Marc Stein, ESPN.com: LeBron has never played better for longer. But these Mavs, remember, are doing this with a model that history says doesn't work: One certifiable franchise player surrounded by a committee of quality specialists. Nowitzki might be the only player in the league who can make this model work. So, when you measure the load Nowitzki shoulders on a nightly basis, then factor in the efficiency at which he's been operating this postseason, even the new jumper-draining LeBron would have to say it's the 7-footer in Dallas. Did TV not exist back in 1994? Dirk has one role on the team: To be a scorer, which is excellent at. The offense is actually run by Jason kid. Take Jason Kidd away from the Mavs and they would have struggled like previous years. Also, Dirk is not anchoring the Mavs defense. Back in 1994, certain player had to: 1) Be the top scorer. If he did not, offense would come to a halt because the system was designed for him to be forced to be double teamed. 2) Run the offense. Either he had to score or make the decision on the double teams to start the ball movement to get the other players shots. The only other play on the Rockets offense book was pick and roll for 2-3 minutes he rested in the game. 3) Anchor one of he top defense in the league. To sum it up, he was playing the roles assigned to Dirk + Kidd + Marion + Chandler for 45+ minutes per game in the playoffs and all his numbers in the playoffs were BETTER than his regular season numbers, per usual.
So in other words, Dirk and Hakeem are nothing alike. So Stein is still correct in saying "these Mavs are doing this with a model that history says doesn't work" Kneejerk homer reaction much
Considering it has ALREADY BEEN DONE, history is going to have a hard time saying it does not work. Hard yes, not been done before, no. Plus, he is not even carrying the same amount of load like Hakeem did back in 1994 which was another thing Marc was wrong at.
He's still not wrong. Only one team in the last 30+ years has won a championship using the one superstar + role players model. It doesn't really work if it's only 1/30+. And Nowitzki is only making it work because all of his shooters have been hot in the playoffs. If Mo Williams and Co. didn't completely disappear the last two years, Lebron may have made it work as well.
It works but it is extremely rare. It would have to be 0 for it to not to work. And you definitely cant go around claiming it has never been done before like Marc is.
Sorry bro, I think your being over-sensitive on this topic. I don't think Stein said its never been done before but rather that it just doesn't work. If you do something 30 times and only accomplish it once then while it can be done, the strategy being used really doesn't work. There is a reason EVERYONE wants two stars, Dallas may have done it this season with Dirk and a bunch of excellent role players but it's just to difficult to accomplish. Also remember, Hakeem did it once but the following season The Rockets went out and got Clyde to pair up with Dream, so even the Rockets back then understood Dream needed backup.
I agree. There's a big difference between saying "a model that history says doesn't work" and "a model that history says never works." And while Hakeem did it already, Nowitzki really may be the only player in the league right now who could make it work.
i don't know if there is a more jaded fanbase about one throwback player than we are. getting upset about someone directly slighting the greatness of hakeem is one thing, but blowing something that doesn't have even the slightest reference to hakeem out of proportion is something that is all too common here. stop acting like an ex wife.
