My random Game 3 thoughts

That's more like it. You really gotta like what Nelson is doing. When Dallas big line up beat our small line up, Nelson never hesitate to throw our small line out, which was so successful for last 30 games, and put Biedrins back to the starting line up. Dallas twin tower had 3 pts, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 3 TOs and 6 fouls in 27 mins, while Biedrins dropped 10 pts, 10 rebounds, 1 block and 2 fouls in 20 mins. Richardson also decided to crash the party by dropping 30 pts. Hope Harrington and Pietrus decide to crash the party as well.

This series kinda remind me of Lakers-Pistons final. In terms of match up, we are really beating Dallas. If they go big, we bring Biedrins to circle them around. If they go small, we run them out of the gym. But, everybody expect Dallas to make a run sooner or later and thump us, like how people expected Lakers to whip Pistons at any moment. I am still not saying we will definitely win the series. But, so far, we matched Dallas and some.

That has been said, we must win next game as well and game 6 (if necessary). Because if we lose next game, everything will go back to the beginning. Hope we can maintain this advantage...

 

I gotta hand it to the crowd, they really fueled the Warriors. They were fantastic.

 

Damn, thats how the warriors wanted it to go in their first playoff home game , but not even this high of a score. Lets hope game 4 and 5 go to the warriors.

 

The MVP of this game I think were the fans. My god, Oakland made Miami fans and Dallas fans seem like they're going to see the opera. Then you add the style of play the Warriors were in. It seemed like there were six players on the court due to the Warriors style, a 7th player because of the fans, and man this was an impressive win.

Andris Biedrins was awesome. He proved how much of a force he is when he starts. When Andris comes off the bench it's usually not so impactful. But man, all ten points from Andris were huge. He made dunk after dunk, thanks to some awesome feeds.

And Jason Richardson, man that guy was good tonight. I don't feel like getting too high on JRich. Everytime I get sketpical about that guy, he comes out and plays like he did tonight. I think the team should trade him this offseason

Anywho, this makes the series 2-1. Two wins is nice, but this team is shooting for 4. So, this is all good, but they've got to keep on their toes and keep their court awareness and get ready for a bloody good game on Sunday with some more counter adjustments by Dallas. And yes, Al Harrington, please show up on Sunday. I think Andris ought to start, it just makes the lineup/roster that more productive since I don't think there is much of a difference between Harrington starting and off the bench as there is with Andris. Also with how Harrington has been starting and playing, anything out of him would be a plus. Also Pietrus, what is up with him? Right now since the team is up in the series maybe it keeps his value down this offseason so if Nelson wants him back it may be easier to do so, but he really needs to turn it around. He got some hustle plays today but he's been making negative plays just about everywhere.

But hey, every player who played more than 10 minutes besides Barnes got 1 block. That is a pretty neat stat. Obviously these players have eachother's backs. I think it's interesting how the foul distribution usually comes out. They usually go around the roster in succession sometimes it seems. Baron gets a foul, then Jackson, then Barnes, then etc. I guess it's part of being smart on the court, knowing when to be aggressive and poking and knowing how to be like a team and step it up to fill teammates' in foul trouble roles on the court.

This was a sweet game. Sunday should be a dogfight though. It's going to be a crucial and fun game. Hopefully this team defends the home court which equals series victory.

 

Awesome. I have nothing more to say.

 

Okay, I have more to say.

Pietrus and Harrington need to step it up. Once they do, the Warriors will have shown Dallas what the W's can really do.

Jon Barry made a good point during the game about how the Warriors were dominating even without making their three's. Well, Harrington and Pietrus are two of the Warrior's most efficient three-point shooters, so let's get it going guys!

 

haha, Don Nelson is happy to prove Charles Barkley wrong. But basically the same ol' same ol' from Nelson in his post game conference. He says the Warriors are not a good team, and needs everything they can get from the fans. The Warriors have lots of experience losing by piling up 40 losses this season. And basically they have to take it one game at a time, and when they get away from that then they find trouble. Also he notes that Dallas will play their best game on Sunday and so must the Warriors if they wish to have a chance. Oh and the team will celebrate only tonight but get back to work tomorrow morning.

