Kevin Durant’s Instagram handle is @EasyMoneySniper. It’s an appropriate nickname for one of the greatest scorers in basketball.

Durant is one of the smoothest operators when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. He’s got every shot in the book. He makes things look easy money. His career 27.2 points-per-game average puts him in the top 10. He makes 39% of his 3-point shots and 50% of his shots from the field; mostly from his favorite spot on the court — the midrange. And he is a career 88% shooter from the free throw line.

Durant — who was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of a historic seven-team deal — moved into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, jumping ahead of Michael Jordan. Only Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James are ahead of Durant.

OMFB pulled together a list of the most efficient scorers in modern NBA history, with the following stipulations: 1) a player must have a career points-per-game average of at least 20 (PPG); 2) minimum 400 games played; 3) above the line in field goal percentage (47%), 3-point shooting (35%), and free throws (80%). Note: Because the 3-point line wasn’t introduced in the league until 1979, players such as Jerry West and Oscar Robertson were not included on the list.

Kevin Durant
PPG: 27.2 FG pct: 50.3 3PT pct: 39.1 FT pct: 88.2
KD is listed at 6-10 but with a 7-5 wingspan. Because of his remarkable length and above-average ball-handling skills, he is able to shoot over any defender.

Stephen Curry
PPG: 24.8 FG pct: 47.1 3PT pct: 42.2 FT pct: 91.2
The four-time NBA champion and 3-point king is regarded by many as the greatest shooter in basketball. Steph is the all-time leader in 3-point makes, with an accuracy of 42%.

Larry Bird
PPG: 24.3 FG pct: 49.6 3PT pct: 37.6 FT pct: 88.6
Larry Legend won three consecutive MVPs from 1984-86 and arguably one of the 10 most influential players. The three-time NBA champ would be the ideal stretch-4 in the modern NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki
PPG: 20.7 FG pct: 47.1 3PT pct: 38.0 FT pct: 87.9
Dirk helped revolutionize the game by moving the traditional low-post game to the high post. The elbow was his operating room, and he carved up defenders with his signature one-legged fadeaway.

Kyrie Irving
PPG: 23.7 FG pct: 47.4 3PT pct: 39.4 FT pct: 88.8
Kyrie is one of most gifted scorers the game has ever seen. Armed with an insanely tight handle and creative mind, Kyrie is a spectacular bucket-getter who plays his best in the clutch.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
PPG: 25.0 FG pct: 50.8 3PT pct: 36.0 FT pct: 86.5
SGA won an MVP, NBA championship and NBA scoring title before the age of 27. As a 6-6 point guard, he is a physical mismatch against the vast majority of guards. He plays with remarkable consistency.

Karl-Anthony Towns
PPG: 23.0 FG pct: 52.1 3PT pct: 39.7 FT pct: 83.9
Big KAT proclaimed himself “the greatest big man shooter of all time.” Based on statistical evidence, Towns might be right. His career combination of volume and efficiency is unmatched.

Nikola Jokic
PPG: 22.2 FG pct: 56.1 3PT pct: 36.3 FT pct: 82.4
Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said the secret to Joker’s efficient is that he doesn’t fight it. The big man from Serbian makes the game look easy because he doesn’t force things.

Zach LaVine
PPG: 20.8 FG pct: 47.0 3PT pct: 39.1 FT pct: 83.5
LaVine entered the league mainly known as a spectacular dunker, winning the NBA Slam Dunk contest twice. He became a prolific scorer after he was traded from Minnesota to Chicago.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. He hosts a sports podcast on YouTube @onemanfastbreak1.

After O.J. Mayo tied the game at 97 with a gorgeous baseline move, Clippers forward Matt Barnes — who was a standout football player in high school — fired a perfect length-of-the-court pass to Griffin near the free throw line. Griffin caught it then, knowing he only had 0.6 seconds on the clock, flips the ball over his head and banks it in on what appeared to be the game-winner. But referees waved off the basket and called Griffin for pushing off against Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki.

Did Dirk get a superstar call or what? See the play and judge for yourself:

“I haven’t gotten a chance to look at it but I don’t think I pushed off that much,” Griffin told TNT’s David Aldridge after the game.

