PLAYOFF OPEN THREAD: Game 1 - Warriors @ Dallas - It's Time

by Fantasy Junkie on Apr 22, 2007 10:13 AM PDT in Previews

Warriors (W-L): 0-0

Mavericks (W-L): 0-0

Time: 6:30pm PST

TV: FSN Bay Area, TNT

Radio: KNBR 680

This is it. This is what we've been waiting for. You know the Warriors' history, you know the record vs the Mavs. We're not just happy to be here, we're here to take care of business. It's time.

Dallas will most definitely come out strong. They have the home crowd behind them and want to send a statement to the Warriors. The Mavs will try to get the Warriors to think that Dubs don't belong in the playoffs by trying to put them away early. Dirk and Josh Howard will be the ones who lead that charge. They're the top 2 players on the team and will set the tone for the entire squad. So expect a flurry of action right from the tip off.

The Mavs have been here before plenty of times, so their first game jitters will be reduced. Nobody in the Warriors' locker room is afraid of the Mavs, but I don't expect the Warriors to come out hot and they'll surely have some jitters. But they need to withstand a hot Dallas start by playing strong D. They need to be the ones who set the tone by locking guys up on defense and just playing their style of game.

The crowd will be loud, louder than the Warriors have probably heard before. The longer the Dubs show that they belong the more scared the crowd will get. They need to take the crowd out of the game by not allowing many dunks, 3's, and big plays.

Some of the key matchups:

Stephen Jackson vs Dirk Nowitzki: Everyone talks about how Jax will be the one who gives Dirk trouble when Dirk has the ball, but if Dirk has to guard Jax, he'll need to expend a lot of energy there as well. Jax is too quick for Dirk to guard straight up, so Jax could have a big game is his shot is on.

Warriors guards vs Devean George and Greg Buckner: The national media and Maverick fans keep talking about how great these two Dallas players are on defense. They were specifically brought in for defense this year. I'll be curious to see how well they do play D. If they are successful in slowing down the Warrior guards it will be a long long night. But I don't expect them to be able to match the speed and strength of the Warriors guards. Baron is just too good to be shut down by one of these guys. Even if his shot isn't falling, Baron can still create for others like he has been the past 20 games.

Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus vs themselves: These two have been great of late, but can get a little overzealous at times. They need to play within their abilities and not try to do too much. If that three isn't falling for either of them, then they need to take the ball to the rack. Most importantly, they need to take care of business on the defensive end. If they play great D, it'll open up fast break opportunities for easy buckets. In order to win the bench will have to bring it and when these two play great, the Warriors win.

Don Nelson vs Avery Johnson: Teacher vs pupil. Avery has advanced farther in the playoffs than Nellie has ever done but Nellie knows the players on this Dallas team. Most importantly, he knows Dirk and if he can slow down or frustrate Dirk, he'll slow down the Mavs. Avery on the other hand has options, he can try to match the Warriors' small ball or he can slow the game down and bring in his two headed center of Damp and Diop. The chess match begins tonight.

Tonight is the moment we've all been waiting for. The Warriors aren't scared of anybody and will fight the entire 48 minutes. The Mavs aren't a 67 win team by luck. This game will be tough, but the Dubs are up to the task. It's time.

Special thanks to Five Ten Entertainment for another amazing video. This should pump you up for today's game.

Vegas odds: Mavericks by 9.5 (as of 9:26 am pst)

Predictions:

Warriors steal game 1 with a 3 point win
JRich loves Dallas. Even though he hasn't played a single playoff game, he'll be big tonight. He's your Warrior Wonder for game 1.
Baron and Jax have big games to lead the team and show the guys with no playoff experience how to get it done.

Make sure to give us your predictions in the comments before tip off and post any comments you have during the game right here.

GO WARRIORS!!!

Update: Be sure to check out the Mavs Moneyball open thread to view the game form their perspective.

Update 2: Live Yahoo Boxscore

Dubs Win 97-85!!!

Stay tuned for the Recap!