Dirk and AJ though...well they sound a bit confused. The Warriors benefited from a quiet night from Jason Terry, Josh Howard, and Jerry Stackhouse. Those three players seem like the engine for that ball-club.

 

10-30, 4-20, 6-23 from 3 pts. Total 20-73, 27.4%. Knowing how we live and die by 3 pts, we would think those 3 games should have been blow outs. But, we managed to win 2 games with our defense of all thing, and we really never had our A offense game yet. Guess we can use 12-25 from 3 pts type of games for next few games Harrington and Pietrus. You guys are also welcome to jump in anytime...

 

My wife's dad fell into 2 primo tickets at the last minute (it must have been destiny) and he took me to the game -- we sat in section 127, right above the tunnel where the players came out.

I am eternally grateful that I was able to be a part of this tonight. We made history at the Oracle on April 27, 2007.

From the moment that Stern gave Monta his MIP award, and the crowd literally deafened the entire state of California with their love for Monta, it never let up. It was a sea of yellow, a vibrating, deafening, eruption of 13 years of anticipation from a record crowd of over 20,000 unified fans, every momement, every minute, all night. It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never forget tonight. Thank you, Warriors. Thank you, fans.


WARRRRRRRRRIOORRRRSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Damn, what a fun game. Freaking Sjax man! Is there a better fit for the team when it comes to his mismatch of quickness and strength at shooting guard or small forward? The announcers sometimes say he should not drive, but who else does it better than him at 6 foot 8?

Not only did he get 8 rebounds, he got 6 assists, and nevermind his turnovers because he got to the foul line a whole bunch of times shooting 80%. He gets a steal and a block. Wow, I think guys like him and Baron make the team a whole lot better. It allows non-playmaking or shotcreating guys like Jrich to do much better. Jrich was pretty impressive. I kind of wish he did not take so many threes, but somebody has to make them or else there wont be any floor spacers.

Biedrins did great, Barnes did pretty well in small doses, and Harrington did a good job getting to the foul line, but he's gotta hit those free throws...

Pietrus... gawd that guy stank. Sure he gets offensive rebounds a block or a steal, but he's always fouling, walking, doing something retarded. Gah... We're lucky it wasn't a close game because man his pinheaded ways could cost the team a win.

 

Congrats on the win. You guys are 2 wins away from proving me wrong.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">My wife's dad fell into 2 primo tickets at the last minute (it must have been destiny) and he took me to the game -- we sat in section 127, right above the tunnel where the players came out.

I am eternally grateful that I was able to be a part of this tonight. We made history at the Oracle on April 27, 2007.

From the moment that Stern gave Monta his MIP award, and the crowd literally deafened the entire state of California with their love for Monta, it never let up. It was a sea of yellow, a vibrating, deafening, eruption of 13 years of anticipation from a record crowd of over 20,000 unified fans, every momement, every minute, all night. It was UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never forget tonight. Thank you, Warriors. Thank you, fans.


WARRRRRRRRRIOORRRRSSS!!!!!!!!!!!</div>

I heard ticketmaster.com released some tickets in the lower bowl at the last minute, too. The game was supposedly sold out. Did your FIL score a pair of those.

I didn't know about Monta's MIP award, so that was a pleasant surprise and also seeing Commissioner Stern in Oakland. I gotta go back to the Giants' playoff and World Series games at SBC Park to match the level of excitement, but can't remember a game where the fans were on their feet so much of the game and yelling so LOUD. There were two separate Mavs fans near our section and they were immediately pointed out and booed before the game and then there were the Let's Go Warriors chants 10 mins or so before the game!

