Latest news with #DirkNowitzki
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Timberwolves hit embarrassing Game 5 low point last seen in 2010
The post Timberwolves hit embarrassing Game 5 low point last seen in 2010 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Barring an unforeseen and historic turnaround, the Minnesota Timberwolves' season will officially be coming to an end after 24 minutes of game time following a horrific first half performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Timberwolves, expected to play with a sense of desperation now that their backs are against the wall, have instead rolled over, allowing a slow start to the game to snowball into something worse with each passing minute en route to a 65-32 halftime deficit. Advertisement A slow start to the game appears to be the undoing of the Timberwolves' season, as there aren't many teams that can recover from such a ghastly first-quarter performance against a team as resolute defensively as the Thunder. Minnesota scored just nine points in the first quarter, and in so doing, they became just the first team since the 2010 Dallas Mavericks to score fewer than 10 points in the first quarter of an elimination game, as per Sportsnet Stats on X (formerly Twitter). But that Mavericks team, at the very least, managed to hang around in the game despite their eight-point first quarter performance. They even took the lead at one point in the third quarter before the San Antonio Spurs pulled away. Dirk Nowitzki, the team's best player, even had a solid performance in the loss, tallying 33 points on 13-21 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards is straight up not having a good time against the Thunder's elite perimeter defense. The Timberwolves star has been struggling all night long, scoring just nine points on 3-10 shooting while being a team-worst minus-28. This is not the kind of play that Minnesota needed if they were to stave off elimination, but the possibility of extending the series looks nothing but a pipe dream at this point. Timberwolves get swallowed whole by the Thunder's elite defense Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images The Thunder have built their powerhouse identity on an elite defense that forces turnovers at a frenzied rate. They cover ground defensively like no other team in the NBA, and the Timberwolves, a team that relies on dribble penetration to create shots from beyond the arc, have played perfectly into OKC's hands, and in quite the literal sense too. In the first half of Game 5, the Timberwolves, rather embarrassingly, have turned the ball over more times than they have made field goals (14 vs. 12). It's hard to win against the Thunder when the team is that careless with the basketball, and now, the Timberwolves' championship hopes have gone up in smoke.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
LeBron James sportingly appreciates Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki's breakdown of an innovative basketball tactic
LeBron James sportingly appreciates Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki's breakdown of an innovative basketball tactic (Image Credit: Getty Images) LeBron James appreciated Dirk Nowitzki's response to their shout-out on the Mind the Game Podcast, where he and Steve Nash discuss various previous games and tricks and tactics. In one of the segments, they discussed the famous 'nail iso' tactic, elaborating how Dirk Nowitzki pulled it off with unmatched mastery. Dirk elaborated further the tactic, which James appreciated wholeheartedly. LeBron James reacted sportingly to Dirk Nowitzki's inputs on an old-school basketball tactic LeBron James, along with co-host Steve Nash, discussed innovative basketball tactic, mentioning Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki's mastery over it. Their discussion was enriched by the legend's presence, who provided further insight into the tactic. Responding to the inputs provided by Dirk, LeBron James commented: 'So goood!!!!! Thank you for the great insight and mind of the game we all love @swish41 ' This appreciation from James in a sporting tone turned out to be a heartfelt exchange between the two legends. Their interaction is pure gold for those aspirants who want to master the game by learning all tricks and tactics that help them have an edge over the others. How 'nail iso' tactic is performed, according to Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki joined one of the segments of the Mind the Game podcast, when LeBron James and co-host Steve Nash took the listeners to some old-school basketball tactics. In response to the shout-out, Dirk gave a detailed insight into what goes into a 'nail iso' tactic, which is famously linked to him. He started by saying: 'Hey LeBron and Steve, thanks for the shout-out. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo I appreciate it. You know, the nail iso thing started when teams, of course, switched a lot. Switched my pick and rolls a lot. And by the time I rolled the little guy down to the block, somebody else would run over and back switch from the weak side. And then you're deep in the clock.' Explaining it further, he continued, saying, 'By the time I turn around, I have another big on me. And so, we thought of a way to have the mismatch iso against the little guy without, you know, the whole back switch. So the easiest was just after a high pick and roll, just to give me the ball right there on the nail. ... Wherever I would catch the ball, I would just turn around and probably shoot over the smaller defender." Also Read: 'She's tremendous' - Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki praises WNBA star Paige Bueckers Dirk Nowitzki's participation and explanation of the tactic were no less than a masterclass for the basketball beginners and pros. With these tactics, they can blend the old-school and modern-day nuances and develop a repertoire of tricks to become invincible in the game. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
LeBron James Responds to Dirk Nowitzki's Message on Thursday