When Aldridge asked if Nowitzki sold the call, Griffin replied: “I really wasn’t watching him. I was just looking at the flight of the ball and trying to make a shot. When I get a chance to look at the film we’ll see what happens.

It was the culmination of a frustrating night for Griffin, who didn’t see the ball much in the second half and shot just 4-for-12 for the game and finished with 14 points.

“Not taking anything away from them but I need to be more aggressive,” Griffin said.

The Dallas Mavericks are doing well without All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki. (GETTY IMAGES)

So, I turned 41 on Wednesday and decided to give my two cents on the NBA season thus far. Here are some of my observations:

— The Lakers surprising 1-4 start. Not the kind of beginning fans and basketball gurus expected, but there a lot of new players in Los Angeles and assistant head coach Eddie Jordan is installing a brand new offense. The Princeton offense is similar to the triangle offense as it relies on a lot of motion and passing. The only players really familiar with the Princeton offense are Kobe Bryant and Steve Blake. Bryant has looked good so far, especially shooting the ball (he’s shooting just under 60%). He’s cut down on the crazy 3-pointers he attempted last year.

Blake played in Washington (2003-2005 when Jordan was the head coach). Blake’s more familiar with the offense than Steve Nash and it showed when Nash was playing. He seemed lost out there. Maybe, this will give Nash time to watch and learn the system so he’ll be ready when he returns. But, it’s also clear the offense needs to be tweaked a little so Nash can get out and run, doing what he does best.

— The Houston Rockets. James Harden may have cooled off a little from his great start the first 2 games, but he’s still averaging 30.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 5.3 assists per game through four games. He’s making an argument that Oklahoma City was crazy to trade him. There’s a very good chance he’s a contender to lead the league in scoring since he’s going to get the chance to be the face of the Rockets franchise. Jeremy Lin has also showed some reason for Houston to be optimistic after signing Lin and Omer Asik in the offseason. Lin is averaging 13 points and seven assists in running the offense. Asik has shown that he has a voracious appetite for cleaning up the boards with 14 rebounds per game. They might have struck out on getting Dwight Howard, but maybe Daryl Morey knew what he was doing.

—Ray Allen signing with Miami. Allen was accused of being a Benedict Arnold after leaving Boston, but many said he was washed up and the Celtics were better off. Well, well. What a difference a few regular season games make. Allen has played very well off the bench for the Heat and is a serious candidate for sixth man of the year if he can continue this all season. He’s averaging 14.2 points and getting a lot of open looks at the basket.

Rashard Lewis has also been another shrewd signing by the Heat that got better after winning an NBA title, something not many champions can do. Lewis is averaging 9.6 points and can give them an interesting lineup with him either at power forward or center in some lineups with the starting unit. He can stretch the defense with his outside shooting.

— The Dallas Mavericks playing well without Dirk. The Mavs missed out on Deron Williams and Dwight Howard over the summer, but their backup plan was to sign second-tier players to short-term deals. The signings of Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo have given them a younger and more athletic backcourt. Mayo is averaging 21.6 points and Collison has given them 16.2 points and 7.2 assists. Jason Kidd was a mere afterthought on offense last season for Dallas. And it has paid some early dividends as they are off to a 4-1 start without their best player.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Send him an email at: djroxalot@hotmail.com

Dirk Nowitzki enters his 14th NBA season, all with the Dallas Mavericks. (GETTY IMAGES)

Dirk Nowitzki got a hero’s welcome in Germany Saturday when the Dallas Mavericks took on European club Alba Berlin. The preseason game, part of the NBA Europe Live tour, was the backdrop for Nowitzki’s big homecoming, which included several appearances and press conferences in his native country.

The Mavericks won in a sloppily played 89-84 matchup that saw both teams struggle with any consistency on offense and had several breakdowns on defense. Nowitzki didn’t have his best stuff, scoring just eight points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field in 33 minutes. But he still managed to excite the 02 World Arena crowd with a couple of his signature step-back, fadeaway jumpers.

Overall, the Mavericks have plenty of work to do to get ready for the real season. Head coach Rick Carlisle must incorporate a ton of new faces into his system, as only six remain from Dallas’ 2011 NBA championship squad.