There were some really memorable plays. Monta's drive to the basket and then JRich breaking his fall and them both sliding backwards along the baseline. Baron's drive and under the arm layup against Dirk. JRich's 3 near the end of the half (?). Andris Biedrins drive to the basket and dunk against Dirk. There was No Fear in the Warriors as they continued to run and attack the hoop against the bigger Mavs. The Mavs changed up and did more screen and roll during the second half, but they just could not get it rolling. The Warriors just kept attacking and scoring inside fueled by rocking fans. I just saw Dirk's expression on the bench this morning. He just looked really spooked. That was priceless.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">After Baron and Biedrins hes the third most important player to the team.</div>

I left out SJax in my props for the game. He was great as the playmaker and really put pressure on the Mavs as it left Baron and JRich to roam. I wasn't watching his D that much, but it sounds like he was doing his job there, too.

Speaking of which, JRich and Baron are the two most important players. Jax is probably third and AB and Monta are our cornerstones for the future. I'm not sure what games you guys who put Monta and AB ahead are watching.

Also, you can't forget AL. While he's not the big offensive force we thought he'd be, he's doing the things to help the Warriors get wins. Also, he's the guy playing center and different positions and roles to take advantage of the mismatches. We already seen the futility that was with Foyle, Murphy, or Ike.

You were complaining the loudest about not having team chemistry. Now, we got it so I wouldn't tinker with it (Don Nelson tinkered with Run TMC and even though he improved the wins the next season, the chemistry wasn't there).

I think we can add Matt Barnes to this group, too, off the bench. The current team is Baron, JRich, Jax, and AL. AB and Monta are the future. Barnes comes off the bench.

 

I still think yall are going to lose the series, It will be in 7, but yall will probably lose because of the inexperience on that game 7, pressure will come. I really like Golden State, but I think Dallas if they go down 3-1 or what they are right now it will give them more of a swagger to strike back even more because they won 66-67 games in the season so I dont think they want to lose in the first round, but if yall do win the series, gl with yall against Houston in the second round, I dont think you can beat us though, I am not worried too much about the second round because we can beat both Golden State and Dallas.

 

<div class="quote_poster">tracymcgrady_01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I still think yall are going to lose the series, It will be in 7, but yall will probably lose because of the inexperience on that game 7, pressure will come. I really like Golden State, but I think Dallas if they go down 3-1 or what they are right now it will give them more of a swagger to strike back even more because they won 66-67 games in the season so I dont think they want to lose in the first round, but if yall do win the series, gl with yall against Houston in the second round, I dont think you can beat us though, I am not worried too much about the second round because we can beat both Golden State and Dallas.</div>

I am not sure how a swaggar and a late growing "want" will push the Mavericks over the top against the Warriors. The matchup between the two teams, regardless of the teams' regular season records have been quite lop-sided. But you are entitled to your opinion and your prediction.

Plus, I agree about the Rockets being a very good team. Whoever Houston plays in the second round should be a decent matchup but regardless of who they play in the second round they have TMac and Yao along with guys like Battier to give any team fits. However if it is the Warriors who make it to the second round to face the Rockets, I believe the Warriors gave Yao a bunch of trouble the last time these teams faced each other. However I don't think TMac was playing, so, that may cause for different outcomes. Hopefully we will be able to see a Warriors/Rockets matchup in the second round.

 

The Commish was at the game last night and here's what he said

When was he here before last night? I think it was when Oakland hosted the all-star game years ago.

Stern happy to see Warriors break playoff jinx
April 27, 2007

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Even NBA commissioner David Stern has caught Golden State Warriors playoff fever.

Stern attended Golden State's first home playoff game in 13 years, saying he was excited to see the team's postseason drought end and that it was a validation of the league's desire to give all franchises a chance to compete.

"With respect to Golden State, yes it's exciting for the team to be in the playoffs," Stern said before Game 3 of Golden State's first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. "Yes, they have the most loyal fans through thick and thin. And yes, it's been a little thin of late. Do I like it? I love it."

