I think whoever wins Game 2 will win the series. Dallas will not go 2-3 in Oakland so if they lose Game 2, they're probably done, they will be defeated mentally and face a rough Oakland crowd smelling blood. Golden State, on the other hand, will probably not go 3-0 in Oakland, nor do I think they'd win a game 7 in Dallas if it got that far. The Mavs would regain their confidence with a Game 2 victory and be right back in it without the doubt and intimidation that must be plaguing them right now. Yesterday I was thinking the Mavs would take it, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered just what adjustments the Mavs could make to get back in it. What do they do? They really have no great answer for Baron or SJax, and if Monta and JRich actually show up for the game this time then Baron and SJax are going to have a lot of options for assists, and they're both good playmakers. I don't see Diop/Dampier as a good option for Dallas either, because while those guys can play interior defense and board, they can't score well and definitely cannot run with the Warriors. Having said that, I think the Mavs will be more focused and I do expect Dirk to have at least a decent game (possibly by passing the ball off the doubleteams more than shooting it). My prediction is GS 110, Dallas 107. Am I supremely confident in a Warriors win? Not at all, but this game is clearly winnable for them with good play and a little luck.
My prediction is we flat out lose... I mean absolute blown out killed by 30 points. Actually more specifically, we don't win. There we go. Close losses don't count. Hopefully, like it seems lately, the Warriors actually make the opposite outcome that I predict. Keep proving me wrong, Warriors! The Warriors will lose! Book it!
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">My prediction is we flat out lose... I mean absolute blown out killed by 30 points. Actually more specifically, we don't win. There we go. Close losses don't count. Hopefully, like it seems lately, the Warriors actually make the opposite outcome that I predict. Keep proving me wrong, Warriors! The Warriors will lose! Book it!</div> I think the Mavericks are gonna come out and crash the boards offensively and defensively. If the Mavericks cream the Warriors on the boards, I think the Mavericks will win. But if the Warriors can control the boards for the most part or just weather the storm of Dallas getting tons of boards and get good production from Pietrus, Barnes, Biedrins, while the starters control the Mavericks starters, then the Warriors have a shot. I think the 3 ball is gonna be important in this game as well. My prediction? I'll say Andris Biedrins has a huge game with Pietrus off the bench along with Monta, Harrington, and Richardson stepping up and the Warriors just sneak by and beat the Mavericks like how many of the recent Dallas/Golden State games have gone.
Rebounding is the Warriors killer when they go small, Harrington, the tallest player, has the worst hands on the team. Last game they avoided that problem. I think the Mavs get more patient on the offensive end and shoot from closer in, trying to take advantage of their size. I don't see the Mavs panicking, they were down 0-2 to the Rockets in '05 after losing both at home. I want the Warriors to win but my head tells me the Mavs roar back while the Warriors are happy to go home with the split.
Without a doubt, it will be a tough game. The last thing Mavs would want is to go 0-2 in their homestand. Also, if they ever overlooked us, because we are 8th seed, they will no longer do that either. Desperation + their talent will be very tough to overcome. Since they failed to go small against us, I believe they will go back with their big line up once again. They will try to outrebound and play half court as much as possible. But, last time when they went big, Biedrins circled around Dampier. If Biedrins can duplicate what he did against Dallas, and we can keep generating TOs, which will lead to fastbreaks, I believe we have a good shot. Also, if Richardson, Monta and Harrington can play decent after tasting their (Richardson and Monta) first PO game, who knows what will happen? Even if we get 1-1 split, we accomplished the goal, and the homecourt advantage is already ours. But, 2-0 will be absolutely sweet...
Warriors will win in it for sure. Baron Davis is awesome player. Sjax stepped up dramatically to help you guys pull that first win. I think J-rich would play a bigger role in the 2nd win. GL TO U guys, I hope you do win.
My greatest worry is foul trouble. It certainly seemed to me that last game Dallas got more love from the refs than the Dub's. The Mavs are a much deeper team and might be able to withstand foul trouble, but i dont think the Warriors can. Nelson has been going wiht an 8 player rotation with beans barnes and MP off the bench while Dallas i believe went 11 deep last game. My other fear is injury.... I fear that this will be a game that everything goes dallas's way. The calls, the loose balls, the bounces, and the momentum. I just hope we can withstand Dallas's initial surge to start the game and that we are at least close at the half. Another fear i have is that Avery will notice that Harris, Howard et al were getting deep penetration to the rim frequently and that they will continue to expose this. even if we continue to neutralize Dirk I think that Dallas will slow things down and work us in the paint. On the flip side : Jason wont have two bad games in a row, Monta will shake off the nerves and be himself and hopefull we get more from our bench especially MP as i dont think we can ask more from barnes and Beans. A tight fought close game would still shake dallas's confidence ..... a warrior win destroys it..... just hope we dont see a blow out.... ps : love how Kobe showed up as the player i expect ...... perfect example..... KOBe got ripped and instead of making any effort ..... 3 lakers ran past him..... he just stood there.... OVerrated. KObe will never get another ring unless it is the end of his career and he pulls a Mitch Richmond and catches on to a contender at the end of his career. The LAkers could have kept shaq. let KObe go to the Clips and signed Ray Allen and they would most likely saw another run at a ring or two.
<div class="quote_poster">philsmith75 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Rebounding is the Warriors killer when they go small, Harrington, the tallest player, has the worst hands on the team. Last game they avoided that problem. I think the Mavs get more patient on the offensive end and shoot from closer in, trying to take advantage of their size. I don't see the Mavs panicking, they were down 0-2 to the Rockets in '05 after losing both at home. I want the Warriors to win but my head tells me the Mavs roar back while the Warriors are happy to go home with the split.</div> Yes, rebounding is one of the keys that will determine Game 2. But, I think Foyle has the worst hands on the team, and, I don't think hands have much to do with rebounding as boxing out and positioning. To add, I don't think Harrington has bad hands. He catches the ball when it's passed to him. There's a lot to be said for that after watching Foyle start at center the previous years. As poor of a rebounder Harrington is, he has improved and really, he should focus on rebounding before scoring in this series and the rest of the playoffs. Nellie has helped him become a better all-around player both on the offensive and defensive end (team and individual).
I'm also going to say, regardless of who wins tonight's game, it still does not determine the series, as many people have indicated.
Nelson says <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We have a better chance of gettting hit by lighting than beating the Mavs tonight.</div>
I will go on record and make a bold prediction: the first team to win its 4th win in this series will move on.
<div class="quote_poster">Wild Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I will go on record and make a bold prediction: the first team to win its 4th win in this series will move on. </div> I'll challenge you on that.
I've been good at predicting JRich Breakout games... Look for him to drop 35 or so tonight. I see him and Jax going big, and I wouldn't be shocked to see an overtime-type game. I say the Mavs squeak this one out, but it should be a tough fight.
