consecutive years. Sure you could place the blame on everything but Dirk. The refs certainly facilitated Dwayne Wade’s ’06 Finals heroics. Don Nelson out coached Avery Johnson by insane measures in the Mavs/Warriors series and lasts year’s Spurs aren’t your typical NBA seventh seed. However, blowing the Finals like they did is one thing, losing to an eighth seed is one thing (the afore mentioned Duncan just lost as the top seed), even dropping out as the two seed in the first round is forgivable. What is not easy to over look is that Dirk was not only the common thread on all of these teams; he was the leader and best player.

As I watched the Blazers come back in game four after making just two field goals in the third quarter, I couldn’t help but think that Dirk was going for the trifecta. He’d already lost as a one and two seed, why not do it as a three seed. Now, unfortunately, as the Mavs hold a 3-0 lead on the Lakers, with game four looming in what promises to be rabid American Airlines Arena, I can’t help but wonder if Dirk is simply setting us up for his grand finale. 3-0 collapses are few and far between, but Dirk has showed us he isn’t afraid of breaking new ground in playoff chokery. Even if the Mavs do make it past the Lakers and eventually get back to the Finals, there is a very good possibility that D. Wade and the Heat could be waiting again.

Russell knew what it was all about... Rings