Shooter McDirk
Dirk Nowitzki (photo. Monte Isom)
All due respect to Ray Allen and Jimmy Chitwood and THIS KID, but a Mavs/Suns game gives us an opportunity to watch probably the two best shooters in the planet: Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. Dallas kept threatening to pull away down the stretch as Dirk (33 pts) canned pretty fadeaway and turnaround jumpers over Grant Hill and Jared Dudley. But it seemed every time the Mavs needed that one defensive stop to wrap things up, Nash (27 pts) would knock down a three without scraping the rim … The Mavs were up six with 47 seconds left when Nash stuck a dagger in Dirk’s eye to cut the lead in half. “How many times have we seen this from M-V-Steve?!?!” the Phoenix announcer screamed. The Most Valuable Steve? Who is his competition: Francis, Urkel and McQueen? With 12 seconds left, the Suns were down four when Nash hit another three, and after two Jason Terry free throws, Dallas did the smart thing and fouled Nash before he could get off another three. He cut the lead to one with 2.4 ticks, and although Terry missed both free throws on the other end, the Suns had no timeouts and couldn’t get a decent game-winning attempt … Some guy in the Dallas crowd was wearing a Suns jersey and looked exactly like Manny Ramirez, but more chubby. Stop the charade, people: When you put the bandanna over the front of your dreads, we know it’s because your hairline is running away from your face like Chris Johnson … Did you know the only NBA players still active from the 1994 Draft are Jason Kidd, Grant Hill and Juwan Howard? Although “active” is kind of stretching it in Juwan’s case … And on a night where the ’94-95 co-Rookies of the Year shared the court, the 2010 candidates were also in action. (Seriously, can everybody PLEASE stop acting like Brandon Jennings has the trophy locked up?) Tyreke Evans was a grown-ass man against the Hornets on Tuesday, and he’s only getting better. ‘Reke (25 pts, 9 asts) was murking James Posey in money time, scoring nine straight over the final two minutes and briefly giving Sacramento the lead at one point … But on the other side, David West (24 pts, 12 rebs) was just as mercilessly beasting Andres Nocioni on the block and gave N.O. the lead right back. Tyreke tied it with a layup when he darted by Posey again, but then Darius Songaila of all people hit the go-ahead bucket with 11 seconds left. One more Kings possession, and while Tyreke blew past Posey easily, he missed a lefty finger roll. Nocioni got fouled on the rebound with 1.1 remaining, but he bricked the first free throw and committed a lane violation when he missed the second FT on purpose … Meanwhile, Jennings had the Celtics’ defense to deal with. He finished with 17 points (7-19 FG) and four dimes and Milwaukee was right in the mix on the road well into the fourth quarter. But as good as Jennings has been offensively, he’s been the weak link of the Bucks’ defense (even more than Luke Ridnour) and teams are beginning to exploit that. Rajon Rondo went off on the rookie, scoring all 11 of his points in the fourth to go along with nine boards, five steals and 13 assists … Other notable stat lines from Tuesday: Dwight Howard posted 25 points, 11 boards and seven blocks in a win over the Clippers; Chris Bosh had 21 points and 16 boards to lead Toronto past the Wolves; Gerald Wallace went for 25 points and 16 boards in Charlotte’s upset of the Nuggets; and Brook Lopez put up 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Nets knocked off the slumping Bulls (which we predicted) … So when LeBron goes off for a season-high in points and boards, in Memphis nonetheless, the Cavs are supposed to be whuppin’ ass and doing the Ricky Bobby on the bench by the third quarter, right? So how did they end up dropping last night’s game to the Grizzlies? For starters, Cleveland had no answer for Zach Randolph (32 pts, 14 rebs, 4 stls). Second, despite LBJ’s big numbers (43 pts, 13 rebs, 6 asts), he and his squad just looked a step slow and not as sharp throughout. Rudy Gay simply overpowered LeBron on his way to a relatively easy layup that tied it up late in the fourth, and then LeBron almost turned the ball over and had to throw up a desperation shot when he could have won it at the buzzer. LeBron hit a deep three, a tough layup, and game-tying free throws with 14 seconds left in the OT, but Mike Conley made the game-winner when he caught Shaq on a switch and skated past him for a layup. “He gave me the Allen Iverson carry-hesi[tation] move and he got me,” Shaq said later … Before the Indiana/Pitt game, the cameras outside MSG showed Hoosiers coach Tom Crean getting off the bus on his cell phone. “He’s already talking to some recruits,” Dickie V hollered, “He’s talking to recruits!” And given Indiana’s recent history, you know somebody from IU was right behind him keeping records … We’re out like Urkel …