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Comments

Keys to the Game + Predictions

Keys

Hit those shots. The Mavs are going to hit theirs, so it's imperative that the Warriros hit them too.
Play Warrior tempo. The Mavs are going to want to run a lot of half court sets. Don't fall into the trap of slowing down the pace. The Mavs can win playing half court offensive sets, the Warriors can't.
Score after they score. After the Mavs score, push the ball up fast and get some easy buckets. Damp and Diop are too slow to get back on D quickly.
Throw a lot of different looks at Dirk and confuse him. Go straight up with Jax, throw BD at him when he's at the 3pt line, go zone, have Al front him down low if he tries to post up.

Predictions

Warriors by 3
2 out of these 3- Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, and Monta Ellis- will post up HUGE numbers
Dirk gets 25+, but Jax and the rest of the Warriors make him work for it
Damp plays less than 15 minutes
Harrington drops 4 treys.
The Warrior fans in Dallas represent to the fullest for all of us in the Bay and elsewhere.

by Atma Brother ONE on Apr 22, 2007 10:38 AM PDT 0 recs

amen to that

atma brother one knows his dubs

by CatchAndShoot on Apr 22, 2007 10:51 AM PDT up 0 recs

My Adds

My concerns:

Josh Howard -- am I the only one concerned about him? Who guards him if he's on the floor with Dirk and a big?

Biedrins -- I love the guy, but he tailed off at the end when Nellie started holding him out until the second quarter. Because of Howard, I expect we'll need to see a lot of AB, and he hasn't had a really strong game in weeks. Nellie needs to drink a few scotches to figure out how to use him well in this series.

Fouls -- I suspect the Mavs will move quickly to get Jack in foul trouble, probably by having Dirk drive early and a lot.

BD -- has been just superb this last month, but he's the guy who needs to get the team to drive when the jump shots stop falling. He's done a really good job of that lately, but he needs to keep it up.

Running -- the only chance our guys have is to run Dallas into the ground, which they've convinced me they can do. (The W's may have the fastest starting five EVER; really, name a starting five that could run with these guys -- including the Suns and Mavs, the Showtime Lakers or even Run TMC.) But that means using eight guys, so AB, MP and Barnes have to play fast and still play within themselves.

Injuries -- we've been incredibly blessed over the past six weeks: no injuries on a team playing pretty much full out. Can it continue?

Bottom line, if we can stay healthy, control Howard and keep Dirk from exploding on us we've got a chance. But those are big ifs.

Good game thoughts

I do agree that a lot of the Warrior faithful are overlooking Josh Howard. This guy was an All Star for a reason. Just curious, why do you think Biedrins can help negate Howard?

I think an important point you touched on is the fouls. This is not the time for those quick 3 fouls in 7 minutes that the Warriors too often pick up. Nellie was work the substitutions, but the guys on the court have to play smart and not pick up dumb fouls.

by Atma Brother ONE on Apr 22, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

Good question

Why is AB key when Howard's on the floor -- which I expect to be a lot? (Remember, the W's have not really seen Howard yet this year: he was injured for games one and two, and "held out" by Johnson -- smart move -- on Tuesday. So they're totally unprepared for him.) If the Mavs play Dirk, Howard and a big (either Dampier or Diop), Jack can stay with Dirk, but AH will HAVE to switch to Howard if, as I suspect, none of the guards can handle him. The only alternative is to try a combo of MP and Barnes, and I fear Howard will eat them alive -- or force quick fouls, especially by MP. AH, on the other hand, has grown defensively by leaps and bounds over the past two months; he's gotten very good.

So, I think ultimately they need to put Jack and AH onto Dirk and Howard (tho they can switch), leaving the Mavs' big unguarded. Presto: Biedrins has to do the job, and he's the best fit, ultimately. (Now if Nellie can somehow drive the Dallas bigs off the floor, it's a different ballgame, but I suspect Avery's got something up his sleeve here. We all know how smart Nellie is, but watch how AJ coaches: he's really quite clever, and very good on substitutions.)

My fear is that since the W's have gone small the past month, the one thing Nellie's failed to do is figure out how to keep AB in the game and use him effectively -- since his play has really regressed. (Recall last Sunday's game, Atma, when AB inexplicably missed several short shots and didn't crash the boards as he had two months ago.)