Golden State's playoff-starved fans did as well. With most of the crowd decked out in yellow T-shirts saying "We Believe," the Warriors were expecting the biggest crowd ever for an NBA game in California.

Golden State hadn't been to the playoffs since 1994. The team traded 1993 No. 1 overall pick Chris Webber the following season after he clashed with coach Don Nelson, dealt with the aftermath of Latrell Sprewell choking coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997, and made a series of personnel moves that didn't pan out.

"We watch and honestly we thought that the franchise was a little bit snake bitten in terms of some things that didn't work out for them in the way the team was broken up and the way they tried to do things," Stern said. "We saw ownership really trying hard to do what seemed to be conventional wisdom and intelligent to do and it didn't work. That sometimes happens. We're glad that they so-called broke the jinx."

In other topics, Stern said:

-- The league has the power to suspend players who have not been convicted of crimes like the NFL did with Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, but that "our history has been that for us the way to go is to await the outcome of the judicial proceeding."

-- He was pleased with the new 19-year age requirement in the league and would consider seeking to raise that by a year in the next collective bargaining agreement.

-- He had not talked directly with suspended referee Joey Crawford, but planned to do that over the summer. Stern said he also hoped that Crawford would return to officiating.

-- He hoped to have a proposal for a new arena in Sacramento before the start of next season.

-- He would like to punish players for flopping in hopes of drawing an offensive foul, but the competition committee was not interested in addressing that topic at its latest meeting.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Kwan1031 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This series kinda remind me of Lakers-Pistons final. In terms of match up, we are really beating Dallas. If they go big, we bring Biedrins to circle them around. If they go small, we run them out of the gym. But, everybody expect Dallas to make a run sooner or later and thump us, like how people expected Lakers to whip Pistons at any moment. I am still not saying we will definitely win the series. But, so far, we matched Dallas and some.</div>

Awesome analogy Kwan.

With Dampier on the court, the Warriors just seemed like they had a 5 on 4 advantage due to Biedrins' athleticism. I remember Andris sprinted/ran the floor for a fast break/trailing dunk (a sweet one as well). Even though Dampier was still on the other end of the court, the Mavericks took it up pretty slowly and once they had the ball in the front court again, Biedrins had been ready to play defense on Dampier because of his mobility. Another example of a play like this was on a turnover on Dirk out of bounds in the second half, and Dirk followed by about two other Maverick players put their heads down started to walk, while the Warriors passed it to the ref quickly, the ref passed it back to the Warriors player and soon-enough it was about a 3 or 4 on 1 or 2 for the Warriors where I think Croshere had to foul Stephen Jackson on the layup attempt that he unfortunately missed because I don't think it was a very hard foul. But anyway, then you had the fans, which made it seem like it was 6 on 4 or 7 on 5. I think the home crowd has a lot to do with how refs control the flow as well and call games I think. Referring to that play I mentioned about Dirk putting his head down and walking, it was good to see the ref let the Warriors in-bound the ball quickly to control the pace of the game instead of holding the ball and letting the Mavericks get back, which takes the pace away from the Warriors.

It was good to see the Warriors contain Jason Terry and Josh Howard during game 3 as well. Those two guys are the engines of the Mavericks team, in my opinion. I think Matt Barnes did a solid job guarding Jason Terry a few possessions. But I can't remember who was guarding the two for the majority of the game. Also due to how the Warriors controlled the pace, it really made the Mavericks look like the Warriors in game 2. It just seemed like they forgot how to pass and decided to go one-on-one too much. I am still wondering when or if the Mavericks are going to take Chuck's suggestion of posting up Dirk more... I think the 3 second calls the Mavericks kept picking up was another indicator of just how out-of-it the Mavs were last night. The T's were interesting as well. ESPN didn't seem to give any footage of what they were doing, but I guess the Mavs were just arguing a lot. But that's another example of the fans influencing the game I think.

 

Avery Johnson has been outcoached in this series.