[King Glorious]

I've always had a problem with anyone saying that Dirk Nowitzki doesn't play in the clutch. He's one of the few superstars that actually ups his production in the playoffs over his regular season numbers. His career regular season is 22.7 and 8.6 In the playoffs, it's 25.4 and 11.0 I remember when they were facing elimination in 2003 against Portland and he went for 31 and 11 and then the next series, again facing elimination against Sac he went for 30-19. I remember the 2006 playoffs when he went for 37-15 in game seven at SA. I remember when Phoenix tied their series at 2-2 and he went for 50-12 in the next game. When they lost to Miami in the finals, it wasn't because Dirk didn't produce. He went for 21 a game in the two wins and 23.8 in the four losses. They lost because they couldn't stop Wade, not because of Dirk. He had 30 in the game three loss (98-96, Wade 42). He had 20 in the game five loss (101-100, Wade 43). He had 29-15 in the game six loss (95-92, Wade 36).

Dirk is not on the level with James, Bryant, and Wade. Nobody else in the league is. But he's not some scrub bum that can't play and doesn't produce. I was watching last night's game. The way they lost game three to go down 3-0, the Mavs had every right to quit. But in a series where he was already going for 32.0-11.7 and shooting 52%, he upped it last night. With the season on the line and the game in the balance, he scored 44 (19 in the fourth) and kept the season alive. Again, he's not on the level with the very very best in the game......but you just can't do the stuff he does do, against the best players in the world....if you aren't a great player. Maybe not the best finisher ever but far, far from a choker. Anyone that goes for 37-15 at SA in game seven to take out the defending champs is forever in my book immune from the choker label.