Game 1: Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks

Baron again... it's over. Great job by Golden State, they played a hell of a game, Nellie looked to have an outstanding game plan, they defended Dirk very well, and of course... Baron Davis was unbelievable. Great win for Golden State.

 

The Mavs will lose this game because Avery tried to out think himself.Starting a "small" starting 5, with Dirk at C is playing right into GS hands. Dallas doesn't do that for PHX, so why do for GS?The Mavs will still win this series...it'll be 4-2, but I'm sure Avery will just play the normal Dallas lineup from now on.Besides, GS was lights out and on fire in the second half. Just about every shot BD and the other Warriors shot went in the hoop...Dallas wasn't as lucky.

 

I just think it's interesting that 3 run and gun teams beat the 3 slow-down teams in relatively low scoring games. Hopefully GS can upset or make it a long series. What a great game. I love Baron Davis.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Besides, GS was lights out and on fire in the second half. Just about every shot BD and the other Warriors shot went in the hoop...Dallas wasn't as lucky.</div>The Warriors' second half was actually pretty average for the Warriors over the last 21 games of the season. They were above average, but not "lights out on fire".

 

Jeez oh man what a ball game by Baron Davis and Golden State just had more in them then Dallas did. Davis finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds tonight, simple a beast and if they keep this up I honestly see them winning this one. Davis HAS to step up and lead this team. I can see Dallas coming back and showing what they are really made up, Johnson is an outstanding coach I can see them coming out with fire next game.

 

F*ck!

 

All season I've watched Baron Davis do sh*t like this. He's gonna get recognized finally. Like I said he's been the most underrated player in the league this year.Anyway, this was truly huge for the Warriors. They've got Dallas shaking in their pants. I don't care what you say...When you get swept by a team 3-0 in the regular season and then get your butt whooped on your home floor first game of the playoffs, you wil be scared.

 

First and foremost congrats to Warriors for the win. They deserve it. Avery Johnson came out with a poorly executed strategy and stubbornly stayed with it the whole game. Really didn't understand but I believe it was the key to us losing the game. Damp/Diop when out there, had the Mavs rebounding and doing well. When out, we went right into Golden State's hands.Two players have to step after this game, Dirk and Stack. Stack was non existant and Dirk with the doubling, was kept out of the game and out of rhythm.Also, I wish Devin Harris would go back to finishing with a strong dunk instead of trying to lay it up. He missed like 3 gimmes off the rim in the 1st half.

 

AWESOME job by the Warriors. I can't describe how impressed I was. I have seen only 1 game since the Warriors started getting it rolling, so I came into tonight not fully knowing what to expect. Some notes from me:-This is the PERFECT matchup for GS against one of the top 4 teams in the West. Dallas has always had trouble doing much against very good perimeter scorers, and my theory was once again proven with Baron Davis absolutely going off. If Dallas wants to win a ring, they have to keep these guys in check (not stop them, but don't let them go off for 30/7/6 like T-Mac did 2 years ago, 35PPG from Wade in the Finals, and Baron going for 33/14/8 tonight). -The Warriors are a REAL fun team to watch. If they could get a few defenders in there I think they could top Phoenix as the best offensive minded team in the league.-Dirk HAS to step up in game 2. -Baron was money, he was incredible. -As good as Golden State's offense is, I feel if they get JRich a bit more involved they could be even more dangerous. -Warriors played surprisingly good defense, and both teams were hustling their asses off.-Very, very entertaining game to watch. Almost guaranteed to be the most fun series to watch of the first round (and if Warriors somehow make it to the WCF and possibly meet the Suns, then that will be the most entertaining series in over a decade).Overall, very impressive. Dallas needs to find ways to control Davis for Game 2.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tHe_pEsTiLeNcE @ Apr 22 2007, 11:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Warriors' second half was actually pretty average for the Warriors over the last 21 games of the season. They were above average, but not "lights out on fire".</div>They were lights out, and on fire, compared to the Mavs. Especially considering they shot in the low 30's percentage wise in the first half, and had moved it up to 43% by the end of the game. That's alot of movement IMO.Compared to the Mavs who shot in the neighborhood of 30% in the first half, and only got up to 35% by the end of the game.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If Dallas wants to win a ring, they have to keep these guys in check (not stop them, but don't let them go off for 30/7/6 like T-Mac did 2 years ago, 35PPG from Wade in the Finals, and Baron going for 33/14/8 tonight).</div>Spurs and Suns don't seem to be keeping their opposing superstars in check. Point is, that logic is so open to every team, it's ridiculous to even point out solely on Dallas.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 22 2007, 11:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First and foremost congrats to Warriors for the win. They deserve it. Avery Johnson came out with a poorly executed strategy and stubbornly stayed with it the whole game. Really didn't understand but I believe it was the key to us losing the game. Damp/Diop when out there, had the Mavs rebounding and doing well. When out, we went right into Golden State's hands.Two players have to step after this game, Dirk and Stack. Stack was non existant and Dirk with the doubling, was kept out of the game and out of rhythm.Also, I wish Devin Harris would go back to finishing with a strong dunk instead of trying to lay it up. He missed like 3 gimmes off the rim in the 1st half.</div>I agree with all these points Rok...and I think I said so as well.I thought that when the C's were out there, especially Diop, that Dallas was the better team, and that was when Dallas made their runs.I though Avery would switch back to their normal lineup in the second half...but he didn't, and I was confused at that too.Stack does need to step up, and Dirk has to make GS pay for doubling and tripling him all the time.I don't think GS will shoot 43% and Dallas 35% the whole series...and I think that's what it'll take for GS to pull this out.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 22 2007, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Spurs and Suns don't seem to be keeping their opposing superstars in check. Point is, that logic is so open to every team, it's ridiculous to even point out solely on Dallas.</div>I agree completely, it's kind of dumb to say they have to keep the other teams stars in check, that's with any team in the league. There is a reason why these guys are called stars, and why they are the best in the league. It's because sometimes it just doesn't matter what you do, they are going to score. The Suns are one of the teams in the league, that the other teams stars always go off against. So you can't call out the Mavericks for that and then not call out the Suns.Furthermore they tried to keep Davis in check, there was alot of times he shot with hands in his face, off balance and fading away and the shots just went in. I saw a good 5 or 6 of those, and there isn't much a defense can do against that, just get a hand in their face and hope they miss.

