Video: Sweet ‘Sick Dirk’ impressions, Dwyane and LeBron

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Very strong character work here, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Your hilarious pre-Game 5 send-up of an ailing Dirk Nowitzki definitely shows that you've spent some time getting the mannerisms and mindset of a sick 7-foot German down pat. Check out Bill Hader and Taran Killam over here.

I especially like how the Miami Heat stars let their team apparel handle the "very hot with a 102-degree fever" aspect of their impersonations. As was discussed earlier this year on an episode of the comedy podcast Jordan, Jesse, Go!, when you've got a perfect comedy outfit ? like Martin Lawrence's Big Momma suit, for example, or T-shirts and hats with the word "Heat" and a picture of fire on them ? a smart performer doesn't gild the lily by trying to add actual jokes. Just let the suit do the work, trust that your audience is sophisticated enough to make the connection, and the let the brain-smiles roll. It's basically the Rebus puzzle of laughing.

It's also good that Wade and James got some yukles (yuks + chuckles) in before Game 5, since there wasn't a whole lot for them to laugh about afterward. You've got to take your opportunities where you find them. In the words of the poet, "Work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt and laugh like you're making fun of a sick person who's dinging you up for 27-and-9 a night."

Original video via Stadium229, with hat-tips to BDL reader KirkSeriousFace (who really understands the importance of a great Twitter handle), Mavs Moneyball and The Basketball Jones.

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