My sports-brain is going crazy trying to process all this. This may be the best stat - in crunch time of the Finals (less than 5 minutes, less than 5 point lead) Dirk outperformed the entire Heat team:

quote:

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Crunch Time, NBA Finals

Nowitzki Heat
Points 26 24
FG 8-13 7-25
FG pct 61.5 28.0
Rebounds 7 9
+/- +18 -16

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This was a nice little stat after the game 2 comeback, then a little more unique after the game 3 almost comeback. Then after the game 4 sick game it became really special, but I still expected at least Wade to show some pride and even things out. But no, games 5 and 6 went the same as the previous 3 games in the clutch. Hell I guess game 6 technically didn't have a crunch time by definition as Wade was too busy dribbling the ball off his foot. Too bad.

[This message has been edited by InternetFan02 (edited 6/13/2011 3:50p).]

Runner up stat might be Dirk scoring the same number of 4th quarter points (62) as Wade and Lebron combined

wow

the thing is, you knew Dirk was getting the ball and he still got those numbers. the heat had 2-3 options, in theory, and did worse.

I still think that doesn't help you as much as you think, when you run your offense like street ball. Any decent defensive mind (Casey, in this case) can dissect an offense that has no movement and relies on 1 on 1 isolations all the time.

At least when the Mavs do isolations, they have some movement and mangle up the defense first.