<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND -- Playoff preview or empty exhibition? Only Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson knows. When the Warriors host the Mavericks tonight at Oracle Arena for the teams' third and final meeting this season, it could be one of two things: A battle for supremacy between a 66-14 Dallas team that will finish with one of the 10 best records in NBA history and the 40-40 Golden State squad that has had its number over the past few years, or a season high in minutes for such little-known Mavericks as guard Jose Barea and forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu. For the Warriors, who must win tonight and Wednesday in Portland, Ore., to guarantee an end to their 12-year playoff drought, there is no option other than going full tilt. Johnson, whose team clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs more than a week ago, can afford to take a longer-term view. "We've got to see how they handle it," Warriors forward Al Harrington said. "Obviously, they can come in here with the position that they're going to rest their guys, or they can come in here and try to push us back out of the playoffs. Whatever it is, we're going to be prepared, come in here with the same mind-set, realizing we have to win every game to get in." Johnson has said he's going to use tonight's game as a chance to give his key players some rest, then treat Wednesday's regular-season finale against Seattle as a dry run for the playoffs.</div> Source: Contra Costa Times
