<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND - Suspend your well-earned cynicism regarding the Warriors, if only for a moment. Imagine that the NBA moon, sun and stars align perfectly for them this season. Imagine that the Warriors snap their 12-year postseason drought. Imagine they capture the No. 8 playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their reward? A first-round date with the West's No. 1 seed, most likely the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA's current winningest team. Believe it or not, we couldn't just file this under be-careful-what-wish-for. The Warriors had won four of their past five games against Dallas before Monday night's encounter. Then they proceeded to make it five out of six, routing -- that's right -- routing the Mavs 117-100. "You know what? They have our number," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said before the game. "They've just been torching us. It's been what, 10 years since we've beaten 'em? It feels that way. "It feels like if the game's ever close and somebody needs a turnaround 97-footer, even though the court's only 94 feet long, there's Jason Richardson to do a spin move and throw it up." The Warriors didn't need any last-second miracles this time. They came out running, gunning, hustling and scoring, almost at will, often inside. As mysterious as it may be, the Warriors seem to match up well against the Mavericks and often cause them fits. They see the Mavs coming and turn into a cross between Magic's "Showtime" and Michael Jordan's Bulls. And the mighty Mavericks often turn into the Washington Generals. The Warriors won the season-series 3-1 last year under coach Mike Montgomery. They beat Dallas 107-104 on Nov. 6 under Don Nelson this season. Just don't expect Mavericks coach Avery Johnson to confirm his team has a matchup problem against the Warriors. "They caught us at a couple good times, I guess," Johnson said. "Hey, they had a free swing. We're the hot team. We face this every night. "If we win, we're supposed to win. If they win, it's an upset. Take your hats off to them. They came in, they didn't play with any pressure. Their shots were going in. Their crowd was really into the game. But this leaves a bad taste in our mouths." The Warriors success in the recent past against Dallas would surely give them plenty of postseason hope if they meet the Mavs. Now a reality check. Beating the Mavs in an occasional one-shot game is much different than beating them in a best-of-seven playoff series. Before their Monday night meltdown -- Dirk Nowitzki even got a technical while on the bench -- the Mavericks had won 17 games in a row, tied for the seventh longest streak in NBA history. They're 52-10 and have won 38 of their past 41 games. "I see the best team in the league, a team I feel will be the champion," Warriors coach Don Nelson said before the game against his former team. "They have to do it first. They've already proven they're the best team in the league. Now they have to do it under playoff conditions."</div> Source
If the Warriors managed to get the 8 seed, it will be one of the most entertaining first rounds in a long while. If anything else there are too many angles to this probable series. Nelson vs Cuban. The Warriors back from a 12 year playoff drought against a maybe 70 win Mavericks. I sure hope we get this matchup.
I'm as excited about the Warriors as the next guy, but why call Ripley? He's nothing but a damned, murderous identity thief.
Playoffs are way, way, way different from regular season play, but I'll take a blowout loss from Dallas in the playoffs any time we haven't made the playoffs in consecutive seasons... Halfway through 13 seasons missing from the playoffs, and people start to look down on the franchise. We've got to have a window of opportunity open long enough for us to build up momentum. I think that's really tied to Baron Davis, a top 5 draft pick type of player (in any draft), his health, and the guys doing something for him when he's on the court. As a point guard, stuck in halfcourt, with guys not moving for him and actively setting good screens/picks, there's very little he can do trying to go inside against bigger players. Especially, when he's not the most reliable shooter in the world and he gets hurt easily... But he makes the team so much better once he creates and passes, he runs the floor on the break, and consistently hits an 18 or 20 footer from a set shot. We need better guys to surround him with. I think with time we can find out who that is. Hopefully FA's will want to come to Oakland because of Baron and Don Nelson. I hope our salary situation looks good.
Next game against Dallas will be a good measure what will happen in PO. Till now, Dallas didn't seem to bring A game against us. But, since we broke their 17 games winning streak and we won 4 games in last 5, they will definitly be ready to meet us. If we can actually hold our own in that game, we may have a series if we meet Dallas in PO...
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm as excited about the Warriors as the next guy, but why call Ripley? He's nothing but a damned, murderous identity thief.</div> Uh, who's Ripley?
If I remember correctly, the Mavericks started out pretty slow. Then they faced the Warriors, and lost. Then after that they decided not to lose. Maybe it's time for the Warriors to go on one of those, "don't lose" streaks and make it to the playoffs, while the Mavericks...well they aren't doing so well vs. the Suns right now either, but maybe we can take some of that Mavericks winning with us, haha for the Warriors. That is what I am hoping at least, I just know that it doesn't matter what happens, the Warriors always lose on the road which may spell the demise of the Warriors playoff chances. But yeah IF the Warriors make the playoffs an Oakland/Dallas matchup would get a lot of attention. It will be like Disneyland for us Warriors fans, haha. Also I only assume that the writer was referring to Ripley from that "Ripley's Believe it or not" museum/show/magic stuff/etc.