But the lead role on the Mavs still belongs to Nowitzki. The 34-year-old is without question the greatest basketball player to come out of Germany and the only European to claim the Maurice Podoloff trophy as the NBA’s most valuable player in the regular season. When his storied career is all said and done, he will be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame not only because of his accomplishments on the court but for his immense contributions to the game as one of the pioneers of Euroball in the NBA.

Before Dirk, most NBA 7-footers were back-to-the-basket types who rarely drifted past the free throw line. Nowitzki spawned face-up big men such as Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, and Mehmet Okur, and now big men are encouraged to develop a midrange game.

Nowitzki is now in the third year of a four-year contract extension he signed back in 2010. He has previously stated that he wants to fulfill his contract, but would need to reassess his position in two years, leaving the possibility of playing in Europe as sort of a farewell tour. In any case, the NBA has been truly lucky to have Nowitzki. He has been nothing but a model of consistency in terms of his play on the court and the way he has handled himself for much of his professional career. Sure he suffered through some embarrassing defeats in the past, but he rose above it and erased all doubts when he won a championship ring in 2011.

Nowitzki enters his 14th season in the NBA, all with the Mavericks. He is also a newlywed as he married his longtime Kenyan-born girlfriend, Jessica Olsson. He is happily married and in much better shape than last season, so the rest of the league better watch out.

AMERICANS ON ALBA BERLIN

Alba Berlin don’t have any big-time names on its roster, but there are three Americans who, if you are a fan of college basketball, you might recognize:

Deon Thompson: A 6-foot-9 power forward who was a teammate of Brandan Wright at North Carolina in 2007. That team won both the ACC regular season and tournament titles and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAAs before falling to Georgetown in OT. He is in his first year with Alba, having played the past three years in Greece and Slovenia.

DaShaun Wood: A 6-foot-1 point guard who played at Wright State and was the Horizon Conference player of the year in 2007. In 2011, he led the German league in scoring for Skyliners Frankfurt. He is in his second season with Alba.

Zach Morley: A 6-foot-8 SF who played at Wisconsin. He was a member of the 2005 team that reached the Elite Eight before losing to North Carolina. He played in the Ukraine the last two seasons and prior to that has had played in the second and third divisions in Spain.

Dirk Nowitzki gets a little too excited after an alley-oop dunk by one of his teammates.

It appears that Dirk Nowitzki has not been able to shake off the hangover from the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 championship party because the way he reacted after an alley-oop dunk by teammate Brandan Wright against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 25, Dirk sounded like a college student partying at Oktoberfest.

On a night when the Mavericks got their 2011 championship rings, Nowitzki was helping with TV commentary when Jason Terry picked up a loose ball and dished it off to Wright for a spectacular slam. That play not only got Dirk off his seat, but he started screaming “Shut it down! … Let’s go home!” His teammates were probably listening because the Mavericks did shut it down, and the Timberwolves went on to spoil the Dallas party with a 105-90 victory. Watch and listen:

Heat star LeBron James (right) punish Vince Carter and the Mavericks for 37 points and 10 rebounds on Christmas Day. (REUTERS)

The Dallas Mavericks celebrated their 2011 NBA title with a spectacular ring ceremony and unveiling of the team’s first championship banner on Christmas Day. Then, they got their bell rung by a Miami Heat squad that looks extremely motivated and primed for a huge run in 2012. Here are five observations from opening day in the NBA:

LEBRON, HEAT LOOK SCARY GOOD

You never kick a man when he’s down and that’s what everyone in the basketball world did when LeBron James melted down in the 2011 NBA Finals. LeBron went into the offseason with one thing in mind: have more fun. It’s a simple approach but it could mean a world of difference for the two-time MVP because he simply didn’t do a good job of playing the role of villain. LeBron admitted he wasn’t himself last season and vowed to return to his old self by . . . smiling and joking more.

Micky Arison and Pat Riley were all smiles on Christmas Day after watching LeBron go for 37 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Heat’s 105-94 demolition of the Mavericks, spoiling Dallas’ championship banner day. The Heat have all their main parts intact, with some key additions in rookie point guard Norris Cole and reliable forward Shane Battier, and Dwyane Wade and LeBron appear to be in midseason form already. Both promised to post up more this season and they delivered in a big way in the opener, punishing the Mavs in the paint.

