<HR SIZE=1> <!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src=\"http://www.sport1.de/coremedia/pics/28/02/13/2x306x153x3,property=original.jpg\"><!--EZCODE IMAGE END-->
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b><!--EZCODE FONT START-->\"Dirkules\" makes a name for himself<!--EZCODE FONT END--></b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
Dallas/Munich - First Dirk Nowitzki was the \"German Wunderkind\". Then the German became \"Big D\". Now the Americans reverently call him \"Dirkules\".
A name hard earned for the German national player. He always earned it for himself. These days more than ever.
Dirk Nowitzki is playing the season of his life!
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b>Best season start of his career</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
Never in his seven years in the NBA has the 26-year-old started so well.
With 25.9 points per game, he is already the fifth-best basket hunter in the league. Superstars like Tracy McGrady (Houston/20.5 points) or Tim Duncan (Spurs/23.6) stand in the German\'s shadow. There lacks only 2.4 points per game to the NBA Olympian and to Kobe Bryant .
Nowitzki is also to be found in the top ten in rebounds (11.0 per game and sixth place in the ranking list) .
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b>Geschwindner not surprised</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
By way of comparison: In his best season so far, 2002/2003, when Nowitzki closed the series with 25.1 points and 9.9 rebounds average, after 14 games the forward \"only\" had 23.6 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Holger Geschwindner is not surprised by the development. The German national player\'s \"mentor\" says to Sport1: \"Dirk has improved again. We practiced things in the summer which are working as planned. It\'s going as we had envisioned before the season.\"
Among other things, in the summer they worked on Nowitzki\'s passing game and his defense.
Geschwindner sounds satisfied. Tthere doesn\'t seem to be occasion for euphoria, however. He soberly analyzes the situation:
\"The important thing is that Dirk still wants to keep learning. Based on his statistics, he already belongs to the best ten players in the NBA, but he wants to keep improving more. Many don\'t do that on this level. And it makes it tremendously fun to work with him.\"
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b>New hierarchy</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
With the new season, the situation in Dallas changed for Nowitzki. Due to the departure of his buddy Steve Nash to Phoenix (Geschwindner: \"It hasn\'t broken up their friendship.\") the hierarchy of the Mavericks changed.
Nowitzki took the lead role in the strongly rejuvenated team \"It\'s going well,\" Geschwindner says. He also knows that the absence of Nash truly affects him.
\"The playmaker isn\'t yet quite worked in,\" Geschwindner says. \"Dirk has to clear much more space for himself, he can\'t so often play the \'Pick and Roll\'. So he has to take many more difficult shots.\"
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b>\"Jack of all trades\"</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
But he succeeds. Primarily because \"Dirk is not a specialist, but a jack of all trades,\" says Geschwindner. The German rotates - successfully.
Also, the recurring ligament sprains are not a problem. \"That\'s a standard injury for basketballers. But if Dirk hurts himself, a whole nation cries out,\" Geschwindner says. Over the course, they slowly developed a method of minimizing the problems.
After the last ligament sprain, which Nowitzki suffered on 21 November in Denver, the national player was only out for one game.
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b>Goal: the Playoffs</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
Afterwards, Nowitzki immediately took responsibility again. The Mavericks will also orient themselves around him in the coming months. First goal is playoff participation, says Geschwindner:
\"The team is stronger than last year. From the names they\'re now set at every position.\"
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b>Again an All-Star?</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->
But Geschwindner can\'t yet see into the crucial phase up to the championship. There are still too many imponderables, also because of possible trades.
\"For once Dirk is playing a good first half of the season,\" Geschwindner says. He is eyeing a nomination for the All-Star Game.
There \"Dirkules\" could make a name for himself on the big stage.
<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><EM>Michael Schwartz</EM><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> |
>M41生日快乐！！就是不知道能不能看到 Long time no see</P>
