Wade on Nowitzki

[Zanchief]

''At the end of the day,'' Wade said, ``you're remembered for what you did at the end. . . . I think that's the reason -- Dirk says they gave us the championship last year, but he's the reason they lost the championship, because he wasn't the leader that he's supposed to be in the closing moments. That's because of great defense by us, but also he wasn't assertive enough as a leader's supposed to be.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sp ... 656501.htm

Comments Vonk?

[vonkaar]

Shrug...

As far as Dirk not coming through and being a leader, he's right. I agree with him. Dirk was passionate, hard-working and a true leader during the playoff series against Memphis, San Antonio and Phoenix. He wasn't himself against Miami. So, Wade was right.

However... Wade touched on the 'ref' issue, which pisses me off. WE (the Mavs) aren't the ones saying that they were given the championship, the media and the fans were. In fact, after his comments the other day, Avery Johnson's immediate response was, "Miami won because they were the better team." That's the stance that the team took the whole time. If Wade wants to direct his anger from his 'tainted' championship, he needs to focus someplace other than Dirk or the Mavs. Look at the media... look at the rest of the league that remembers that series as having the most biased officiating in recent memory.

NBATV had Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated) and Drew Sharp (Detroit Free Press) on a few weeks ago, following the Lakers/Heat game. The question was brought up regarding Kobe vs Wade. I wish I could have TiVOd it because Drew Sharp's quote was the most brilliant snippet I've yet heard. The question was simple... who will retire with a greater impact on the game - Kobe Bryant or Dwayne Wade. Drew Sharp's brilliant answer was, "Kobe Bryant, without any doubt. Kobe makes big shots to win games, Dwayne Wade makes free throws to win games. The LEAGUE creates an environment that allows Wade to succeed, Kobe just succeeds. Fifteen years ago, Wade would have simply been a 'very very good player' where Kobe would have been a God in any time. The rules changed and now Wade gets fouled every time he approaches the basket. In this new world, Dwayne Wade is an excellent player, but it's nothing more than an exploitation of new rules. And he does it better than anyone alive."

I just about died when he finished that.

McCallum made his case supporting Wade but had no comeback to Sharp's points...

Anyway...

in a nuthsell, I agree with him... but... meh, who cares? He has his one and only ring... he's on a completely broken team that is now overpaying 3 fat and ancient players (Antoine Walker making $18m a year until 2010 ) and the East is going to continue to improve around him. Hell, I'd give Toronto the edge in a 7 game series, the way Calderon and Bosh are playing.

[Jay]

The 3 you're talking about are Walker, Zo and GP?

[Zanchief]

Hell, I'd give Toronto the edge in a 7 game series, the way Calderon and Bosh are playing.

Merci

Beat the Lakers tonight. To say Detroit in the palace tomorrow is a test for us is understating.

[Rotj]

irrelevant - but omg at the finish between Orlando and San Antonio. what a game. mostly cos we won. but hey.

[Zanchief]

Pshh we had no trouble with Orlando on Wednesday.

Toronto > San Antonio

[vonkaar]

Gotta be exciting to see the young talent develop around Bosh like that... plus, all the love that the media has given ya'll is pretty sweet. They talked about the Raptors on Mavs radio today... well, mainly about Bosh (Dallas connection and all)... but... still...


Jay, Shaq is making $20m a year until 2009. Antoine Walker $18m til 2010. Eddie Jones making $16m til 2010.

That's 54,000,000 locked up for 3 years. The Chicago Bulls entire salary cap is $53m.

Raptors, Hawks and Bobcats are all less too... Bobcats are only $36m.

[Zanchief]

Gotta be exciting to see the young talent develop around Bosh like that... plus, all the love that the media has given ya'll is pretty sweet. They talked about the Raptors on Mavs radio today... well, mainly about Bosh (Dallas connection and all)... but... still...

It's just kinda weird. I keep watching games and we keep winning. Sure the sched was easy in February, but like we all were saying in January, our scheduel was brutal up until then and people didn't seem to care. We are getting a lot of love in the US media which wasn't even common place in the Carter days.

BC might win back to back EOTY with tow different teams.

[Zanchief]

Cubans response.

http://www.blogmaverick.com/

I love this guy.

[Phlegm]

This made me LOL:

Your coach sat players for being fat. I guess you couldnt lead them away from the buffet.