MAVERICKS HAVE SOME WORK TO DO

Entering the 2011-12 lockout-shortened season, the Mavs will have a brand new look. Tyson Chandler is off to New York, reliable backup point guard J.J. Barea (who absolutely killed the Lakers) is now in Minnesota, forward Caron Butler is now an L.A. Clipper, and sharp-shooter Peja Stojakovic has retired.

The Mavericks did add Vince Carter and Delonte West, and stole Lamar Odom from the Lakers. But one game into their season as defending champions, Carter was exposed on defense and Odom hasn’t gotten over the fact that he’s no longer a Laker. The Mavericks are a work in progress and will take time adjusting to their new pieces. The biggest difference is in the middle as Brendan Haywood proved he is not Tyson Chandler, especially on the defensive end where Chandler made his money last season.

NEVER COUNT OUT KOBE AND THE LAKERS

We already know about Kobe Bryant’s legendary pain threshold, having endure many, many injuries in the past only to overcome them all and thrive. But he took it a step further in the opener against the Chicago Bulls when he started the game and showed little effects of a torn ligament in his right wrist. Medical experts predicted such an injury required a 3-4 week rest period, but Bryant completely destroyed that recommendation. Just another chapter in the ever growing legend of Kobe Bryant.

Bryant finished with 28 points against the Bulls and his jump shot looked good. OK, so he did have eight turnovers and none bigger than the miscue with 16 seconds left in the game that allowed Derrick Rose to nail the game-winner. But in terms of the wrist and the chronic knee problems he’s had in the past, Kobe looked refreshed and was active on the court, especially on defense where new coach Mike Brown will have his most influence on this team.

The Lakers may have lost in the opener but they came away feeling pretty good considering Kobe was supposed to be out four weeks and starting center Andrew Bynum is serving a four-game suspension. The Bulls had the best record in the East last season and they were extremely lucky to leave Staples Center with a one-point win.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS LOCKED IN AND LOADED

After a disappointing loss in the Western Conference finals last season, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and the rest of the young and lively Thunder have been itching to get back on the court flying across the country and seemingly playing in every exhibition game possible.

The 66-game lockout-shortened season is tail0rmade for a team such as Oklahoma City because the core of the team stayed intact and it’ll get a full season with Kendrick Perkins as the man in the middle. Perkins may be limited offensively but his defense is top notch, as he proved Sunday night against the Orlando Magic when he frustrated Dwight Howard to just three points in the second half and 11 total points.

Durant poured in a game-high 30 points while Harden and Westbrook combined for 35 points. The emergence of Harden as a bonafide producer off the bench will be huge because that affords coach Scott Brooks to sit either Durant or Westbrook without missing a beat. Look for the Thunder to grab the No. 1 seed in the West.

NO QUIT IN THE CELTICS

Put a hold on that 401K plan for Kevin Garnett and Co. because the Boston Celtics are not ready to collect their severance package. Despite a roster full of guys on the other side of 30 years old, the Celtics gave the New York Knicks and their much-publicized frontcourt of Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler all they can handle in a 106-104 close win for New York. The Celtics can still defend and have added a little more scoring punch with the addition of Brandon Bass and Marquis Daniels.

Bass had the first 20-point, 10-rebound game of his career and he is an upgrade from “Big Baby” Davis. Daniels gives coach Doc Rivers more flexibility because he can play shooting guard or small forward. Once Paul Pierce returns from his heel injury, the Celtics will have a solid seven-man rotation. If Rajon Rondo, who had 31 points and 13 assists in the opener, can become more of a consistent offensive threat Boston will challenge the Bulls, Knicks and Heat for the best record in the East.

Tony Parker leads France to an impressive win over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in pool play at EuroBasket 2011. (FIBA EUROPE)

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker appears to be in midseason form as he poured in 32 points and dished out six assists in leading France to an impressive 76-65 victory over Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in pool play of the 2011 European Championships in Lithuania.

