The fact that Dirk won without a true #2 is amazing

but he had the least responsibilities out of all the superstars. he had teammates to specialize in all the other things: defense, playmaking, rebound, shoot the ball, penetrate. therefore, all he had to do was score/shoot.

hakeem won without a #2 and literally had to do everything on the court but shoot the 3.

 

Drexler was a legit #2 in 95.

 

I've always thought that the theory of the "big three" is overrated. What they do is provide the possibility of a constant scorer, but with great defense and team offense by the opposing team..the big three can be halted. The key being, Team offense and team defense. It's not like they can have two basketballs at the same time.

 

The team winning with basically the highest payroll is not amazing. They should be contenders with a 90M payroll.

Please remember that the Mavs were up 12 in the first half when Dirk had only one made basket.

 

First since Hakeem in 94 to do this, although the Pistons won in 04 without a #1.

 

i'm talking about in 94. u should know that.

 

Duncan won it on 2003 with a benched tp, a rookie ginobili, a 13/8 david robinson, speedy claxton starting at point, etc, etc. He clearly got no second option, but the team defense was really good, and duncan was dominating. That was a really low talent nba champion.

 

So basketball is won by a team... How odd, right?

 

well without terry, I don't think the mavs would have won game 6..

 

i consider all rockets championships glorious.

 

exactly. While Jason Terry may not have the reputation of the other #2 guys mentioned, he certainly played the role of one extremely well this postseason. Dirk was far from doing it all himself in this one.

 

Regardless, he joins Hakeem/Big Ben/not sure if anybody else as the lone All-Star on a championship squad (All-Star the year they won it all).

 

They probably had the deepest team in the playoffs.

 

were any of hakeem's teammates in 93-94 former all-stars or have been to the finals?

 

Otis Thorpe

 

Some may say there are several true #2s on that team. Stevenson is a #2 for sleeping with a 14-year-old girl. Cuban can be kind of an obnoxious #2. Kidd's wifebeating probably qualifies him as one, too.

 

How about Detroit with no big stars took out L.A in 2004.

 

I would say Jason Kidd (future HOF) is a legit #2.

He controlled the game on both sides of the court. He rebounds, runs the offense, defends both guard positions, provides veteran leadership, and hits timely threes.

 

Dirk played like Dream on offense, but JVG was constantly drilling him for not playing any defense lol. Still, Dirk carried the Mavs like Dream did the 94 Rockets, and it was damn fun to watch. I became a fan of Dirk in this playoffs.