The Mavericks need Dirk Nowitzki back, like for real, like now.
And on Saturday, if CBSSports.com’s Ken Berger is on point, they could get him back. Berger reports that Rick Carlisle admitted Saturday they could see the Big German Machine back in action after the Mavericks have lost seven of nine without him, tumbling from the top of the standings and letting the Spurs get some big space between them for the division, including a 101-89 beatdown Friday by the Spurs in San Antonio.
The Mavericks are a pretty good team without Nowitzki, but without Caron Butler, they’re sunk without Nowitzki’s offense. That the Mavericks have stunk so badly without him only bolsters his MVP case which many felt made him the favorite even before the injury. Nowitzki is playing at a ridiculously high level for a player of his age, and has been as clutch as you can be. As a matter of fact, while Kobe Bryant has scored a few more points in “clutch time,” Nowitzki has been way more efficient in that timeframe. Throw in Dirk still being a solid if unspectacular rebounder, and being one of the better post defenders in the league via Synergy Sports (though of course guarding secondary post players while Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood do the dirty work), and you’ve got an MVP’s resume.
There has been some concern that Nowitzki’s injury may have been more severe than the team was letting on, but him getting back on the floor Saturday would show that the team was simply being cautious with him, as they should be. The Mavericks have already shown they have the pieces in place to make a run this spring. Now they’ve just got to get them as healthy as they can.
We’ll keep you updated on whether Dirk is back at work Saturday.