Stopping Dirk Nowitzki will be a team job for the Miami Heat - NBA 2011 Finals Special – Part 1
Defending the Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki in the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals is a daunting task for the Miami Heat. The 32-year-old had a splendid 2010-11 regular NBA season with a massive average
of 23.0 points along with 7.0 rebounds per game.
Miami had a moderate accomplishment handling Nowitzki during the regular season and they could not win either game. He added 26 points in the Mavericks’ 98-96 victory against the Heat on December 22. He did not commit any turnover
in the game, making all available 10 free throws. Additionally, he had 22 points, making all of the three free throws, and four assists in the second victory of Dallas on November 27.
However, the Big Dirk has played tremendously for his team so far in the playoff, averaging 32.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and shooting 51 percent from the floor and from the three-point line.
The veteran All-Star is the main reason why the Mavericks are still playing and just four victories away from the NBA Championship trophy. A 7-foot scoring machine is flying high and the most unstoppable force right now. The Heat
coach Erik Spoelstra, who praised his contribution towards his team, admitted his prominence in the upcoming series.
Spoelstra said, “There isn’t a magic pill or formula to stopping an MVP like that.” “He’s a great player for a reason. He can score in so many different ways and he is 7 feet.”
Now one of the biggest questions right now is what the Heat will do to try to slow him down.
Without any doubt, Nowitzki is the main point of concern for Miami. They will come up with different tactics against him in the series, the way they came up against guard Derrick Rose in the Eastern Conference finals. There are
several players in Miami’s squad who can guard Nowitzki.
Spoelstra said, “We will have several guys guard him by necessity and because that is who we are. We change shots and make things difficult. And great players require that.”
The Heat forward LeBron James could be the option because he has already showed his affability in the conference finals against the league MVP Rose. James has the size, quickness, and the speed but the only point is Nowitzki is
4 inches taller than King James is.
The 6-foot-8, 260-pound James acknowledged the height edge of Nowitzki over him and said, “He’s 7 foot. He’s going to get a shot on anybody in here no matter how tall, how fast, how quick you are.” “He can get a shot any time you
want it. But you just have to try to make it tough on him and wear him out throughout the game.”
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