NBA: Nowitzki’s season at the Dallas Mavericks: He is still Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki is also in his 20th birthday. NBA season is still a dangerous scorer – at least in the right dose. Although he no longer wins the Dallas Mavericks on his own, he still moves individually at an almost unprecedented level. Even if it doesn’t always look like it.

“These words, almost awe-inspiringly pronounced, were more often heard by fans in the past Dallas Mavericks games when they used the commentary of the opposing team in the League Pass. 14.3 points was scored by the Dirkster in the past ten games, including twice 19 and once 20 points. The small art breaks against the Lakers (6) and the Knicks (5) are also included. Not bad for a 39-year-old with nearly 50,000 regular season minutes in the bones.

“He has learned how to move efficiently in the field. He doesn’t waste energy on pointless paths,”Mavs coach Rick Carlisle told Sporting News, trying to describe the still good performances of the living legend. Any fan can see that. The oldie isn’t really mobile anymore. There is probably no other player who takes such small steps when he has to pick up a little speed on the court.

Of course, this is no longer the responsibility of the Würzburger. The Mavs have not only been trying to be less dependent on the Dirkster since this season. His usage rate (20.8) is lower than ever before in his career. No less than four Mavs colleagues reach higher values. Nowitzki is no longer the first option in the attack; only occasionally are plays painted for him. Nowitzki is much more often the emergency solution, if nothing else works – but this solution is also quite good in season 20.

Gone are the days when Nowitzki took his opponents on their backs in the mail and pushed his deadly fadeaway jumper into their faces. In the meantime, there is also a lack of strength, especially in the Achilles tendon, with which he had problems last season for several weeks. Instead, Dirk looks for his throws in the faceup against smaller opponents or waits at the three-way line. Of the 442 litters so far this season, only 28 were simply basketed.

It is therefore all the more astonishing that Nowitzki, with 46.4 percent of the field, is the best hit since the 2013/14 season. To the classification: Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the prime example of constant excellence in the NBA, laid down in his 20th year of existence the following key words:”Lakers’ legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar”. Season worse numbers on (10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds) than Nowitzki at the moment (12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds).

“I’m just using my experience. I know where to go in the field,”said the German, explaining his current performances to Sporting News,”When a smaller player defends me, I use my length. Especially at the height of the free-throw line, I feel like I can throw my litters at these boys.”

Carlisle has adapted his rotations and lets Nowitzki play most of the game against the opponent’s reservists. It is also no coincidence that the lineup with Yogi Ferrell, J. J. With a net rating of 18.8, Barea, Devin Harris, Dwight Powell and Dirk are among the best in the entire league. Warriors coach Steve Kerr even gave the combo a name of its own, the Energizer Bunnies.

Especially the chemistry with Barea and Harris is well known from old, glorious Mavs-times “Harris, Barea and Dirk have known each other for so long now. They know how to take advantage of Dirk’s presence and other options,”Carlisle enthused.

The two-man game between Dirk and Barea can hardly be stopped almost seven years after the championship “He is one of the best passport drivers. He also knows that I’m always behind him,”Nowitzki said about Barea,”If he’s stopped, I’m the way out. When I see the basket, I just let the ball fly.”

Now mainly preferred from the three-line, where his game has shifted even more. Nowitzki doesn’t operate in the corners – of course not, after all, these would be additional metres that he would have to put his body through. All the more remarkable is the 41.5 percent rate from a distance, which he only surpassed in two seasons in his career.

It is also remarkable that the 39-year-old has not missed a single game this season. Of course, he’s only 25.1 minutes a night, but the full 82 matches Nowitzki played last season in 2000/01,”He’s one of the biggest athletes I’ve ever seen,” said Carlisle, praising the fact that he’s 39 years old and still able to show such performance.”

It’s a miracle,”joked the marathon man himself about this fact,” Hopefully I can keep the series going until the All-Star Break. Then I can recover and end the season with all my strength.”

Page 1: Marathonman with deadly jumper

Page 2: End of career? Nowitzki is not finished yet