In a candid reflection on a pivotal moment in his illustrious career, Dirk Nowitzki opened up about winning the MVP award for the 2006-07 NBA season despite the Dallas Mavericks suffering a shocking first-round defeat to the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors.
“You guys were a tough matchup. Not only did Nelly know every strength of ours since he coached us, and he knew exactly what to do.”
“You guys had a small team that always gave me problems. You guys were fronting in the post, usually, I can catch on anybody, we had a tough time getting the ball to me.”
“I’m playing my best basketball and we run into a hot team with Golden State and we’re losing the first round and in a way I was more disappointed, frustrated after that loss than I was after the Finals loss.”
“That was, I think, the low point of my career…I didn’t want to leave my house for a while.”
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During an interview on All The Smoke, Dirk shared insights into the challenges posed by the Warriors and their coach, Nellie. The Warriors effectively exploited the Mavericks‘ weaknesses with a small but disruptive lineup, complicating Nowitzki’s ability to contribute consistently.
Nowitzki, renowned for his remarkable career and numerous accolades, described the 2007 playoff series against the Warriors as “probably my worst playoff series.” Despite being the league’s Most Valuable Player that season, Nowitzki revealed the emotional impact of the unexpected loss, emphasizing that it was a low point in his career.
Despite experiencing other setbacks in his storied career, including a Finals loss in 2006, Nowitzki highlighted the 2007 series against the Warriors as particularly devastating. This revelation offers a poignant glimpse into the emotional complexities that elite athletes navigate, demonstrating how even individual achievements like winning the MVP can be overshadowed by the disappointment of a shocking playoff upset.
How Did The 8th Seeded Warriors Beat The Best Team In The NBA?
The Golden State Warriors‘ stunning upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 NBA Playoffs remains one of the most memorable underdog triumphs in league history. The Warriors, led by coach Don Nelson, employed a small-ball strategy that exploited the Mavericks’ vulnerabilities and ultimately contributed to their early exit from the playoffs.
Despite Dirk Nowitzki’s remarkable MVP regular season performance, where he averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 50.2% from the field, the Mavericks faced a formidable challenge in the Warriors. The eighth-seeded Warriors’ unconventional approach, featuring a smaller and quicker lineup, disrupted the Mavericks’ rhythm and exposed weaknesses in their game.
The Warriors’ game plan, orchestrated by the experienced coach Nelson, proved instrumental in neutralizing Nowitzki’s impact. The smaller lineup disrupted Nowitzki’s post-ups and made it challenging for him to receive the ball in favorable positions. This defensive strategy, combined with offensive schemes that maximized the Warriors’ speed and three-point shooting, set the stage for a historic upset.
During the six-game series, Dirk Nowitzki faced defensive challenges, with the Warriors fronting him in the post and limiting his scoring opportunities. Nowitzki candidly admitted:
“A lot of teams obviously had the blueprint, but they didn’t have the personnel to pull it off.”
The Warriors, however, possessed the right personnel and executed their game plan to perfection.
In addition to the defensive disruptions, the Warriors capitalized on their offensive strengths, employing effective ball movement and three-point shooting to exploit gaps in the Mavericks’ defense. The series showcased the potency of the small-ball strategy, challenging conventional perceptions about the prerequisites for playoff success.
The Warriors’ triumph over the Mavericks not only altered the narrative of that postseason but also left a lasting legacy, influencing how teams approach playoff matchups and underscoring the significance of tactical innovation. As Dirk Nowitzki reflected on that series, acknowledging it as “probably my worst playoff series,” the 2007 Warriors’ victory remains etched in NBA history as a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of playoff basketball.
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