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December 9th, 2009 at 3:25 am
justlovethegame says:
First!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
December 9th, 2009 at 3:33 am
YW says:
haha, carry hesi
December 9th, 2009 at 3:41 am
sans says:
you guys need to hyper-link that prediction…I read this mag all day and don’t remember anything about the Nets being about to beat Chicago…
December 9th, 2009 at 4:03 am
sans says:
Alright, found it, Hit List, nice prediction, officially eating my words…
thanks for giving me 2 minutes to focus on something other than studying for my arabic final…
December 9th, 2009 at 4:15 am
alf (from melmak) says:
The “What if” game. What if Steve Nash stayed in Dallas? Would that have resulted in at least one ring for him and Dirk Nowitzki?
Great games all around today. Are these games the indirect response of David Stern to the revelations made by Tim Donaghy?
My meal allowance wish the Jazz could at least be competitive with the Lakers and Magic in their next two games. Back-to-back set. Ouch!
December 9th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Ernesto says:
Don’t forget Bogut’s line on the Celtics’ vaunted D: 25-14-5, 2 blocks.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:34 am
vince says:
sorry… ray allen is the best shooter. from form to timing and hitting them, i’ll take rayray
December 9th, 2009 at 4:46 am
yoda says:
jkidd and grant hill might be “old” compared to new kids on the block (can’t believe that i’ve said that) but they still do their business. that shows once again that skill will take you long way, compared to pure athleticsm. i wonder how many of these dunk attractions will be relevant when they are in second half of theirs 30s…
December 9th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Name (required) says:
Steve Nash only won that MVSteve cos he’s white
December 9th, 2009 at 5:13 am
gibson says:
Anyone else notice that LeBron & the LeBronettes weren’t dancing around like fools vs Memphis…
December 9th, 2009 at 6:26 am
tb33 says:
I hate white people. Need to get dem outta the league. Dirk=wack and ugly, Nash=overrated.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Big Sia says:
Scuba Steve = MV-Steve
December 9th, 2009 at 7:15 am
ToAn says:
@tb33….and after white people are out of the league, asian and latino people should be next or how exactly does your masterplan look? go fuck yourself and come back with a better attitude
December 9th, 2009 at 7:44 am
sans says:
Very nice Sia…
and steve nash won his mvp because Jason Kidd didn’t get his for taking NJ from the Lottery to the finals as the only new addition to the squad…of course Diesel deserved his one and only MVP (how the fuck did that happen? The MDE only gets 1 MVP?)…
December 9th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Billy Sunday says:
Tyreke Evans for ROY
December 9th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Billy Sunday says:
dam there’s some cold racist lines about white people…
“I hate white people. Need to get dem outta the league” thats kinda like saying “I hate black people. They need to get out of all the non-sports professions”
December 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Billy Sunday says:
I just dont like racism and it really shouldnt have to do there
December 9th, 2009 at 8:18 am
a train says:
@ 11 & 13
A league without white people would be a league without fundamentals. The best teams always have a good mix of black and white on the court.
lol @ 16
December 9th, 2009 at 8:33 am
rangerjohn says:
@ 16, hey us white people still have hockey, nascar, poker, and all swimming events. everyone knows black people dont like water!
PLEASE read the sarcasm before anyone comes back with “tim duncan was a blah blah blah swimmer” we all know tim is not all black LMAO
December 9th, 2009 at 8:43 am
ERIC says:
How about Shaq throwing AI under the bus with his comments about getting worked by Mike Conley Jr?
