Nowitzki NBA's MVP
Dirk and Mavericks Face Long Offseason After Playoff Disappointment
A post season flop against the Golden State Warriors makes winning the MVP award bittersweet for Mavericks' star Dirk Nowitzki.
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks faces heavy scrutiny after winning the 2007 NBA's Most Valuable Player award only to fizzle in the first round of the playoffs. He was almost non-existent in key games against the surprising eight-seeded Golden State Warriors.
Nowitzki finished the season averaging 24.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, shooting 50% from the field, 41% from three-point range and 90% from the foul line. He led his Mavericks to the NBA's best record with 67 wins and was a first-time starter for the NBA All-Star team.
Yet, this memorable season was soon forgotten after Nowitzki shot just 25% from the field for a lowly 8 points in the deciding game against the Warriors.
Even though the announcement wasn't made until last week, the MVP award is a regular season award and the votes are counted before the playoffs even begin. Nowitzki received 1,138 points, including 83 of the 129 first-place votes, to edge out former teammate Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, who received 1,013 points and 44 first-place votes and won the award the previous two years. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers received the other two votes.
The Mavericks face a long off season, where team management must decide what changes, if any, to make to improve the roster and avoid another playoff catastrophe. The most sensible scenerio would be to make a run at New Jersey Nets' star guard Jason Kidd, who has been rumored in several possible trades in the past few years. The Mavericks could part with guard Jason Terry, whose late-game shot selection has been in question of late, and perhaps some other role players to try to entice New Jersey. Kidd would bring the toughness and defensive prowess on the perimeter the Mavericks have been looking for. Moreover, his size and quickness would allow him to play alongside the smaller Devin Harris or the larger Josh Howard or Jerry Stackhouse. Because Terry is so small, the Mavericks are sometimes exposed defensively when he and Harris are paired. Most importantly, Kidd would take a lot of pressure off Nowitzki and would free him up for more open looks at the basket.
Unfortunately for Dallas, with Kidd's impressive post season play, it's unlikely the Nets will part with him. Still, acquiring a tough-minded perimeter player could be something on the Mavericks' mind for the off season. Point guards Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons and Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls will be free agents this offseason and could also be options, though both are expected to re-sign with their respective teams.
There has also been rumors of a Dirk Nowitzki for Kevin Garnett swap. Garnett hasn't been too happy with the lack of improvements to the teams' roster and could be the versatile big man and interior presence the Mavericks could use. However, there hasn't been a whole lot of strength to that rumor. Nevertheless, this should be an intriguing summer for Mavericks fans.
