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What has been Dirk Nowitzki's best playoff moment?

by Ted Bauer

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Dirk played out of his gourd in this game.

DIRK'S BEST PLAYOFF MOMENT? WE'LL TAKE THE "AND ONE" VERSUS THE SPURS IN '06

Update: 44 to stave off elimination? That game might need to make this list now.

Long story short: we first ran this during the Mavs' first-round upset of the Spurs. We're running it again now because, well, if Dirk doesn't start matching some of the below, the Mavericks won't be playing 'till next fall. Can he? Only time, and a combination of TNT and ESPN, will tell you that.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (145) THE "AND ONE" VERSUS THE SPURS Dirk was completely lights out in this entire game. Here's a column by Steve Kerr on the performance and here's video of the "and one" play. Not sure why there appears to be Persian being spoken in the background of that clip, but go with it.
2 (102) THE 50-POINT EXPLOSION VERSUS PHOENIX In Game 5 of the 2006 WCF, Dirk literally scored from everywhere to hang a nickel-zero plus on the Suns. This video will actually show you every single one of those points. Nash was definitely all like "Daaaaay-um" during this situation.
3 (84) THE THREE-BALL AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES This wasn't as cool as the famous Robert Horry shot that looks similar to it (see that here), but if you go to the 1:50 mark of this video, you can see what we mean. Pretty cool, no?
4 (71) THE PASS TO DAMPIER We've always liked the fact that Dirk can pass pretty well, 'specially considering he is seven feet tall. While ultimately nothing in the Miami series should matter, because the Mavericks choked like whoa, this pass to Dampier after drawing Shaq out to help (:33 second mark of this video) is a super-dandy play that would likely win one of those "Army Teamwork Plays of the Night" awards…ya know, if the Mavericks had stayed in control of D-Wade enough.
5 (920) THE COMEBACK DUNK AGAINST THE SUNS Go to the 1:20 mark of this video and watch it. Then watch this video. They are somewhat similar, yes.

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
12 (404) THE BALL FAKE ON SHAWN MARION 1:39 mark of this video. Straight-up filthy ball fake on a dude who's a pretty good defender, generally.
28 (99) GAME 1 VS. THE SPURS THIS YEAR Here's some video from the game. This was mostly Barea's game, but still, it was a huge win for them to get off the road schnied. Dirk's their leader, so we're putting this on a list of his greatest postseason performances already.

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
THE REST OF THIS NUGGETS SERIES (Gonna be an uphill battle.)
GAME 6 OF THE WARRIORS SERIES (Egad.)


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