Dirk Nowitzki: Performance Breakdown of the Western Conference Semi-Finals (Part 1)
After leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 4-2 series win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Dirk Nowitzki set foot on the Staple centre to take on the two times defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. Pitched up against Kobe Bryant, the series was tipped to be a spectacle. However, Nowitzki and the Mavs proved a little too hot for the Lakers to handle. The Mavs swept the series 4-0 and ended the illustrious coaching career of Phil Jackson on a low. Here is how it all unravelled.
Game-1: Dallas Mavericks 96 – Los Angeles Lakers 94
Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks, who launched a ferocious assault down the stretch to squeak past the Los Angeles Lakers 96-94 on May 2 at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles.
Nowitzki marshalled the side with his game-winning double-double which included 28 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Dirk played for 38 minutes during which he shot 11 of 22 from the field, including a three. He shot 100 percent from the charity stripe that night (five of five).
Nowitzki took his fourth quarter scoring habit from the quarter-finals into the semi-finals. Dirk punched 11 of his 28 points in the final 12 minutes of the game that enabled the Mavs to rush from behind and seize the game in their favour. With this win the Mavs went 1-0 up in the best of the seven game series.
After snatching a close win from the Lakers Nowitzki didn’t write off L.A, he said. "It's definitely a great win for us, but if you look at their last series, they lost Game 1 and came right back and won the next two and had the series back in control. We'd love to go for it in Game 2."
Game-2: Dallas Mavericks 93 – Los Angeles Lakers 81
The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in three quarters and made the way to their second straight win in the second round of the playoffs. Nowitzki led the Mavs once again with his 24 points along with seven rebounds and two assists.
Nowitzki was in his groove early this time as 15 of his 24 points came in the first half of the game. Dirk spent 38 minutes on the floor and during this period he canned nine of 16 shots from the floor, including two daggers from behind the arc. He also hit four from the free throw line out of his five attempts.
After the game Nowitzki said, "If you would have told me before that were going to win both games, that would have been hard to believe. But I think we earned it."
The Mavs were trailing in the first quarter, when Nowitzki and company made the move. Dirk led the rally with seven points and pushed the score to 26-20 when the first period closed. Nowitzki hit the last five points of the period for the Mavs.
The Lakers didn’t give up though and cut the lead down in the second quarter, before Nowitzki once again halted their way with some brisk retaliation. The rally includes eight points from the Dirk, as he enabled the Mavs to lead the Lakers by 51-49 at the halftime.
Tags: