Mavs vs. Warriors - Biggest Game in 12 Years!!!

I got a little nervous typing that. LOL.

Projected Starters
Warriors

Men on a Mission, Team on a Mission

Mavericks

Terry, George, Howard, Nowitzki, Diop

INJURY REPORT
Warriors: Zarko Cabarkapa (back surgery) and Patrick O’Bryant are on the inactive list.

Mavericks: Erick Dampier (strained right shoulder) and DJ Mbenga (torn ACL in right knee) are out.

 

I wonder if Nowitzki gets the superstar calls and the extra steps?

I've got a bad feeling the refs may screw us this game.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I wonder if Nowitzki gets the superstar calls and the extra steps?
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Of course.

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">
I've got a bad feeling the refs may screw us this game.</div>

I get this feeling for every Warriors game...


God I hope they win tomorrow and clips lose, I want to clinch already!

 

If the refs are going to give special teatment to Nowitszki, then the Warriors better push the issue and drive, drive, drive inside the lane to get to the line as early and as often as possible or we are going to have to shoot the lights out tonight.

 

I would of thought your game @ Portland would be the biggest. No doubt If you win tonight you clinch but If you don't there is always wednesday.

Be interesting to see how Dallas plays this game. If they play their starters alot then It may be a sign they want to avoid GS in the first round.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AllNet Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I would of thought your game @ Portland would be the biggest. No doubt If you win tonight you clinch but If you don't there is always wednesday.</div>Yeah, but if the Clippers and Lakers win out, the Warriors cannot afford to lose one game; they'd be out of the playoffs. And I'm not willing to count on any more Clipper and Laker losses. The Clippers loss to the Kings on Saturday was a miraculous gift. Phoenix may not play anyone against them, and NO/OKC will have nothing to play for in their last game.

 

There will be some serious head games being played tonight.

From Avery's standpoint, if he plays his starters tonight, it means they want to beat us now and try to open the door for the Clips. If they play hard and lose though, then Nellie sends a big "F U, and see you in the playoffs!" to Dallas. If Avery decides to "rest his guys" and give us the easy win, it's likely that we will win in Portland too, so we would finish 42-40. If the Kings beat LA then they finish 41-41, so we would move to 7th and play Phoenix. Then the Mavs will have an easy sweep of the Lakers. Ok, Kobe might win one by himself. But if LA wins in SAC then they will take the 7th seed and play the Suns. I'm so anxious to see how this all plays out.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I wonder if Nowitzki gets the superstar calls and the extra steps?

I've got a bad feeling the refs may screw us this game.</div>

If Nowitzki gets the calls, then we gotta keep rotating guys like Powell or Azu just to keep pressure on him. What would hurt is AB or one of the starters getting in foul trouble, but we got a deep bench. It will be interesting to see whether Nellie doubles him or tries to put the clamps on the other Mavs. Dirk can be nasty. He hits big shots and 3-balls which keep the Mavs in the game or outright win it for the Mavs.

As for the foul calls, they never even out for the Warriors so I don't expect that to change. We just gotta factor that in and make sure we're making our outside shots. The worse would a repeat of the Wizards game where someone loses their cool. I don't care about how we lost the Wizards game or any other game. Just win tonight baby!

 

Only way we win is if we nail a lot of threes, about 40% and above. Since they are going to be launching them as usual.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Wild Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">There will be some serious head games being played tonight.

From Avery's standpoint, if he plays his starters tonight, it means they want to beat us now and try to open the door for the Clips. If they play hard and lose though, then Nellie sends a big "F U, and see you in the playoffs!" to Dallas. If Avery decides to "rest his guys" and give us the easy win, it's likely that we will win in Portland too, so we would finish 42-40. If the Kings beat LA then they finish 41-41, so we would move to 7th and play Phoenix. Then the Mavs will have an easy sweep of the Lakers. Ok, Kobe might win one by himself. But if LA wins in SAC then they will take the 7th seed and play the Suns. I'm so anxious to see how this all plays out. </div>

Yeah Wild Child, there were some weird quotes coming from Avery and the Mavs. It kind of gets into your head that they'll be laying down tonight, but it could be a ploy.

As for 7th or 8th spot, I prefer the 8th spot and the Mavs, but it doesn't really matter as long as we get to the playoffs.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Only way we win is if we nail a lot of threes, about 40% and above. Since they are going to be launching them as usual.</div>

I looked at the last game the Ws won against Mavs and they hit < 40% and still won (38.1%). But they shot 57.1% floor. Man, that's a lot.

 

There is no way the Mavericks will try to make this an easy game for us. Even if they don't play their starters a bunch (like a playoff game or a game with great significance), Avery Johnson will most likely be demanding great production from their bench players who are most likely going to play very hard to get warmed up for the playoffs. Maybe their game plan will be to try to put the Warriors out early with the starters and cruise to the end with the reserves. But the Warriors need to come out firing and never let up, similar to the Minnesota game minus the 4th quarter when the bench played.

The matchup that is key for the Warriors is Harrington vs. Diop. The Warriors will also need help from the bench. If there is no production from the bench then that could spell trouble or even disaster. The last game vs. the Mavericks, in which the Warriors won, Mickael Pietrus led the team in scoring with 20 points. The team could definitley use big production/nights from Barnes, Pietrus, and Biedrins off the bench. The last game the Warriors lost, @ San Antonio, there was no bench production, and it really showed (fortunately this is not a second of a back-to-back like that game was).

Man this is so intense. I am starting to think that the tie-breaker (if there is a tie) should be decided by the conference record, not the division record => advantage Warriors .

Go Suns, and Go Warriors, tonight.

 

can't wait for tonight!!!

and get this, my girfriend is a mavs fan from dallas...you shoulda seen the looks we got when we were at the sports bar last game with the opposing jerseys on!! hahah. she was PISSED...and i would just love to knock her team out in the 1st round (knock on wood). go dubs!!

 

I am in Dallas and the quotes coming from Mavs camp is that Avery will not show Nelson all of their cards before the playoffs, so they are expecting the Warriors to win and make the playoffs with the 8th seed. If the Suns dont play their starters, then this could get ugly fast if the Mavs beat us. This is about as much of a must win as any game this far. I expect the Warriors to come out strong and put away the Mavs early by taking it to the hole not, chucking 3s. I hope the Clippers stumble against the Clips like they did against the Kings tonight...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Warriorfansnc93 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I hope the Clippers stumble against the Clips like they did against the Kings tonight...</div>



I sure hope the Clips lose to the Clips also!

 

So Dirk isn't resting?

 

What are the predictions for the first round, i think the warriors in 5 or 6.

 

<div class="quote_poster">NewYorkBalla33 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What are the predictions for the first round, i think the warriors in 5 or 6.</div>

Warriors in 5? Your kidding right? I'm picking the Warriors to win to, but I doubt the Warriors will win in only 5. Maybe 6, but not 5.

 

Well fortunately, or at least very arguably, the Suns bench is better than the Mavericks bench. Also since the Suns are playing the second of a back-to-back tonight, it really isn't very surprising if they did decide not to push the starters to the limit. But they are playing at home, so hopefully that motivates them to at least fight for a win when they are out on the court. To make things more interesting, the Suns/Clippers game starts about 30 minutes before the Warriors game, which will be stress relieving for Warriors fans if the Clippers are losing, but pressure building if the Clippers are winning.