Parker made 11 of 20 shots from the field in 32 minutes, including both of his 3-point attempts. He also converted eight of nine free throws and grabbed four rebounds from his point guard position. Nowitzki led the way for Germany with 20 points.

France improved to 3-0 in Group B, while Germany fell to 2-1. France also defeated Germany in EuroBasket 2009.

Parker, who endured a disappointing first-round exit in the NBA playoffs last spring, currently leads the tournament in scoring with a 28.0 average and is making 59% of his field goals. He is also averaging a tournament-best 7.0 assists per game. Parker was rumored to be on the trading block last season, but if he can stay healthy and play at a high level, it will be very difficult for San Antonio to get rid of him.

The 2007 NBA Finals MVP had some help on the offensive end, as Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum had 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah contributed eight points and seven rebounds. France also boasts Boris Diaw (Charlotte Bobcats) and Mickael Gelabale (formerly of the Seattle Sonics but now plays in Belgium), making this year’s French squad a serious contender for the EuroBasket title. The top two teams receive an automatic berth to the 2012 London Olympics.

Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman, arguably Germany’s second-best player, struggled from the field in his much anticipated matchup in the middle against Noah. Kaman made just four of nine shots and netted eight points.

Before people jump all over this list and start screaming for LeBron James, the biggest reason why LeBron is no longer in the top five after being rated No. 2 last year is simply because he gave up his top-five ranking when he signed with the Miami Heat and become Dwyane Wade’s sidekick. LeBron’s decision to leave his Batman status in Cleveland and settle for the Robin of South Beach was a stunning admission by the self-proclaimed king of basketball that he doesn’t want to be the leading man and is perfectly content playing a supporting role. If LeBron leads the Heat to a championship and wins Finals MVP then he regains his status as a top-five player. But for the time being, he’s at No. 6.

OneManFastBreak.net rates the five best players in the NBA in 2011.

5. DWIGHT HOWARD
Orlando Magic, Center

Superman II remains the most dominant big man in the game today. Though his statistics were not-so-super in 2010, he redeemed himself by increasing his scoring (22.9) and rebounding (14.1) in 2011. His shot-blocking remains superb (2.4 per game) and he has added a few post moves to his offensive repertoire. The extra moves boosted his scoring average from 18.3 in 2010 to 22.9 in 2011. He also averaged more field goal attempts (13.4) while maintaining his high-percentage shooting (59%). Even though the Magic had a disappointing run in the postseason, losing to the Hawks in the first round, Howard did everything but sell popcorn in the series, averaging 27 points and 15 rebounds. Howard has very little competition at the center position so he should be able to lock up first-team status for the next five to 10 years.

4. DERRICK ROSE
Chicago Bulls, Point Guard

Since becoming the face of the Chicago Bulls in 2008, Derrick Rose has been nothing short of sensational. He has managed to carve his own stature for a franchise that housed the great Michael Jordan and the incomparable Scottie Pippen. Rose is different from other superstars. He is quiet and humble, and always quick to point to himself whenever he makes a mistake. That is quite refreshing when you think about it, especially since the majority of stars in the NBA rarely blame themselves for anything. Rose’s game has evolved so much that he went from not being ranked last year on OMFB to No. 4, jumping over Dwight Howard. In just three seasons, Rose has become the league MVP and unquestioned leader of a team that reached the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. He jumped his scoring average from 20.8 in 2010 to 25.0 in 2011, and his improved his shooting from the 3-point line (from 26% to 33%) and free throw line (76% to 85%).

3. DWYANE WADE
Miami Heat, Shooting Guard

Some thought D-Wade’s status as one of the five best players in the game would come down a peg with the arrival of LeBron James and Chris Bosh in Miami. Well, not only did Wade find a way to coexist with two other superstars with a spectacular regular season but he enhanced his reputation as a big-time performer with a very good series against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. Without a doubt, Wade was Miami’s best player in The Finals. Through the first five games of the series, you could argue that Wade was the best player in the series and was on his way to a second NBA Finals MVP until his buddy LeBron failed to support him in the last five games. Wade scored 22, 36, 29, 32 and 23 points for the Heat, but somehow disappeared in Game 6 as the Mavericks clinched the championship on the Heat’s home floor. Nonetheless, Wade reaffirmed his place in the game with another outstanding postseason.

