Four reasons why Dirk Nowitzki might prove to be the nemesis for the Miami Heat – Part 1
Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki has been the driving force behind the Dallas Mavericks campaign this postseason. Not only did the German sharp-shooter guide the team into the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals
by overwhelming the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he was also the major contributor in bringing down the two-time defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round series of the playoffs.
Nowitzki is one of the most difficult forwards to guard in the league. The Oklahoma City Thunder know it firsthand. Here are the four reasons why it is would be difficult for Miami to defend Dirk Nowitzki in the finals:
His Height
With a seven foot frame it is almost impossible to guard the Nowitzki. Big Dirk’s is a very swift mover on the court and is a master of creating spaces on the court. With a height advantage against all of the Heat defenders except
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Nowitzki will be able to get open looks almost every time. In addition to that, he has the ability to shoot over players of nearly his size, a trait which he showcased regularly against Serge Ibaka in the Western Conference Finals.
Heat forward Udonis Haslem admitted that it would be a tough task for them to defend Nowitzki in the finals. Haslem said on Saturday, "Right now, he might be the best player in the playoffs.”
Haslem successfully guarded Nowitzki in the 2006 NBA Finals. In that best-of-seven final series, Miami limited him to average just 22.8 points per game and 39 percent shooting from the field. His average points and shooting was
far below than his average during that season. However, it is 2011 series and both the teams are 0-0.
Mid-Range Jumpers
Currently, the a ten-time NBA All-Star is one of the best mid-range jumpers of the league, making more than 50 percent of his shots from outside the paint during the regular season. He has made 40 percent of his three-point shots
this season and has slipped an overwhelming 51.5 percent of his three-point tries in the 15 games of the playoffs.
His ability to hit game-turning jumpers makes him a very difficult player to stop. The Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is very aware of this fact and has his work cut out to keep Nowitzki off guard "He has got the great equalizer of
being able to shoot from anywhere on the floor over the top of any type of defence."
Free Throw Shooting
The free throw shooting of the Mavs’ scoring machine has been terrific during the playoffs. He was 59-for-61 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference best-of-seven series. In fact, in the game-1 of the Conference
Finals, Nowitzki eclipsed the record of most consecutive free throws in a playoff game set by Paul Pierces in 2003. Nowitzki canned 24 free throws on a trot that night. Considering the fact that the Mavs have reached the charity stripe, the most in this year’s
playoffs, the Heat have their work cut out.
The Heat forward Chris Bosh acknowledged that the situation might get out of control for the Heat, once Nowitzki gets into the free throw line, “The natural thing for a (defender) to do after Dirk's hit five in a row is on the
sixth one jump for the sky." "Now he is at the free-throw line, and now you are just totally gone."
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