Shaq is just jealous that AI went home to his original team that loves and appreciates him. If Shaq ever returned to Orlando, LA, Miami or Phoenix, no one would want him bc he burned every bridge.
Nice 11.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Way to be that force in the middle.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:03 am
AdvancedMind says:
@20
How many rings does Shaq have?
Better yet since your so concerned about numbers, how many wins does Cleveland have this year, compared to the 6ers.
Wait what has The Grizz been doing since A.I left? Thats right the actually have been winning while A.I helped Philly lose by 10 last game.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:04 am
That's what's up says:
rangerjohn……
If we all didn’t know you and know you were joking there’d be a caravan to Houston right now looking for you.
I like tb33 reasons for taking white people out of the League – they should all go because Nash is overrated and Dirk is wack and ugly.
Good argument there numnuts
December 9th, 2009 at 9:08 am
GABRIEL BROGDEN says:
What’s the over/under in months it takes to trade KEVIN MARTIN?
1.
Sacramento can get tonz of value…a legit big man maybe?
I don’t see how the FREE THROW STAR can share the load with REKE HAVOC.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Boogie says:
Clearly Nash n Nowitzki are nice shooters. But obviously Ray Allen is better. Come on guy. Look at him shoot and look at his stats. Why would you make that remark when there is evidence against it if not only to cause racial tension?? BOTH steve n dirk are BETTER than Jesus??
career tru shooting% – Ray-576 Steve-590 Dirk-498.
Clearly Dirk shouldnt be in this convo. And nash is certainly nice but i would still take Ray as he is better at doing it from the shooting guard position, where it is expected whereas Nash plays his shooting off his passing to get better looks, which is easier at point. Still worth debating though. Clearly Dirk does not really deserve that title AT ALL.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:14 am
control says:
Why you idiots have to bring colour into a conversation about shooting? Dirk is the best shooting big guy in history, and his fade away is PURELY unstoppable. How can you stop a guy who is 7ft fading away who hits it more than he misses?
Ray Allen is sweet, no doubt, and he does have the best fundemental shot in the league. EVERY single shot he takes has perfect form, perfect footwork, perfect release, and looks exactly the same. The guy is a pure machine.
Steve Nash is just as sweet as Ray, and I’d take Steve over Ray on the free throw line, but probably take Ray over Steve if it were a 3pt shot. Steve does have much better passing and play making ability, which frees him up a little bit more to get a clearer shot. Either way, all 3 are great players…why the hell does colour have to come into it?
December 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am
bakedbeing says:
Wow it’s gone all Yahoo Sports in here with the race talk.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:21 am
GABRIEL BROGDEN says:
BOOGIE!!! DIME said: “probably the two best shooters in the planet.”
Did you miss the ‘probably’ part?
I definitely think they’re going too far with BOTH of them but c’mon they added a disclaimer.
BTW Boogie, in your opinion, who is the best shooting big man?
I’d love to see who you say qualifies…’cause then that will make them ‘probably’ one of the best ‘shooters,’ right?
Big Z, Sheed, KG, Bosh, LMA…who’d you say is a better shooter than THE GERMAN?
December 9th, 2009 at 9:27 am
shake&bake says:
Speaking of white people in the league, did anyone see Outside the Lines this weekend talking about the declining # of white Americans in the league? Kyle McElarney (pg from ND last year) saying that he would be in the league if he were black. It was an interesting topic and discussion.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Chicagorilla says:
@control&boogie
You guys say Nash gets easier shots from the perimeter because he’s a playmaking PG, but I wouldn’t say the shots are easier because people back off him. Remember he has to do most of his shooting off the dribble, which is much much much harder than spot up shooting or coming off a screen. all 3 are phenominal shooters, but if I had to choose I’d go with Nash slightly over Ray.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Shakers says:
His competition would include Steve Martin, Steven Tyler, Steve Madden, and Steve Harvey. I’ll stick take Nash as the MV-Steve.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:14 am
BC says:
Nash has been near 50% FG / 40% 3-PT / 90% FT for his entire career (and over that for his entire PHX run).
