บท 24: Chapter 23: Nowitzki is not old yet
The American Airlines Center was packed, with fans loudly supporting the Mavericks despite the Kings' surprising dominance with their "magic ball" tactics. Dirk Nowitzki, standing on the court with his hands on his waist, glanced at the crowd and made up his mind. "Monta, give me two more touches later," Nowitzki calmly said to Ellis beside him. Ellis immediately understood: Dirk's competitive fire was lit. Though known as a humble guy in the league, Nowitzki's desire to win was unmatched, as seen when he led the Mavericks to the 2011 championship.
"I got you, boss. We'll work with you," Ellis replied, glancing at the Kings, ready for a critical play.
The Mavericks attacked, with Ellis directing the players before finding Dirk in the paint. Without hesitation, he passed it to Nowitzki, who was already in position. Kings' coach Malone noticed the change in pace. Normally, Mozgov guarded Nowitzki, as the slower-footed big man could handle Dirk's post play more effectively now that the veteran couldn't move as fluidly as before. This strategy had worked until now, with Dirk primarily acting as a playmaker. But with the ball in his hands again, Malone wondered if Nowitzki was switching gears.
And he was.
Nowitzki muscled his way into Mozgov, creating just enough space to get off a shot. He turned gracefully, and the ball flew through the air. "Swish!" The ball went through the net easily. Mozgov blinked in disbelief, staring at the rim—Dirk had made it look effortless.
At the same time, the boost from Jake's three-point card had worn off, and CJ's shot after a pick-and-roll missed. Frustrated, CJ clapped his hands and jogged back on defense. The Kings' momentum had shifted, and the Mavericks were starting to push back.
As CJ briefly pondered his recent shooting slump, Ellis and Dirk set up another play. This time, Ellis made a quick cut, drawing Mozgov toward him, but instead of going for the shot, Ellis lofted the ball high into the air. Mozgov, realizing too late that Ellis had passed, could only shout in desperation. Nowitzki leapt and caught the ball mid-air, slamming it home with a powerful dunk, hanging on the rim just a little longer for emphasis.
"Oh my!" Barkley exclaimed from the studio. "Nowitzki's going all out tonight! I haven't seen him this aggressive in years."
Barkley's co-commentator Reggie Miller nodded. "He's got that fire back. Looks like the Kings woke something up in Dirk tonight."
On the court, Coach Malone wasn't nearly as amused. He immediately called for a timeout. Though it gave Dirk a chance to catch his breath, it also allowed the Kings to regroup.
"What do we do now?" CJ asked Rudy Gay, exasperated, as they stood on the sidelines.
Gay, wiping the sweat from his face, shook his head. "What can you do? When Nowitzki decides to take over a game, all you can do is hope he misses." He smirked, knowing the Kings were in trouble. "The Big Three couldn't stop him in 2011. You think we can?"
Malone quickly reinserted Cousins into the game, knowing they needed their best players on the court. The Kings' lineup—Cousins, Mozgov, Gay, LaVine, and CJ—was their strongest. Carlisle, sensing the gravity of the situation, also sent out the Mavericks' full starting lineup. The battle was on, and both coaches knew the next few minutes could decide the game.
The Kings had the ball. CJ set a screen to free himself from his defender, drawing two Mavericks players to him in a double-team. Amidst the chaos, he passed to LaVine, who was waiting outside the three-point line. LaVine adjusted and shot, but the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced out.
Suddenly, the paint became a battleground. Cousins held off Nowitzki while Mozgov and Chandler wrestled for position. The four big men collided, jostling for rebounds, as the crowd buzzed with anticipation for what could come next.
As the basketball bounced off the rim, Cousins used his strength to push Nowitzki aside and grab the rebound. Just as he pulled the ball into his arms, the referee's whistle echoed through the arena.
"Kings, No. 15, push foul!" came the call. Cousins had used his body to nudge Nowitzki out of the way, and despite the subtlety of the push, the baseline referee caught it.
"Damn it!" Cousins barked, slamming the ball to the ground in frustration. He muttered angrily under his breath, clearly irritated by the foul. Sensing his teammate was on the edge of losing control, Gay rushed over and pulled Cousins aside. "What are you doing? If you're upset, keep it quiet—don't give them more ammo!" Gay's serious tone seemed to snap Cousins back to reality. His temper cooled quickly, realizing there was no use in getting worked up over a single call.
"Ah, I didn't even notice it…" Cousins muttered sheepishly. Gay, though equally frustrated, simply shook his head, silently cursing his hot-headed teammate but knowing there was nothing to be done now.
The Mavericks resumed play, and once again, Nowitzki called for the ball in the post, this time with Cousins guarding him. Perhaps Gay's scolding had settled his nerves, as Cousins approached the matchup with patience, holding his position and preventing Dirk from easily driving inside. Nowitzki bumped Cousins twice but couldn't find an opening. Seeing no option, he passed the ball back out to Ellis on the perimeter. Ellis swiftly crossed over, leaving CJ behind, and made his way to the free-throw line. Just as Cousins felt the pressure ease off from Nowitzki, Dirk moved out to receive the pass from Ellis. With a smooth jumper, the ball sailed into the net.
Cousins, wide-eyed and mouth agape, stared in disbelief. "Is this for real?" Despite watching Nowitzki dominate the league for years, this firsthand experience of the veteran's seemingly effortless game was humbling. Cousins couldn't help but admire Nowitzki's mastery, but the lesson came hard. Gay, noticing Cousins zoning out, quickly shouted, "Don't stand there like a statue! Get back on offense!"
As the last few minutes progressed, the Kings managed to mount a small rally, cutting the Mavericks' lead to within eight points. However, Nowitzki's steady hand kept the Mavericks ahead. His calm presence, coupled with his remarkable shooting, ensured that the Kings' surge was short-lived.
"Beep!" The final whistle sounded. The scoreboard read 120-110 in favor of the Mavericks. The home team celebrated around Nowitzki, who finished with a stellar 40 points and 13 rebounds, earning him the clear title of MVP for the game. Meanwhile, the Kings walked off the court in dejection, heads hanging low. Coach Malone, who had spent most of the game animated on the sidelines, was silent now. He simply shook hands with Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle before heading back to the locker room.
Back in the studio, the commentators were buzzing with analysis of what they had just witnessed.
"I've been saying it all season," Barkley began, taking a sip of water. "This Kings team has been full of surprises, but they're not ready yet. In these high-stakes games, they don't have that one guy who can carry them when it matters most. That's the difference between winning and losing in the playoffs."
Miller quickly interjected, "But we can't forget how young this Kings team is. Most of their players, like CJ, LaVine, and Ben, are still in their first or second seasons. They're getting valuable playing time and opportunities to grow. I think by the second half of the season, we'll see a huge leap in their development."
Barkley chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Rookies making a huge leap in half a season? Come on now. This isn't a movie. How much can they really improve in just one season?"
Sensing the brewing tension, the host chimed in with a smile. "Looks like our two analysts don't quite see eye-to-eye on the Kings' future. Maybe you'd like to make a little wager? I hear Mr. Barkley is quite familiar with making bets," she teased, referencing his infamous bet about Yao Ming.
The studio erupted in laughter, and even Miller joined in. "I love it! Kenny beat you, Barkley, and I think I can too!"
But Barkley, clearly having learned his lesson, waved off the suggestion. "No, no, no, I'm done with betting. I've had enough donkey kisses for a lifetime!" The laughter continued as the segment wrapped up, leaving the debate over the Kings' future open for the season ahead.
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