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Hall of Famer Steve Nash spoke about the "nail iso," a play that Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki mastered during his legendary career, on the "Mind the Game" podcast. Nowitzki, who was teammates with Nash on the Mavericks and faced James in the 2011 NBA Finals, saw James and Nash speak about the "nail iso" play and decided to dive into it. Advertisement "Hey LeBron and Steve, thanks for the shout-out. I appreciate it," Nowitzki said. "You know, the nail iso thing started when teams, of course, switched a lot. Switched my pick and rolls a lot. And by the time I rolled the little guy down to the block, somebody else would run over and back switch from the weak side. "And then you're deep in the clock. By the time I turn around, I have another big on me. And so, we thought of a way to have the mismatch iso against the little guy without, you know, the whole back switch. "So the easiest was just after a high pick and roll, just to give me the ball right there on the nail. ... Wherever I would catch the ball, I would just turn around and probably shoot over the smaller defender." Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James© Soobum Im-Imagn Images James, the leading scorer in NBA history, saw Nowitzki's message to him and Nash and posted a reaction on X. Advertisement "🔥🔥🔥🔥So goood!!!!!" James said in the post. "Thank you for the great insight and mind of the game we all love @swish41 🙏🏾🫡" The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year's playoffs in five games. It will be fascinating to see if James and Nash ask Nowitzki to be a guest on their podcast in the future. Basketball fans would certainly be in for a treat if three NBA icons spoke together about the game they love. Related: LeBron James' Relationship With Lakers Gets Worrying Update Ahead of Potential Free Agency LeBron James Responds to Dirk Nowitzki's Message on Thursday first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jason Kidd Reveals Nico Harrison Did Not Consult Him Before Trading Luka Doncic For Anthony Davis
The basketball world was left in disbelief on the day it was confirmed that Luka Doncic had been traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers. From Mark Cuban to Dirk Nowitzki and other people inside the organization, almost nobody had a clue that Nico Harrison and Rob Pelinka had come to terms on one of the biggest trades in the NBA over the past decade or more. Jason Kidd, the Mavericks' head coach, appeared on the Dan Patrick show and revealed his first response to finding out that his star player had been traded. He also admitted that he only found out about the deal after it was already confirmed. Advertisement He said, 'I was told by my boss, Nico, that we were going to make a change… in the hotel, this is in the hotel in Cleveland, and so he said the news was going to hit in an hour, and that's how it went down. And so when he told me, I started, I went back to my room to start figuring out how we're going to use AD and Christie. Because of this change and….no, there was no arguing, this is what was going to take place.' Yes, the general manager does not need to ask the head coach before making any such decisions. However, there is no one in a better position to explain the impact on the team than the coach. Therefore, while general managers get the final call, usually teams keep their head coaches in the loop about such a major change to the team. While talking about the last time he spoke to Doncic, Kidd further added, 'I texted him on that morning, and that's the last time I've talked to him…. I don't think he was too happy…. I loved the opportunity of coaching Luka; he's an incredible person, and we all know his talent is one of the best in the world. My mindset is to deal with the cards that I'm dealt and keep pushing forward. And I've always said this publicly and privately, I wish Luka the best, he's one of the best players in the world.' Direct Aftermath Of Luka Doncic Getting Traded To The Mavericks The Mavericks were 13-9 in all games played by Luka Doncic last season. Counting the games missed due to injury and the trade, the Mavericks did not have Doncic on the floor in 60 games in the regular season, where their record was 26-34. They went from a .591 team to a .433 winning percentage team. Advertisement However, the contributory factors were also the injuries to Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Now, after having lost Doncic in the trade, the Mavericks have found another ray of hope after they secured the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft despite only a 1.8% chance to do so. They are now the frontrunners to draft Cooper Flag, and with the veteran core talent they have, will instantly become title contenders in the next season. Related: Jason Kidd Had Gotten Frustrated Coaching Luka Doncic Before The Mavericks' Wild Trade
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Jordan Breaks Silence After Joining NBA on NBC Broadcast Team
The NBA on NBC Broadcast will make its return for the 2025-26 season after over 20 years of not holding the league's media rights. For many '90s fans, NBC has always been the home of the NBA, as the league's golden age played out on the national broadcaster before Disney (ESPN) and TNT split the rights since 2004. NBC has been pulling out all the stops for their broadcasting team next season, getting the likes of Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, and more signed up to be on-air personalities. Those names aren't nearly as massive as the one they just announced as joining the team. Advertisement Michael Jordan, who won six NBA titles on NBC, will return to feature on the network in a role officially titled 'special contributor.' Details of Jordan's involvement will be revealed later, but fans are already giddy with excitement. The announcement was made as part of NBC's presentation to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall on Monday, with Jordan officially commenting on the partnership in a short video played for those in attendance. 'I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC. The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I'm excited about being a special contributor to the project. I'm looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.' NBA great Michael Terada-Imagn Images Michael Jordan hasn't been an NBA media personality at all since retirement. Most of his involvement with the league came as the Governor and majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets until 2023. He never joined TNT or ESPN to share his thoughts on the game, so we literally have no clue how Jordan views the current generation of NBA players. Advertisement NBC will not miss the chance of having Jordan comment on LeBron James whenever he makes his appearances, which will lead to some incredibly spicy conversations later. But outside of that, it'll be fascinating to see what Jordan feels about the next generation, like Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, and more. Related: Michael Jordan Has $2.27 Billion Lead Over LeBron James
