<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Desperate times had befallen the Mavericks. So there was only one thing to do. "We got back into battle mode," said assistant coach Del Harris, "instead of protect mode." Even then, flipping the momentum of their series against Golden State wasn't easy. What ended up as a 112-99 thumping of the Warriors to level the best-of-7 first-round series at a win apiece was generated only with sweat, emotion and, yes, a little bit of fight. The Mavericks used an 11-0 streak in the third quarter to take charge behind Jason Terry's 28 points and Josh Howard's 22 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Dirk Nowitzki and Jerry Stackhouse, whose disappearing acts were primary reasons why the Mavericks had a clunker in Game 1, rebounded with solid performances. The Warriors, meanwhile, looked like the playoff novices as they lost their composure in the second half, when Game 1 hero Baron Davis, then Stephen Jackson were ejected with two technical fouls each.</div> Source
Yeah Jason Terry, Josh Howard, and Jerry Stackhouse really led the Mavericks in game two. The Mavericks played extremely good defense. I know I am probably one of the few, if not the only one, who thinks this; but I don't think Baron Davis really lost his composure. This is the only thing I disagree with this article but I suppose I am in the minoirty... But yeah, the game was won by that 3rd quarter run, especially to close it out. Even if Baron didn't get ejected he would have been walking on thin ice for most of the 4th with 5 fouls anyway. I also agree with the article talking about the bench or in particular Jerry Stackhouse. This series is going to be won by the bench. The first game of the series Matt Barnes showed up and made the important imprint on the game from the bench. The second game Stackhouse showed up and made his important imprint on the game, whereas Barnes, Pietrus and others had an off night. Well now we know both teams are going at it to win by fighting. Once the Warriors started to look a half-step slow(er) on loose balls that spelled trouble, because that is the area that the Warriors really prospered and got the advantage against the Mavs who looked just a little too slow in the first game.
I still don't feel like the Mavs played all that well in Game 2. Add in the bogus refereeing and the fact that the Warriors DID lose their composure (which hopefully Nelson will make sure doesn't happen again) and if I were a Mavs fan I wouldn't be feeling that great about the victory. They still managed to give away their home court advantage to a #8 seed. "Battle mode"? Meh. The Warriors can get that momentum right back in a big way with a Game 3 victory. But it's true, if the Warriors don't stay focused and keep it professional, which they did not in Game 2, they're in trouble. Monta and JRich need to step up and leave it all out there.
