Warriors @ Mavericks Game Thread 12/14/04

Warriors (6- 14) @ Mavericks (14-8)

Warriors Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Speedy Claxton
SG: Jason Richardson
SF: Mike Dunleavy
PF: Troy Murphy
C: Cliff Robinson

Warriors Keys To Winning:

If the Warriors are to win this game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors are going to need real good defense to stop Dirk Nowitzki and his team the Dallas Mavericks who have players from the bench and in the starting lineup. Speedy Claxton will also need to have a big game like the one he had against the Bobcats on Sunday. Troy Murphy will have to match or beat Dirk Nowitzki in both defense and offense to really have a good game.

Warriors Key Bench Players:

Mickael Pietrus and Eduardo Najera are going to come up big from the bench tonight. Najera will be playing his former team once again and will be a key factor based on how he plays against his old team. Mickael Pietrus will get more playing time tonight since Derek Fisher is injured tonight will get more time at the small forward since Dunleavy the regular small forward will get more time at the point. Pietrus will have to contain Finley and Stack house tonight and have a lot of clutch plays tonight to be a huge factor for the Warriors


Mavericks Projected Starting Lineup:


PG: Darrel Armstrong
SG: Michael Finley
SF: Josh Howard
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Erick Dampier


Mavericks Keys To Winning:

To win this game the Mavs will have to have a big game from Dirk Nowitzki who is matched up against Troy Murphy who is easily capable of getting a double - double against many teams. If the Mavs can get ahead of the Warriors early, this game is the Mavs'. The Mavs can easily wear down Calbert Cheany, Mike Dunleavy, and Mickael Pietrus with their duo of Josh Howard and Marqius Daniels. The Mavs also are equiped with Jerry Stackhouse once Michael Finley gets tired or is in foul trouble. They also have Jason Terry and Darrel Armstrong a duo sure to tire the Warrior guards.

Mavericks Key Bench Players:

The Mavericks have an incredible bench, but there are two players that really stand out. Marquis Daniels and Jerry Stackhouse. Stackhouse was at one point the starting small forward for the Wizards and Pistons and in one season averaged 29.8 points per game in a season. Marquis Daniels has been playing great this year both of the bench and as starter. He is good at stripping people of the ball and is only in his first year in the NBA.

Player Of The Game:
Speedy Claxton 13 points, 7 steals, and 12 assists

Prediction

Warriors by 3. 102 to 99.

 

Nowitzki held in check so far near the end of second quarter. He only has 4 points. Too bad warriors up only 6 now.

Jrich needs to score better if the warriors are going to hold on and win. I fear a 4th quarter collapse, similar to pheonix game.

Good preview, but I hope your prediction is wrong. So far so good.

 

Dirk Nowitzki is near the top of my list of favorite players, but I really want the Warriors to win this one.

 

Good Preview btw. I like what Pietrus is showing so far, but I think the Mavs are going to start getting hot in the second quarter. Offense from Dunleavy and Richardson is pretty poor, but Cliffy and Claxton have been pretty hot and that's making the difference (Claxton has six assists already). Anyone see that dunk by Murphy? That was sweet! Also Pietrus had a putback dunk but they waived it off because they called it basket interference. What a bunch of b.s. The key to this game will be Claxton and Murphy/Dunleavy I think because Murphy and Dunleavy will be guarding or going against Nowitizki and Claxton will be creating that offense for either Dunleavy or Murphy. Dunleavy might create his own if Nowitzki is guarding him but the dude's been pretty poor at finishing around the rim.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Dirk Nowitzki is near the top of my list of favorite players, but I really want the Warriors to win this one. </div>


Yay. A Laker fan who wants the Warriors to win

 

Warriors have a 14 point lead mid way through the 3rd quarter, looking good.

 

Pietrus is personally responsible for losing this lead.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting wtwalker77:</div><div class="quote_post">Pietrus is personally responsible for losing this lead.</div>
How? I cant watch the game. Can you explain wtwalker77?

I'm glad I'll be back home in the bay area so I can watch some games. I may go to hte Wizards game. GO! wizards. I mean Warriors.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Gohn:</div><div class="quote_post">How? I cant watch the game. Can you explain wtwalker77?

I'm glad I'll be back home in the bay area so I can watch some games. I may go to hte Wizards game. GO! wizards. I mean Warriors.</div>
They've got most of their one time 17 point lead back, so I'm not as mad, but the Mavs went on a run and Pietrus was responsible for a lot of it.

Dallas did a pg/sf pick and roll and Pietrus didn't pick up Armstrong which led to a wide open lay up. Then Pietrus missed a three. Then he let Stackhouse get deep position in the post and get an easy score. Then he was involved in a Warriors turnover.

He's playing much better now (though he just bricked two free throws), but it's his low basketball IQ that really gets to me sometimes.

 

NOOOO. Come on Warriors...

 

here comes the choke job.

I

 

And Jrich drops the bomb! Booyah! Over Shawn Bradley, the most posterized center in the league, too.

 

I know I'm not supposed to swear on this boards, so kids, don't read this:

Richardson, Damn.

Gohn, you'll be happy. Robinson missed a jumper and Richardson threw down one of THE BEST follow up dunks I've ever seen.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting wtwalker77:</div><div class="quote_post">I know I'm not supposed to swear on this boards, so kids, don't read this:

Richardson, Damn.

Gohn, you'll be happy. Robinson missed a jumper and Richardson threw down one of THE BEST follow up dunks I've ever seen.</div>

Oh great. I missed it. I really need to get league pass.
THanks for descrbing it. But its justs not the smae as seeing it.

 

Trust me, you'll see it on Sportscenter.

 

The great thing about this win is that this is the first time this season that the Warriors didn't fold down the stretch. This is a true character builder for them.

 

Wh saw that J rich posterization? WOW!!! When he made that I was rolling ! Just another person on the "dunked on Bradley list" perhaps this is the nastiest. A a crucial putback dunk on a 7'6 player I thought my eyes were deceiving me! Any time I watch a nationally televised game it is always exciting. Good job TNT nad NBATV

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting wtwalker77:</div><div class="quote_post">Trust me, you'll see it on Sportscenter.</div>

I also dont have cable or even regular channels

It looks like their going to win though.

I like how they spread the shots around today. I'm looking at box score very good disturbtion.

Also Pietrus 20 minutes 20 points.

 

YAY! Warriors WIN! (tied for my second fav team)

 

Man would I be pissed if the Warriors lost this game. For all you guys who've seen the game, how many botched calls against the Warriors were there? Warriors would've won going away easy. Aren't we beginning to see the kind of Warriors we were envisioning that would be right now? I guess Derek Fisher really messes up the run n gun system.