RayRay is more like 45% FG / 40% 3-PT / 90% FT (with several years in the low 40% FG% range)
and Dirk is close to 47% FG / 37% 3-PT / 87% FT (and under 33% 3-PT% this year)
I think you’ve got to give this to Nash by a hair (no pun intended). Ray #1A, Dirk #3.
Also — anyone who says playing shooting guard makes it harder to get a shot off: what about all those double- and triple-screen plays that Ray Allen gets his open 3′s from? (think Reggie Miller / Allan Houston)
Nash has to create his own shot way more often than Ray does.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
LAballer says:
id like to throw steven segal in there too if we’re rockin stevens..
dude was a bad man
December 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
SagJism says:
@17 I agree, It has no place here, this is a sports forum, if they cant keep it based on that they shgould not be allowed to be on this site. We need a reporting function on here to get rid of comments like that.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
SagJism says:
Is Nash better than Steve Smitty Smith? I think not, the only reason Nash got hisMVP’s was because Kobe was going thru the trial BS. If not, Kobe would have 3 MVP’s at this point.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
eyes says:
If Nash played for the Spurs or Cavs would he be a MVP candidate. He won it because he deserved it. Kobe could have won as well. Would people just let it go. If Lebron deserve that R.O.Y. then this was much less a travesty. LOL on a serious note. Nash was arguably a top 3 to 5 player the both yrs. What he does on a nightly basis is a blueprint for the likes of Paul,Williams & Rondo. He along with Jason Kidd have given people careers,stats and the ability to win lots of games. If everybody was gaga about Stockton dont see why Nash is any less deserving.
It’s back to the Outside the Lines argument.(Sorry guys) If race could ever go away banning it from this site wouldn’t If Nash was of another race or from Overseas he’d be considered a GOD. He still is arguably the best PG in the league. At his age he’s better than Chauncey. His only hold up is defense. Put him on the Atlanta roster they compete for a Championship. THat’s what you call valuable. As good as Jason Williams was & could of been. He had a ways to go to compete with Nash. Had he been given keys from a rookie his stats would be higher. We all have to take that into consideration. A.I.,Magic,Lebron, didn’t have to wait. Kobe,T.Mac,J.Oneal had to delay their coming out party’s.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
eyes says:
NUMBERS ARE JUST THAT. IT DOESN’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY. IT’S LIKE RIGHT OR WRONG WITH NO GRAY AREA.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
the big fundamental says:
so is JR smith part of young money or something? what the hell is he doing in the bed rock video? Earl(no JR cuz ive changed)smith! BS!!!!
December 9th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Chicagorilla says:
@the big fundamental,
Young money is right up JR Smiths alley, All FLash no Substance. so I can see him being part of such a shitty thing.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Collaboro says:
Disco holds the title with best fade away J in the League, Kobe #2.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
guti says:
i’d take stone cold steve austin over nashty
December 9th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
the cynic says:
Tyreke Evans is built NBA ready the way Bron was
December 9th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Boogie says:
Word, well gabriel, I will not argue against Dirk having an unstoppable fadeaway jumper, in fact I am very much in love with it. He has made it his own personal hook shot(Kareem) or Finger roll (gervin) he just owns it and no1 can stop it. I like when players know how to perfect their game. He’s def headed in a hall of fameish direction if he can maybe get a ring, maybe he will anyway. I def think he’s the best shooting big man simply because he can create a shot from the widest range of spots. Emphasis on creating, and range.
PLus i only got a little mad cos they specifically mention Ray Allen before making the claim, and that is what made it seem silly and somewhat pointed, despite the ‘probably’disclaimer, which i feel was nullified by directly mentioning Ray Ray. notice he is the one i compared to them, not reggie milli or J.R (haha).
December 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Boogie says:
Oh and by the way that OTL segment really was rather interesting… I think Dime needs to do a post on that cos its def something worth discussing. I think that there def is a stereotype but I mean, we gotta think about who created it in the first place and what other factors contributed. This has been cropping up more and more and perhaps it should be addressed by a a bball publication.