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Dallas Mavericks: 5 Reasons Behind Surprising Start

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (left) in the huddle with teammates prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns in the season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (left) in the huddle with teammates prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns in the season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dallas Mavericks
Nov 28, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates making a three point shot against the Denver Nuggets during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Nuggets 92-81. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Vintage Dirk

Watching Kobe Bryant in his final season has been brutal, but as far as Dirk Nowitzki is concerned, this superstar from the same dying generation has been nothing short of superb. Despite being 37 years old, and despite all the expectations that he’d continue to decline this year, Dirk is averaging a team-best 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

It’s not just his basic numbers that are impressive, however, since Nowitzki is shooting an insanely efficient 52.3 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three-point range and 91.1 percent from the foul line. Sixteen games is a small sample size, but he’s still taking 3.4 three-pointers per game.

If those percentages hold up, Dirk Diggler would post career highs in both field goal and three-point percentage.

Dirk probably isn’t going to shoot 50 percent from three-point range through a full 82-game season, but it’s incredible that in his 18th NBA season, the Germanator is in contention for the second 50-40-90 club appearance of his career. With Nowitzki showing zero signs of regression from last season, the Mavs have surged to their impressive 10-7 start.

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