Dirk's free throws by the numbers

Before Mavs' fans whine about Dirk Nowitzki's lack of free throw attempts, you should consult the official NBA statistics.

Dirk said yesterday that "it's already wrestling out there'' in regard to the physical nature of the series.

Today, Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich said when asked if he thought this series was a physical one: "Not especially. No.''

As far as the statistics go, Nowitzki is tied for fifth in free-throw attempts at 8.8 per game. Only Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Nene Hilario and LeBron James average more free throws per game in the playoffs.