HoopWatch

Experts have been affirming all around the league that the battle for the coveted MVP plum has already been conceded to the Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki. Even fellow candidate Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns is giving his vote to Dirk. Nowitzki has career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, almost in all categories except for the points where he has been steady. And the German sensation is leading the Dallas attack in securing the top spot in the NBA, at 52-11. Hell, they’re gunning for a 70-win season. (But my prediction is that they’ll be a 67-win team by the end of the season.)

But last night, Nash and the Phoenix Suns stole away that spotlight from his best friend Dirk. As a huge Phoenix Suns fan (I love to say that a lot!), I could say it was the best game my Suns have played all season long, going toe-to-toe with the league-leaders, and beating them when it seems that the game was already over. It even toppled that classic Suns-Nets game.

Anyway, I had goosebumps as I watched that game. I know I predicted a so-it-seemed-impending Dallas victory, but I was just playing it safe since the Mavs had the depth and D (defense – 3rd in the league in limiting opponents’ field goals to a minimum). Well, the departure of Devin Harris due to injury and the non-availability of Devean George helped the cause, but still they should have the depth to compensate for their loss. I’m babbling here. The point is I was wrong. I lost trust in my own team. What a bad fan I am.

Going back to the game, the Suns were down by seven with just 55 seconds to go. If you have seen it, you would have thought that the Mavericks had that game already. But seeing what Nash can do, and how he did it against a tough New Jersey team earlier this season, I know something great was bound to happen. Guess what? With 55 ticks left, Nash scored the last ten Suns points, all ten, to force an overtime. He made all five of his free-throws, hit a lay-up over Josh Howard and Jason Terry, and shot that big three that sent the game into overtime, all in that stretch.

Well, what did Nowitzki do in that stretch? He missed two very crucial and most important free-throws..again! Why again? He also missed four against the Heat in last season’s NBA Finals, which cost them the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Nowitzki is a 91% free-throw shooter for the season, and Nash is just at 88%. But Nash knows when to hit, and he converts those that really matter.

Nowitzki had a great game. But Steve had the better game between the two MVP contenders. Other candidates like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant don’t matter anymore. It’s now down to these two best friends and one-time teammates. Who would have thought that it will get to this? Them, pitted against each other for the league’s highest individual award. But I know that they will want nothing more than the championship.

Wait, where was I? Oh, yes, Steve had the better game and made a strong case last night. Nowitzki had 30 points, 6 assists and 16 rebounds. But Nash had a near triple-double with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 16 assists. And those points, rebounds, the one crucial steal and assists came when they were most needed. And he got the win for his team when it seemed that Dallas already had it. He willed his team for that 129-127 double-overtime triumph! It was a classic, and I watched the replays. All of it!

All I am trying to say is Steve Nash is still the MVP, and you don’t need more proof than this!