There is something to be said for ‘synergy’. That is, the idea that “the whole is better than the sum of its parts”. The NBA Finals thus far attests to this notion. When looking at these two teams on paper (or just looking at them in general), one would think that Miami clearly has the upper hand. After all, they have three All-Stars on their squad, two of whom will more than likely continue to dominate in the league for years to come. The third has the potential to do so if he would stop posing for dinosaur look-a-like pictures and instead spend an afternoon in the weight room. Conversely, Dallas has a 7ft power forward, a 5’7 point guard, and a 38yr old who they rely on for both scoring and defense. It seems like a no-brainer. So, how has Dallas been able to ‘beat the heat’ without a beach or a cocktail…?
Dallas’ best kept secret is their ability to function at a very high level as a team and to seamlessly filter guys through the lineup throughout the game. After all, their second leading scorer comes off the bench. Their not-so-best-kept secret comes in the form of Dirk Nowitski. For years, Dirk has been a dominant threat in the league. He has led the Mavericks to eleven straight playoff appearances and is a ten-time All Star (and he’s got great hair). Perhaps, the thing that hinders Dirk’s fame the most is his consistency and disregard for the spotlight. Our society loves volatility and flashy-ness. We love when a superstar has an awful outing and then comes firing back with an explosive performance. We get bored when a player consistently scores 25pts and gets 10 boards a night. Where are the windmill dunks, the spin moves, and the alley-oops? Similarly, NBA All-Star weekend has evolved into 1/8 basketball, 6/8 entertainment, and 1/8 Kia advertising vehicles for freak-like specimens to jump over. No one wants to see people stand around and knock down 18ft jumpshots.
Dirk doesn’t want his own website, his own clothing line, or his own shoes. Dirk doesn’t want his own reality show. He doesn’t want to attend weekend events at Dallas nightclubs in his newest Armani suit. Dirk wants to sink jumpers. He wants to win championships. Most importantly and perhaps most noticeably, Dirk wants the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter – something most would hesitate to say about anyone in Miami’s starting lineup. With a superstar like Dirk on your team, you want him to shine during crunch time - just like I want Ari Gold in my corner when I am negotiating a business deal.
Dirk’s finishing ability aside, Dallas’ supporting cast is unique but surprisingly efficient. Players who most doubt would thrive as well anywhere else the way they do in Dallas are able to blossom in Mark Cuban land. Shawn Marion has his swagger back from his early days in Phoenix. JJ Barea’s effectiveness continues to impress. It’s not hard to believe that he can put up 15pts a night, but it is hard to believe the way in which he does it - carefully selecting shots and capitalizing on opportunities to cut through the lane. Tyson Chandler looks like a seasoned veteran with his composure and willingness to make the hustle plays. Have you ever seen the way Tyson carries himself? In his mind, he is about 40lbs more muscular than he really is, but it’s that mentality that bleeds through in his play and shows up on the stat sheet.
The Mavericks have taught us a lot during this post-season. Maybe you don’t need the best superstars, the best city, or the best pyrotechnics during pre-game warm ups. Maybe forming a team of like-minded athletes who respect one another as well as their coach and GM is the new recipe for success. I don’t think the Mavs will close out the series in Game 6, but I do think they will be champions after Game 7.
And if there was ever a reason for Dirk to do a photo-shoot, maybe he could be convinced to model his ring for a few quick snapshots.
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