So THAT's what a superstar looks like!

[TomSelleck]

You missed the whole point. Joe is a much better defender than Dirk. That was the point (Joe has more all around skill, Dirk is a better scorer)... You keep mentioning scoring as if if you showed 20 more ways that Dirk is a better scorer that it will change his all around game??

:alcoholic:

Dirk is also a significantly better rebounder. Granted he is much taller and plays a position more favorable for getting rebounds, but the point is he does more than score.

[Diesel]

Dirk is also a significantly better rebounder. Granted he is much taller and plays a position more favorable for getting rebounds, but the point is he does more than score.

Better passer? Joe.

Better scorer ? Dirk.Better rebounder? 7'0 Dirk.

Better post up gme? Joe.

Better defense? Joe.

More verbal? Al Horford.

[Eddielives]

Better passer? Joe.

Better scorer ? Dirk.Better rebounder? 7'0 Dirk.

Better post up gme? Joe.

Better defense? Joe.

More verbal? Al Horford.

Taken his team to the finals twice without any significant regressions in his game? Dirk.

[Diesel]

Taken his team to the finals twice without any significant regressions in his game? Dirk.

Better teammates and coach and organization?

Dirk.

You know, I've never seen dirk Doubled?

[Atlantaholic]

These are some of the worst posts I've ever seen in my life.

In career playoff numbers Dirk has the following advantages of Joe Johnson.

TS% +.8.7

EFG% + 6.1%

ORB % + .3%

DRB% 14.5%

TRB% 6.9%

STL% EVEN

BLK % +1.4%

TOV% - 2.4%

OFFRATING+ 17

DEFRATING - -6

PER + 11

WS/48 min -+ .173

The only thing Joe Johnson does better than Dirk is pass at a 5% higher clip. In every other DEFENSIVE and OFFENSIVE documented category in existence Dirk blows Joe Johnson out of the freaking universe. One thing that baffles me is Joe Johsnon's reputation as a good defender. He is not a significantly better defender than Dirk. They are both average at best, and often worse than average. Watching Joe Johnson defend pick and rolls is embarrassing. At least Dirk's size allows him to swat some shots every now and then.

[PlayaPat420]

Borderline first option???

Dirk got criticized for being soft when in reality he is one of the all time most clutch players and one of the all time best playoff performers in the history of the NBA. If Dallas had had a halfway decent post option EVER in their run with Nowitski you would have seen a dyansty.

I'm actually a big Dirk fan but to say a seven footer needs someone else to play in the post isn't saying much for him. If you have noticed, their #1 post option today IS Dirk and no one else... so, if not soft, he definetly didn't play to his strengths earlier in his career.

[DrReality]

Forget Dirk Nowitzki. I'm not even sure Joe Johnson is any better than Jason Terry.

Made me chuckle.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

These are some of the worst posts I've ever seen in my life.

In career playoff numbers Dirk has the following advantages of Joe Johnson.

TS% +.8.7

EFG% + 6.1%

ORB % + .3%

DRB% 14.5%

TRB% 6.9%

STL% EVEN

BLK % +1.4%

TOV% - 2.4%

OFFRATING+ 17

DEFRATING - -6

PER + 11

WS/48 min -+ .173

The only thing Joe Johnson does better than Dirk is pass at a 5% higher clip. In every other DEFENSIVE and OFFENSIVE documented category in existence Dirk blows Joe Johnson out of the freaking universe. One thing that baffles me is Joe Johsnon's reputation as a good defender. He is not a significantly better defender than Dirk. They are both average at best, and often worse than average. Watching Joe Johnson defend pick and rolls is embarrassing. At least Dirk's size allows him to swat some shots every now and then.

JJ's rep as a good defender is justified, because just because you do one area subpar on defense, doesn't mean that you're a poor or average defender. JJ, when guarding his man straight up, hardly ever gets lit up ( unless he's going against an elite scorer, and even JJ wins some of those battles ). If anything, JJ coasts on defense at times. But when he locks in, he's a very good man to man defender.

[AHF]

JJ's rep as a good defender is justified, because just because you do one area subpar on defense, doesn't mean that you're a poor or average defender. JJ, when guarding his man straight up, hardly ever gets lit up ( unless he's going against an elite scorer, and even JJ wins some of those battles ). If anything, JJ coasts on defense at times. But when he locks in, he's a very good man to man defender.

I do think Joe is a superior defender to Dirk. Dirk is so superior to Joe on offense, though, that they really aren't comparable players. (Dirk > Joe just to be clear).

[TomSelleck]

Forget Dirk Nowitzki. I'm not even sure Joe Johnson is any better than Jason Terry.

As I was saying....

[NineOhTheRino]

As I was saying....

Jason has the heart of a champion. Joe Johnson has the heart of an obese chain smoker.

[Joker]

I do think Joe is a superior defender to Dirk. Dirk is so superior to Joe on offense, though, that they really aren't comparable players. (Dirk > Joe just to be clear).

The thing is Joe= very good offense and defense.

Dirk=elite offense and BBIQ plus crazy height adv with above average defense and good rebounding.

Jason has the heart of a champion. Joe Johnson has the heart of an obese chain smoker.

Jason wants to win as much as Joe and Jamal. The difference is the team and Dirk can carry Dallas. Joe can't do that for Atlanta.

[Guest]

How soon we forget. After the 2006 season after Dallas lost to Miami and the subsequent years, what were people saying about Dirk and Jet. They were soft, Dirk was no leader, Jet shrank in the big moments. 5 years later here we are, their games and confidence have matured. It's so easy to say so and so wants it more when they win. Dirk had a horrible 1st half but his teammates were able to carry him, who does the lifting if Joe has a game like that.

Joe is 3 and 4 years younger than Dirk and Jet respectively, he still has time with the right pieces to get somewhere.

Edited June 13, 2011 by jaybird

[TomSelleck]

Dirk had a horrible 1st half but his teammates were able to carry him, who does the lifting if Joe has a game like that.

Versus Orlando

Joe Johnson: 108 points

Jamal Crawford: 123 points

[Yeti]

True that overall they're much better, but that's partly a product of Dirk's presence. In addition to his scoring prowess, dude is a superior leader and competitor than our top dog.

I agree that Joe is a better athlete. But considering his age, Dirk was amazing. He is a very smart player and you are right on with your comment about leadership and competitiveness.

Its interesting just how universally Miami is disliked. Seems like the whole country was rooting for the Mavs. Of course LeBron just made it worse with his comments yesterday, "All the people that was rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today. They have the same personal problems they had today." - Boo hoo, "everyone hates me." Can't believe I used to like that self-centered @$$.

[DrReality]

Joe's dribbling drives me crazy and kills the offense. Different with Dirk

[Supporter]

Jason has the heart of a champion. Joe Johnson has the heart of an obese chain smoker.

You say that you aren't a JJ hater but you say stuff like this.

[TomSelleck]

I agree that Joe is a better athlete. But considering his age, Dirk was amazing. He is a very smart player and you are right on with your comment about leadership and competitiveness.

Is he? Joe may be a marginally better athlete in a vacuum, but if you throw in a height adjustment, Dirk is way, way more athletic than your average 7'0" player in the NBA compared to how Joe would relate to your average 6'7" NBA player.

[NineOhTheRino]

You say that you aren't a JJ hater but you say stuff like this.

Slow day so I'm just having a little fun Supporter. The whole world knows JJ has the heart of a wild lion.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Versus Orlando

Joe Johnson: 108 points

Jamal Crawford: 123 points

vs Chicago

Joe Johnson: 118 points

Jamal Crawford: 62 points