And now, for the top two. Drum roll please ….

2. KOBE BRYANT
Los Angeles Lakers, Shooting Guard

The Black Mamba has been the best player on the planet (according to OMFB) the last four years, but age and tons of mileage on his body finally caught up with No. 24. The two-time NBA Finals MVP and five-time world champion still had a decent season, but “decent” is not a word normally associated with the always driven Bryant. He suffered through a very average series against Dallas in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals, and without his usual explosiveness Bryant was pinned to the floor and barely had any lift on his legs. The most telling statistic in the L.A.-Dallas series was Bryant’s inability to get easy buckets. He went to the line just 15 times in the four-game sweep, and didn’t have any dunks. At this stage of Kobe’s career, he’s not into statistics or individual awards. It’s all about The Ring. He knows his Lakers are built for the long haul and he doesn’t have to carry the load night after night. Besides, the soon-to-be 32-year-old star understands that he needs to start preserving his body. Although when challenged, he can always put on his Black Mamba game face and devour anyone who tries to get in his path. He knows his legacy is secured and his Hall-of-Fame pass is waiting for him at the doors of Springfield, Mass. About the only thing missing on his checklist is the No. 7. That’s the number championship rings he needs to win to surpass Jordan.

1. DIRK NOWITZKI
Dallas Mavericks, Forward

First, I’d like to apologize to Dirk for not including him on the list last season. But even after his stupendous performance in the 2011 NBA playoffs, leading the Mavericks to their first NBA title and winning the Finals MVP, I still have a hard time figuring out how in the world did Dirk did it. I mean, this was a guy who, in the previous 12 years of his career, has been labeled “soft” or “can’t win the big one.” All of that changed once the playoffs began as Nowitzki went on an incredible run that saw him destroy Kobe, Kevin Durant, LeBron and D-Wade. Winning a championship certainly solidified Dirk’s place in history, and removed all doubt about his ability to rise to the occasion. It began in the Portland series in which the Mavericks used a devastating playoff loss to fuel a turnaround that is not usually associated with a Dallas team. Then, in the Lakers series, Dirk and the Mavs seemingly had answer for anything Phil Jackson threw at them. In the West finals against Oklahoma City, Nowitzki outgunned Durant, including two 40-point games. Against the star-studded Heat in The Finals, Nowitzki exorcised his demons with two game-winning baskets – one against Bosh and the other against Udonis Haslem, his old nemesis from 2006. Dirk also showed tremendous grit by playing almost the entire series with a torn tendon in his left finger. Not many picked the Mavericks to win the championship, but it’s a testament to Dirk and the resilient Mavs for proving to all those so-called basketball experts out there (including the editor of OMFB) that perception and history are overrated. Dirk Nowitzki finally shed the poor perception about him and rewrote history. With exception of a few occasions, the MVP of the NBA Finals should be considered the No. 1 player in the game. And, without a doubt, Dirk Nowitzki has earned the right to be called THE BEST PLAYER IN THE GAME.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak. (Photos courtesy of Getty Images and US Presswire)

Mavericks guard Jason Terry is ready for takeoff, especially in the fourth quarter. (GETTY IMAGES)

TNT’s Kenny “The Jet” Smith has said on more than one occasion that Jason Terry got his “Jet” nickname not because of his game, but because it stood for his full name: Jason Eugene Terry.

After Terry’s performance in the 2011 NBA Finals, Smith may have to revisit his little jab at the Mavericks guard. And Terry may have picked up a new nickname as well: The Closer.

When Mavericks franchise player Dirk Nowitzki struggled in the early part of Game 6 in Miami, it was Terry who shouldered the load with 19 points in the first half. Once Nowitzki regained his shooting touch, the Mavericks took off and shot their way to a 105-95 victory to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

It was Dallas’ first championship as an NBA franchise, and although Nowitzki was named MVP of The Finals, it was Terry who complemented Dirk and took some pressure off him when it mattered most – the fourth quarter.

“That’s my job. All season long and every since I’ve been a Maverick I’ve been a guy that in the fourth quarter they’ve depended on either make plays or make shots,” Terry said. “I really relish in that role, and regardless of what’s going on for three quarters of the game in the fourth quarter I know I’m depended on to come through.”

