[外電] Dallas Mavericks' Thomas is no longer the enemy

[popstarkirby (中肯 正直 不嘴砲 POP)]

http://tinyurl.com/yarpzlq


 In the NBA playoffs of 2006, Tim Thomas disrespected Dirk Nowitzki in the
worst kind of way.

During Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, Thomas blew a kiss at
Nowitzki and called him something a bit more demeaning than a pansy.

Questioning manhood is nothing new in sports. It happens all the time. But
where players – and particularly fans – run into a bigger problem is when
the player hurling insults and figuratively wearing the cape and mask as
Villain No. 1 suddenly becomes a part of the home team.

Thomas' arrival on the Mavericks' roster isn't nearly as distasteful as, say,
bringing aboard Bruce Bowen. Or even David West, also part of unsavory
moments with Nowitzki in playoffs past.

It's been three years since Thomas blew the kiss, then watched with his
Phoenix Suns teammates as Nowitzki planted 50 points on them in a Game 5
victory that put the Mavericks on the brink of the NBA Finals, which they
would reach with a Game 6 win.

Nowitzki certainly doesn't harbor any ill will toward Thomas. He's glad to
have another 3-point shooter on board after the Mavericks stunk up arenas all
across the country with their long-range problems last season.

And the 6-10 Thomas has put that episode in '06 far behind him.

"If it was regular season, it probably wouldn't have happened," Thomas said.
"But during the playoffs, everybody's trying to get an advantage. And it's
all mental. It's like boxing. If you come out mentally weak, you're going to
get destroyed. That's pretty much all it was, two guys competing and trying
to get to the championship. When it was over, it was over."

It's probably tougher for fans to forgive and forget than it is players. The
NBA is a nomadic lifestyle. Most players shift teams frequently. Thomas is
with his eighth team, nine if you count Chicago, where he's had two stints.

And he's not the only former adversary who now will be suiting up alongside
Nowitzki.

Shawn Marion was one of two Phoenix Suns (with Amare Stoudemire) that AAC
fans booed long and loud during those memorable playoff battles earlier this
decade.

So as the Mavericks open training camp Monday, do they have to face reality
that they now are sleeping with the enemy?

Or are they merely realizing that old foes can become new allies?

"The biggest thing is that you just move on," said Jason Kidd. "You have an
opportunity to play against a lot of the guys, then the next fall, you're on
their team.

"You wouldn't be doing your job if you weren't competing against them and
trying to beat them when you're on the opposite side. When you're on the same
side, it might be a little awkward at first, but as things move on, you tend
to say, 'OK, now I'm glad you're on our side because you gave me fits.' "

There's no question Thomas and Marion are thankful in that respect that they
are with Nowitzki rather than against him this season.

There's also no doubt that these Mavericks are going to have to find their
way together while at least four new members of the playing rotation will
have to be integrated into the system.

Thomas was brought in to stretch the court, to be the 3-point shooter that
Nowitzki no longer is, at least on a regular basis.

Marion will start at small forward and Drew Gooden (6-10) will be either the
starter or a well-used backup at center.

Quinton Ross also figures to get minutes for his defensive abilities.

But it will be the association all of those players have with Dirk that goes
farthest toward defining this team.

"Dirk is a tough cover," Thomas said. "He's 7-1 and athletic, can handle the
ball, shoot the ball. It's always tough when you're playing against somebody
like that.

"I thought in my younger days I was a tough cover because I could play five
positions. George Karl allowed me to play all over the court. I look at Dirk
in similar fashion. I'm glad to be with him."

Despite what past confrontations might have indicated.




在06年季後賽時

T___T對Dirk吹了個吻

然後對他說他是個娘砲(puxxy)

之後他就目睹了Dirk在他頭上轟下50分

這些事情在T__T來後

將成為過去

Dirk很高興多了一位三分射手

T__T表示

如果在季賽可能就不會那麼做

因為在季後賽

大家都想要優勢

球迷可能比較難忘懷

但對球員來說

之前的敵人可能是你下季的隊友

與T__T同隊的Marion

也是過去太陽球員在AAC最常被噓的

現在也跟Dirk同隊

Marion預計會是打先發3號

T__T表示

在我年輕時我覺得我很難被守

因為我能打五個位置

我也是這樣看待Dirk

我現在很高興跟他同隊

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 114.38.12.66
※ 編輯: popstarkirby    來自: 114.38.12.66         (09/26 11:20)
推 materil     :T_T很好守啊 打球都不善用自己優勢 變定點射手
推 dmdjjj      :那是他也有年紀了 以前好歹也能投能飛
推 Terryless   :有功能性也有意見  會單打也有意見 要怎樣?
推 uglyduck92  :看成性功能也有意見
→ markcup     :他也不是第一次在季後賽這樣了-0-
→ popstarkirby:我覺得他個性問題比球技問題大..
推 dmdjjj      :以他本來的實力是可以有先發的 真的個性問題很大
→ popstarkirby:有身材..有低位..有投籃...當年很受矚目的..
※ 編輯: popstarkirby    來自: 114.38.23.160        (09/26 19:29)
推 SKnight     :光以之前對上小牛的兩場重點比賽來看  問題就很大
→ SKnight     :在太陽時那場  太驕傲  挑釁引得司機爆氣
→ SKnight     :在快艇時那場  最後幾秒擅自出手  讓老師投進逆轉3分
→ SKnight     :讓人覺得很像"球技不錯卻太驕傲而害球隊輸球"的類型
→ SKnight     :不過......即使如此  也是之前的事了就是
→ SKnight     :如果他能安份當替補打球  以他的球技  應該挺有用處
→ SKnight     :多一個TT  對小牛的板凳深度還滿補的  ~_~