Here's an easy question to begin this blog entry: What is the main reason the Dallas Mavericks made it to the NBA finals, where they're deadlocked in a 2-2 tie with the Miami Heat in one of the most thrilling championships of all-time?
Answer: Clearly, it's the elite/clutch/other-worldly play of superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who's proven critics wrong throughout these playoffs in the most impressive two-month stretch of his brilliant 13-year Hall of Fame career.
Dirk's averaged 28 points and 8.1 rebounds in 19 playoff games, to go along with an insane mark of 163-of-174 (93.7 percent) from the foul line. He's shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
He's been sensational. In both Dallas victories in the finals, Dirk has converted the game-winning layup. In Game 2 in Miami, he took Chris Bosh from the top of the key to the hole and muscled his way to a left-handed layup that cradled around the rim and dropped in the closing seconds. The fact that he had a broken tendon in his left middle finger didn't seem to matter at that moment. Then, in Game 4 in Dallas, Dirk took Udonis Haslem, noted for his lockdown defense, to the other side for a game-winning, right-handed layup. Same starting location. Triple-threat position at the top of the key. The fact that Dirk had a 101-degree fever didn't seem to matter at that moment either.
Dirk's been the Mavs' clear-cut MVP. Easy answer.
How about a more difficult question: What's the second-biggest reason the Mavs are playing in the NBA finals?
My answer: The inside presence, on both ends of the floor, of Tyson Chandler.
OK, so my Chandler man-crush in the Gametime in Arlington archives is obvious. I've praised the guy as the best Mavericks center ever, and also stated that the trade Mark Cuban made for him in July 2010 was the best trade in team history (need a refresher? Charlotte sent Chandler and Alexis Ajinca to Dallas for Matt Carroll, Erick Dampier and Eduardo Nájera...come on!).
Chandler deserves these bold claims, though. His impact extends beyond basic stats, which aren't too bad as it stands (in playoffs, 7.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, almost 2 blocks, 57.5 percent shooting from field per game).
Chandler's impact comes more from his ability to defend elite big men. His impact comes more from high-flying, alley-oop dunks that energize the team and the crowd.
Let's briefly look back at who the Mavs beat on their path to the NBA finals. Portland with LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby. Los Angeles with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka. These are mammoth front lines, particularly the latter two.
As a Mavs fan, I never really felt secure in the team's interior defense. Dallas hasn't really ever had a legitimate center to man up against elite post men (sorry, Erick Dampier, Shawn Bradley, Raef Lafrentz, etc.) Not until now, of course.
Fans frequently rip the NBA for its lack of defense, and part of those claims are fair, especially in the regular season. But you better be able to defend in the NBA playoffs. The Mavs, for the first time in years or maybe ever, possess one of the better defenses in basketball. The main reason is Chandler in the paint.
Dirk's performance against the Heat in Game 4 was nothing short of inspirational: 101-degree fever, 21 points, 11 boards, game-winning shot. But don't forget about the importance of Chandler, who scored 13 points and grabbed 16 boards, including nine on the offensive end. When Chandler has been on the floor this postseason, the Mavs are +80.
Now that Dirk is locked up for another two years, the first order of business after the postseason should be to lock up Chandler, only 28. If that happens, and defensive-minded Caron Butler returns from injury, the Mavs, despite their old age, could have another year or two left in the Dirk era to compete for the Western Conference title.
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