When mauled by Miami defenders in this year's NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki has graciously accepted the routine whistle and proceeded to the charity stripe with a goofy grin across his face. The Smirk. The hardwoods of L.A., Portland, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and most recently South Beach have all collaborated to create Nowitzki's nation wide playground this post season, where he has dropped jaws on the monkey bars, and thrown opponents off the swings. In 2006, Dwayne Wade's Heat shocked Nowitzki and crew, when they erased a 2-0 series deficit to earn the Naismith Trophy with four straight stunning wins. Five years later, Dirk has Dallas a game away from capturing the Title that Wade single handedly stole from them; memories that Nowitzki revisits in the worst of late night dreams.
A Championship for Dallas would be the first for the franchise which debuted in the 1980-81 season. If the Mavs can achieve this elusive greatness Sunday Night, many critics will credit the victory to Lebron James' lack of late game luster. While James' on court woes and media antics have frequently made headlines this series, Nowitzki's lights out shooting and acrobatic heroics will in the end conquer all. If the Mavericks win, Dirk Nowitzki will hoist the trophy on basketball's biggest stage, and you better bet that he will be smirking; a nuance he continues to coin with every defender whom he makes silly.
JD
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