 

^That's just something that Nitro has been saying all year that really doesn't make sense because he says that about Dallas but not about any other teams that are playing well.Of course the mavs have to keep guys from scoring 35ppg over a series to win that series...but I think they can do it in most cases.And the guys that can average that many points, will do it against just about everyone.

 

I don't want to get my hopes up because I still expect Dallas in 6, but it would be such a joy to see Cuban's reaction if they lose. It would be like an early Christmas and birthday present all in one. I really want to see the teacher beat the student in the battle of the coaches and I really want to see Baron Davis move on. I hope it at least goes to 7.

 

Baron lit it up out there today, played a phenominal game. Overall, I don't think Dallas really expected this. Sure, they came out of the season record 0-3 to GS, but I think they (esp. Avery Johnson) underestimated the Warriors. Everyone looked a bit out of sync on the floor for Dallas, nothing was really working.Really interested in seeing what's going to happen in Game 2, and if the Mavs can stop GS from parading into the paint, and if Dirk can play with a double team for a whole series.

 

haha Mavs got owned. The Warriors impressed me

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 22 2007, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Spurs and Suns don't seem to be keeping their opposing superstars in check. Point is, that logic is so open to every team, it's ridiculous to even point out solely on Dallas.</div>Unlike the Spurs and Suns, the Mavs have no great lockdown perimeter defender. Yes, every team needs to worry about opposing superstars, but most of the top tier teams have a guy that can keep the opposing superstar guard/SF in check (keeping him at or near his averages).Suns have Bell/Marion, Spurs have Bowen (although he is deteriorating as a defender due to age, and that was evident tonight), Rockets have Battier, Jazz have AK-47, Detroit has Prince, Chicago has Hinrich, etc... Mavs have no one like this, and in the playoffs where guard play is flourishing more than ever, this will cause problems. It should have cost them against the Rockets 2 years back, did cost them vs the Heat last year, and if they cannot do a much better job on Davis it will cost them a series win vs an 8th seed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Unlike the Spurs and Suns, the Mavs have no great lockdown perimeter defender. Yes, every team needs to worry about opposing superstars, but most of the top tier teams have a guy that can keep the opposing superstar guard/SF in check (keeping him at or near his averages).Suns have Bell/Marion, Spurs have Bowen (although he is deteriorating as a defender due to age, and that was evident tonight), Rockets have Battier, Jazz have AK-47, Detroit has Prince, Chicago has Hinrich, etc... Mavs have no one like this, and in the playoffs where guard play is flourishing more than ever, this will cause problems. It should have cost them against the Rockets 2 years back, did cost them vs the Heat last year, and if they cannot do a much better job on Davis it will cost them a series win vs an 8th seed.</div>Honestly do you understand what I even said? You say in this game thread, if Mavs want to win a ring, they need to keep the superstar in check. Yet in the other contenders game threads(Suns/Spurs), you said jack sh*t and they had the same problem in that game. Keeping the superstar in check.

 

As far as I know Devin Harris has developed into exactly the type of lock down defender you keep saying Dallas doesn't have...and he normally guards bigger SG's unless he's playing against Tony P or someone like that.