<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I really like Barnes though, he's a great hustle guy. Kind of reminds me of 2007 version Dennis Rodman, although that might be due to his eccentric ways. Either way, fun player to watch and cheer for.</div> I agree.. The Rodman of 2007. Also this team is atheletic beyond imagination. Very nice talent. This is a future elitle team for sure and Monta is a future superstar.
<div class="quote_poster">The Legend Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I agree.. The Rodman of 2007. Also this team is atheletic beyond imagination. Very nice talent. This is a future elitle team for sure and Monta is a future superstar.</div> Along with the Bulls this is the most athletic team in the league. And they have one of the best on-the-court leaders. I think they will beat Dallas BUT they will be out in the next round simply because beating Dallas will take so much out of them psychologically that they willl feel like they won the championship whereas the team they meet in the 2nd round will just be getting geared up. Most times when you slay a giant you have nothing left in the tank. Not that I've slayed many giants myself, but I understand the psychology of it However, the Barnes-Rodman comparison? David Lee is more the Rodman of this era than Matt Barnes.
<div class="quote_poster">jason voorhees Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">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> Actually, he has a friend who is close with the VP of Washington Mutual. The VP always gives this guy tickets, and he just happened to mention it at the perfect time. Crazy luck -- I kind of feel like it was destiny, like I deserved those tickets after staying through thick and thin with GS over the last 12 years. It was awesome to share that with the other 20,000, and you too JV. We also had 2 Mavs fans in our section (right above the Warriors' tunnel. They stood up and cheered for Dirk's first three made jumpers... then they sat with their heads in thier laps for the next 3 1/2 quarters. We sat is a family section too, I was next to one of the coaches wives (I think it was Keith Smart's wife) and two baby girls. One of the little girls kept hitting my leg with those plastic thunder sticks. Cute. I also had no clue Monta was being presented with the award. I got butterflies the moment it got dark and I realized what was happening. The fans BLEW THE ROOF off the arena, it felt like he was everyone's little brother, and it felt like the cheering wouldn't stop. In fact, the fans remained standing throught the pre-game intros, the anthem, opening tip, and into the first few minutes of the game. Then, on almost every play, we were back on our feet. I think I lost my voice. For those of us who weren't there, I can't really explain how special it was, other than to say I now officially believe the crowd affects the outcome of the game. The Warriors players rode a surging tidal wave of fan energy --- WE BELIEVE!!! And it was pretty awesome.
<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Avery Johnson has been outcoached in this series.</div> That may be the case to a degree. I just think the Warriors look like the stronger team right now. What is that saying? you get stronger when you overcome adversity. The Warriors have 13 years of adversity that they have overcome being in the playoffs alone. This roster specifically overcame a lot of adversity including their finish, having their coach question why he thought this team could make the playoffs, etc. Furthermore it appears that the Warriors are more versatile, in particular in their game plan. The Mavericks have probably played the same defense and offense for the most part throughout the season. Whereas the Warriors have switched up their defense and offense quite a bit including mainly playing zone, changing the types of zones they played during the season, to finishing the season by playing some better man-to-man defense. I mean even in this series the Warriors have been able to go from starting Harrington to starting Biedrins and change their style just a little but still get good production. Because of all of these factors in particular how the Warriors are able to throw so many different looks at the Mavericks, I just think the Warriors and Don Nelson have more options and strategies to disrupt the Mavericks. Also it seems as if the Warriors had the better offseason conditioning sessions as well, as the Warriors look much better conditioned than the Mavericks. Also Don Nelson knowing Dirk Nowitzki so well is a big factor. However I think Avery Johnson has used some advantages himself from playing with the Warriors not too long ago (though maybe only JRich, Pietrus, and Foyle are the remaining Warriors from that team along with a short stint possibly with Baron Davis). He knows that Jason Richardson can't dribble and the Mavs have been giving Jason fits when he touches the ball. I remember last game Josh Howard just came by from the weak side when Jason was penetrating and just took the ball from him, seemingly as if he knows JRich has trouble handling the ball. Also the Baron vs. Dirk factor is a problem that I don't know how Avery Johnson fixes. Baron is dominating like a MVP whereas Dirk is just confused and lost. It seemed as if Avery Johnson was very upset with Dirk's defense and rebounding in particular last game. Since when one of the media people asked what Avery thought about Dirk's offense, he mentioned how he needs his whole team and Dirk to not just play offense but "defense and offense and offense and defense."
This is great not only for the Warriors and the Bay Area but for the whole NBA. Every year in the NBA, the top teams kill all the other teams in the playoffs. In other sports like baseball there is always the possibilty of an the worst team in the playoffs going to the world series.Upsets almost never occur in the NBA playoffs, which is why I like March Madness better. If more series were like this, the playoffs would be a lot better.
