The Jet Terry next to Nowitzki, the Mavericks didn t win the single-core championship back then

On May 28, in the history of the NBA, the 2011 Dallas Mavericks' championship journey was legendary. When people mention this championship team, Dirk Nowitzki's name is always the first to mention, and the German tank led the team through the game with his unsolvable Golden Rooster independent jump shot. However, basketball is a five-person sport after all, and the Mavericks' success is by no means the only one. In this championship team, Jason Terry plays a crucial role. This shooting guard, affectionately known by fans as the "Jets", became Nowitzki's most reliable helper with his precise three-pointers and his big heart performance at critical moments.

Terry joined the Mavericks in 2004, and since then he started his eight-year partnership with Nowitzki. The dual-seater from the University of Arizona quickly became an important puzzle for the team with his outstanding shooting ability and critical moment killer instinct. Terry plays the sixth man in the Mavericks system, but he often stays on the court at the most critical moments of the game. In the 2008-09 season, Terry averaged 19.6 points per game and shot 36.6% from three-pointers. This season, he won the Sixth Man Award, proving his value as a leader on the bench.

The Mavericks were not favored by the outside world in the 2010-11 season. Nowitzki, the core of the team, is 32 years old, Terry is 33 years old, and Kidd is 38 years old. However, it is this "Old Boys" team that demonstrated amazing resilience and team basketball charm in the playoffs. Terry averaged 15.8 points per game in the regular season this season. Although the data is not dazzling, his scoring ability at critical moments provides the team with stable fire support. In the playoffs, Terry's performance went to a higher level. He averaged 17.5 points per game and his three-point shooting percentage increased to 44.2%, becoming the team's most reliable scoring point on the outside. The series against the Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-Finals is Terry's masterpiece. In Game 4, Terry made 9 of 10 three-pointers and scored 32 points, helping the Mavericks sweep the defending champion Lakers. This game perfectly demonstrated Terry's killer nature. His confidence in taking the ball and accurate shooting skills made the Lakers helpless in defense. After the game, Kobe Bryant had to admit: "Jason's performance tonight was incredible, he completely destroyed us. "

Facing the Miami Heat with Big Three, Terry continued his magical performance. In the crucial fifth game, Terry scored 21 points, including 8 points in the fourth quarter, helping the team to lead 3-2. In the sixth game, Terry contributed 27 points again, completely shattering the Heat's dream of winning the championship with a key shot. In the entire finals series, Terry averaged 18 points per game and shot 39.3% from three-pointers, making him the team's second scorer after Nowitzki.

Terry's value is not only reflected in his scoring, but also in the spiritual attributes he brings to the team. Whenever the team is in trouble, Terry is always the first player to stand up and boost morale. His confidence and a bit arrogant. Before the finals, he publicly expressed his fear of the Heat. This momentum of no one else infected the entire team. Head coach Carlisle once commented: "Jason has the mind of a championship, he never fears big scenes, which is exactly what we need. "

From the perspective of technical characteristics, Terry was the most perfect substitute scorer of that era. He has excellent off-ball running ability and is able to find shooting space through complex covers. His catch and shoot skills are perfect, his shooting speed is fast and his arc is high, making it difficult for defenders to block. More importantly, Terry has the qualities of a big heart player. The more critical the game is, the more stable his performance is. This perfectly complements Nowitzki's inside attack and forms the two pillars of the Mavericks' offensive end.

On the defensive end, although Terry is not considered a top defender due to his physical fitness, he always goes all out and makes up for his lack of height with active fighting. In Carlisle's defensive system, Terry can execute the team's defensive strategy well and form a solid outside defensive net with Kidd, Marion and others. Especially in the playoffs, Terry's defensive intensity has improved significantly, which laid the foundation for the Mavericks' championship.

Looking back at the 2011 championship journey, Nowitzki made great contributions, but without Terry's stable output, it would be difficult for the Mavericks to reach the end. In the series eliminating the Lakers, Thunder and Heat, Terry stood up many times when Nowitzki was under key control and punished his opponent's defensive strategy with precise shots. It was this multi-point offensive model that made the Mavericks the most difficult team to defend that year. After winning the championship, Terry said excitedly: "People say we are too old and say we are not good enough, but we prove the power of team basketball. " This sentence reveals the true meaning of the Mavericks' success. In this team, Nowitzki is a well-deserved leader and core, but players such as Terry, Kidd, Marion, Chandler each perform their duties and jointly create this legend. Terry, in particular, as the team's second scorer and killer at critical moments, his contribution is no less than any so-called "second leader".

Over time, the 2011 Mavericks' championship story has been mentioned more and more, but Terry's role is often underestimated. In fact, in that playoffs, Terry's total score was only 43 points less than Nowitzki, and his score at critical moments was comparable to that of the Germans. If Nowitzki is compared to the Mavericks' sword, Terry is the deadly dagger that gives a fatal blow when the opponent is unprepared.

Now, when people discuss the topic of single-core championships, the 2011 Mavericks are often used as cases. But anyone who knows deeper into that team knows that Nowitzki has a great group of helpers around him, and Jason Terry is undoubtedly the sharpest sharp knife among them. His performance proves that on the NBA stage, true champions are never won by one person, and the strength of the team is always greater than that of the individual.. This is also the most valuable inspiration left to us by the Mavericks' 2011 championship story.