A Great NBA Debate

Issue: Are there any players still playing in the playoffs that should be considered one of the best ever?

Short Answer: Yes, there is.

Reasoning: As most of my readers know, I am not a huge fan of the NBA.  When it comes to basketball, my allegiance lies with the college game.  However, I do watch the playoffs, especially the Western Conference, because they start their games around 5 a.m. eastern time, and I am a night owl.  Last night during Game 1 of the Dallas/Oklahoma City series, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson mentioned that the head coach of the Mavericks, Rick Carlisle, claimed that Dirk Nowitzki was one of the top-10 players of all time.  Van Gundy and Jackson laughed at Carlisle's comment, saying that it wasn't THAT outlandish, but they would put Nowitzki in the top-30, or so, of all time.  After watching last night's game, and realizing the Mavericks have made it to the Western Conference Finals with Jason Kidd as their point guard, I am leaning more toward agreeing with Rick Carlisle.

Dirk Nowitzki is absolutely, positively indefensible.  He is a 7-footer who can shoot, dribble, and pass.  And, on a night like he had last night, where he couldn't miss a shot, he can take over a game like none other.  Sure, he doesn't have the flair of a Michael Jordan, a Magic Johnson, or a Wilt Chamberlain, but he can do the same things they did.  Almost every possession went through Nowitzki, whether it was him catching the ball in the post to create for himself, or running the pick-and-roll with J.J. Berea, who consequently capitalized off the Thunder double-teamming Nowitzki, by scoring 21 points.  That's right, J.J. Berea scored 21 points, and I give each and every one of them to Dirk.  How good was Dirk last night?  Check it out:

• He had 48 points on 12-for-15 shooting from the floor and 24-for-24 from the line, which, as was widely reported, set an NBA playoff record for free throws made without a miss;
• He set an NBA playoff record for free throws made in a regulation-length game, breaking Michael Jordan's record of 23 free throws made (in 28 attempts) in a win over the Knicks on May 14, 1989;
• His 24-for-24 from the line not only established an NBA record for free-throw attempts without a miss in a playoff game. That performance also exceeded the corresponding record for any regular-season game in NBA history. (Dominique Wilkins holds the regular-season mark: he went 23-for-23 from the line for the Hawks in a game against the Bulls in 1992.);
• In addition, he made 12-of-15 field-goal attempts. His total of 48 points was the highest in any playoff game in NBA history by a player who shot at least 80 percent from the floor. No other player had ever scored that many points in a postseason game while attempting fewer than 22 shots from the field. The previous fewest field-goal attempts was 22 by Bob Cousy on March 21, 1953 (50 points on 10/22 FG, 30/32 FT) and he needed four overtimes to reach those levels.

That is seriously ridiculous, but, it is only one game.  Is there anything else out there that says this guy is a top-10 player of all time?  Would I be writing this if there weren't?  Okay, maybe I would, but not this time.  The NBA implemented the 3-point line in the 1979-1980 season (that means I am older than the 3-point line - FML).  Since then there has been a "club" which few players have been a member of.  This "club" requires you to shoot 90% from the free-throw line, 50% from the field, and 40% from the 3-point line.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that in an empty gym.  Anyway, some of the members won't shock you (and, yes, I realize that by this time you know Nowitzki is a member, but bear with me):

1. Larry Bird ('86-'87, '87-'88) - even at 6'9", simply one of the best shooters ever;
2. Mark Price ('88-'89) - a 6-foot guard, but, a Georgia Tech grad, so you know he is a stud;
3. Reggie Miller ('93-'94) - at 6'7", maybe the second best shooter ever, behind Larry Legend;
4. Steve Nash ('05-06, '07-'08, '08-'09, '09-'10) - a 6'3" point guard - ever wonder why this guy has won two MVP's?  Check out how many times he's been a member of the "club."

And that is the whole list.  Almost.  Three of these guys - Bird, Miller, Nash - are tall enough to be good post players as well, which helps the field-goal percentage.  But none of them would be considered post players.  All of them, however, would be considered shooters.  Dirk Nowitzki brings to the table every single aspect of the game.  He is a 7-footer, so his post game is impeccable and indefensible.  Yet he shoots like a guard.  Last night, Van Gundy and Jackson were talking about how great of a job Serge Ibaka was doing on Dirk defensively.  Seriously.  The guy scored 48 with a hand permanently in his face.  For the record, Dirk did not join the 50-40-90 club this year, but in 2006-07, and it is the only time he has done it.  But, after watching Dirk last night (and throughout the playoffs) I can't believe there have been many players in the history of the NBA who brought more to his team than he does.