Closing Encounters of the Dirk Kind

Tonight the Dallas Mavericks play in the always exciting and always anxious “win or go home” game, this one hosting the top seeded and regular season’s best team, the San Antonio Spurs.

The Mavericks are no strangers to being on the brink of elimination. Although it never happened during their 2011 road to the championship, it’s happened many, many times over the past decade plus and the face of the team has thrived in these occasions.

Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

In the history of the Earth, only five players have higher scoring averages then our guy in potential elimination games. The list contains a few names you might have heard of.

1. LeBron James

2. Michael Jordan

3. Allen Iverson

4. Jerry West

5. Wilt Chamberlain

…and coming in at number 6, with 28.9 PPG and over 11 RPG, dat dood….

6. Dirk Nowitzki

The God of Fadeaway has been frustratingly silent and absolutely not himself in 19/20 quarters in this first round matchup. As the number 8 seed, the team still finds themselves in position to play ultimate spoiler and upset the number 1 seed San Antonio Spurs.

Other players, Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, Samuel Dalembert and DeJuan Blair have stepped up in the unfortunate absence of Dirk, but it’s a Game 6 on your home court, and there’s still hope. Even better than hope, there’s time and there’s a chance.

It’s not too late for the future Hall of Famer to get it rolling, and that Dirk-y quarter that fans, friends, enemies and everyone in between have come to expect came in the most recent 12 minute frame to cap off a disappointing game 5 at the

Alamo Dome

AT&T Center in boring ass San Antone.

At the end of the day, we have a chance. A chance many including myself didn’t think we would have. And that is to force a Game 7 for all the marbles.

Despite all the struggles that have preceded this “win or go home” close out game, despite Dirk Nowitzki scoring just 18 PPG on 41% shooting and a wildly uncharacteristic 79% mark at the charity stripe, (while Manu Ginobili has taken 6.8 absurd, flop-induced free throws a game…seriously, wtf @NBA #hashtagturrible) despite facing hefty odds as well as facing the officials who don the same colors as the Spurs, despite it all…

…we’ve got a chance. All things considered with this Titanic roller coaster ride of a season it has been, what else can you as for? #Lets #Go #Mavs