Someday, when the statue goes up in front of American Airlines Center, it won’t be of Dirk Nowitzki in a defensive crouch.
But on the night when his jersey was retired and unveiled in the rafters of the building he owned for so many years, the Mavericks commemorated Wednesday’s event with what could only be called a superior defensive showing.
There were no step-back jump shots. But lots of sweat-equity on the defensive end, which Nowitzki could surely appreciate.
The Mavericks shut down one of the league’s best offensive outfits and arguably the MVP frontrunner, Steph Curry, and played defense that provided the bluepring for a 99-82 victory over the team with the best record in the NBA.