Nowitzki was absolutely magnificent down the stretch in each of the games. He scored 62 points in the fourth quarter in the six games, tying the combined total for Dwyane Wade (44) and LeBron James (18). But right behind Wade in fourth-quarter scoring is Terry with 31.

“He was unbelievable,” Nowitzki said of Terry, who finished with a game-high 27 points in the series-clinching Game 6. “He watched me struggle early and he took it upon himself to really attack and look for his shot, and get going early. Oh man, he kept coming all night long and he was phenomenal.”

Nowitzki added, “On one timeout, he kept pushing me and kept telling me, ‘Remember ’06! Let’s not let it happen again.’ ”

In the games the Mavericks lost in the 2011 Finals, Terry was shutout in the fourth and was ineffective. In the games the Mavs won, Terry was a total play-maker and made big-time shots, especially in the pivotal Game 5 in Dallas.

There was a stretch in the final two minutes of the game in which Terry carried the Mavs. When the Mavs went down 100-97, Terry buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 100. On the next Mavs possession, he found Nowitzki on the baseline for a dunk to give Dallas the lead. Then, with 1:33 remaining, he drove to the basket, blew past LeBron, drew three defenders and kicked the ball out to Jason Kidd for a 3-pointer to build the lead to five. He delivered the dagger shot when he drilled a three from the American Airlines Center logo right in the face of LeBron to give Dallas a 108-101 lead with 33 seconds left in the game.

“During periods where Dirk was out of the game, we were going to him and he was delivering,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of Terry after Game 5. “It’s the total game that we’ve all been preaching to Jet really since the playoffs began.”

When the season began, Terry inked a tattoo of the Larry O’Brien Trophy on his right bicep. It was bold and very brash move for someone who has only been to the NBA Finals once in his career. When Terry was asked what he would do if the Mavs don’t win the NBA title, he said he’d remove the tattoo. Fortunately for Terry and the Mavs, that won’t be necessary.

Dirk Nowitzki was not amused by the stunt Dwyane Wade and LeBron James pulled prior to Game 5 of the 2011 NBA Finals. (US PRESSWIRE)

Dirk Nowitzki saw the video of Dwyane Wade and his buddy LeBron James mocking him before a Miami Heat shoot-around and the Mavericks star didn’t find the whole bit amusing. In fact, Nowitzki was a little offended.

During Saturday’s news conference, the Mavericks All-Star said Wade and James were “childish” and “ignorant” to mock his illness, although he didn’t say that it would add more motivation for him. “I’ve been in this league for 13 years. I’ve never faked an injury or an illness before,” Nowitzki told reporters.

“It happened. It’s over to me,” he said. “It’s not going to add anything extra to me. This is the NBA Finals. If you need an extra motivation at this time of year then you have a problem. We’re one win away from my dream, what I’ve worked on for half of my life.”

In the video, Wade and James appear to be faking a cough and covering their mouths when cameras were following them as they left Dallas’ American Airlines Center. Both Heat stars claim they were joking, but it was an obvious shot at Dirk who suffered through a bad sinus infection after Game 4.

“First of all, it wasn’t fake coughing,” Wade said. “I actually did cough. And with the cameras being right there, we made a joke out of it because we knew you guys were going to blow it up. You did exactly what we knew. We never said Dirk’s name. I think he’s not the only one in the world who can get sick or have a cough. We just had fun with the cameras being right in our face about the blowup of the incident, and it held to be true. You blew it up.”

James, on the other hand, avoided the whole issue. “I’m not feeding into that,” he said. “If you guys want to feed into everything that not only myself or D-Wade or the Miami Heat do, I think that’s a non-issue. There’s bigger issues in this series than that.”

James is right about one thing. There are bigger issues in this series than pretending to be sick. However, anything Wade and LeBron do on and off the court will be scrutinized, whether it’s real or not. And why add more fuel to the Mavericks’ fire? Though Nowitzki said he has already moved on, you know deep down he is steaming over this and will be extra fired up for Game 6. Any great athlete is always looking for an edge, and in the end the joke may be on Wade and LeBron.