Scott Brooks brushes aside Dallas Mavericks claim of foul play against Dirk Nowitzki - NBA Update
Dirk Nowitzki is amongst the few players in NBA who are considered unstoppable. Almost all of the teams have tried everything to curtail his steaming offense. But on Sunday Night Oklahoma City Thunder went all blitzkrieg on him.
They retained him to just 25 points on 8-of-18 shooting, a team high but nothing in contrast to his last year’s opening game performance. He collected 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting and was 100% from the free throw line.
To accomplish the task OKC had designated their best defensive options Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins on Nowitzki. The duo shadowed Nowitzki in the dying moments of the game, during two different times he tried to approach the
rim but the OKC guards compelled him to create crucial turnovers that decided the fate of the game.
The forward succumbed to the pressure and melted down completely in the 4th. As a result Kevin Durant came up with a jumper at the death which resulted into a 99-98 victory.
This whole situation cheesed off Mavs’ coach Rick Carlisle and he said that they have been victimized as the officials didn’t notice the physical defence being played on Dirk. He went on to protest that Mavs’ were given unjust
calls which cost them the game.
His statement compelled Thunder coach Scott Brooks to defend his team, he brushed aside the accusations and denied from any foul play. He provided the example of Mavs’ last year Western Conference finals.
“Might as well just go back to your quotes in 2011, he said the same thing," Brooks said Sunday."They average 20 free throws a game and they shot (25). We average 27, we shot 20. If you're going to get into that I think you're
taking away what NBA basketball is about. You play your game, you do it as hard as you can and you live with the results”.
He continued that the media can buy the propagandist statements but he will not.
"You guys," Brooks said."can't be sucked into that. That's what he does."
Mavs, the reigning champs didn’t get the kicking start which they were looking for they opened the game against the number 1 seeded OKC on their home ground. Moreover Dirk was not the only player pinned down as Jason Terry also
shared the same plight.
Like Nowitzki he had Thabo Sefolosha and James Harden shadowing him. As result Terry couldn’t get the possession of the ball in the decisive frame. The OKC strategy is both effective and deadly.
Mavs will have to improvise a way out of this situation as if the other teams start to follow the same routine then they wouldn’t be able to make it through the 1st round as well.
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