TAKE DAT WIT YOU 9/8

[fifteenth]

I just don´t see the comparisation. Dirk wasn´t struggling against a single defender. Couldn´t be defended 1v1. He was struggling against a defensive scheme that was build to stop him. Double or triple teams with long and athletic wings. Forcing him to give up the ball or take difficult shots over multiple defenders.  Leaving his teammates wide open. Nelson tried to deny Dirk and dared the rest of the team to beat him. With an average shooting series they easily beat the Warriors but Howard was the only that showed up.
Contrary to the popular opinion on most Mavs boards I wasn´t out on Dirk after the series. I was out on the supporting cast that couldn´t make an open shot. Especially Terry. Thankfully he redeemed himself in 2011.

Oh, ok. You and Clutch were talking about two different things. You're right, of course, Dirk had to learn how to deal with double teams running at him. And the Golden State series shined a light on that. And it didn't take him long to learn from that series! I remember a few folks turning on Dirk after that, which was crazy.

BUT, what Clutch is saying happened too. Dirk had to figure out how to handle small defenders getting up into him. I'd have to research to remember when that was a focus, but I'm 99% that it was. I remember the discussions, and that he progressed fairly quickly to be able to punish that tactic.