Thus, for me, and assuming the W's stay uninjured and keep playing fast, using their hands on defense, and shooting well, it'll come down to how we stop Howard (since Dirk's going to get his, as will Terry, as will Stack) -- and I think, ultimately, AB has to be the key to that play. I know, I know. . . . From my lips to God's ear. . . but that's the way I see it.

In sum, I'd love to see them win today, but I don't anticipate it. (Hope I'm wrong -- and I remember well the '75 team, which played alot like this one.) If we can figure out how to control Howard today, though, I think we can do alright over the series. Let's see.

by johnl on Apr 22, 2007 12:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus vs themselves:

lol that's classic.

Once again, great preview FJ. And that 5-10 video is hot! Wow, I haven't slept a wink last night, had nightmare after nightmare, I cannot wait for this to happen!

If War brings Peace, Dubz' wit it then!

by gsdubz on Apr 22, 2007 10:39 AM PDT 0 recs

The Factor

JRich will play with great joy in his heart!

I had a dream that I was waiting for a game at Mosswood and Stephen Jackson came and sat next to me. I gave him props for his accomplishments and he kept it cool. Things got weird after that, but the first part seemed very realistic. I think the Warrior Nation is channeling vibes across the globe!

Getting spiritual here!

GO DUBS!!!!

by walkerp on Apr 22, 2007 10:41 AM PDT 0 recs

dang man

sickass video.

LETS GO DUBS

by CatchAndShoot on Apr 22, 2007 10:44 AM PDT 0 recs

Wow!

That is an amazing compilation. Mad props to Five Ten. Tonight is the night...

by Hash on Apr 22, 2007 11:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

Pietrus

was great against the Mavs in the regular season. He was the Warriors leading scorer agains the Mavericks. I hope he brings his best out tonight. He is playing for his next contract now so he will be looking for a big playoffs.

by MP2Fan on Apr 22, 2007 10:59 AM PDT 0 recs

the New Pietrus

Made a great inside pass in one of the last games, that the old pietrus would never have been able to do. AirFrance has arrived!!

by Skeptic con Urquell on Apr 22, 2007 11:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm just about to head out

to Dallas to get ready to cheer on the WARRIORS!

My Predictions:

Maurice Ager and Devean George aren't all that they're cracked up to be.
Mikael Pietrus gets more playing time than usual, since he has a knack against the Mavs.
Matt Barnes has a subpar game, due to his mohawk.
Garry St. Jean hits himself in the head several times thinking of what could've been.
The Warriors start out strong and put the Mavs away, so the 4th quarter is Adonal time!!!!!!
The Mavs are angry and win Game 2.

If anyone wants to meet me, I'll be outside of Sect. 124 at 7:30 CST.

Anyway, GO WARRIORS! LOOK FOR ME ON TV!

With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on Apr 22, 2007 11:19 AM PDT 0 recs

I'm just about to head out

Have a safe trip and a rockin good time.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Apr 22, 2007 11:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

Moe Ager

Won't get off the bench in this series. Even JJ Barea is ahead of him on the depth chart.

_Mavs fan- here to talk basketball, not smack._

by BrodyV on Apr 22, 2007 11:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

its sunday

and that means Warriors fans unite. Doesn't sound like the media is giving us much of a chance, let's prove that we deserve to be here, and that we really do OWN the Mavs. Is it 6:30 yet?

Playoff Rally 2006-2007

by tadams1080 on Apr 22, 2007 11:28 AM PDT 0 recs

thank god i'm at work until 6:00

because I would be in agony waiting for the game otherwise. Is anyone else excited to see Super Baron Davis tonight? The way he can play sometimes when he's fired up, well I just hope tonight he makes a statement to the Mavs. We are a great team together, and it will be exciting, but having Baron there ensures we will give it our all.

LETS GO WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by TheTallLimey on Apr 22, 2007 11:30 AM PDT 0 recs

this sucks

it's sunday and I have to wait. I planned to sleep all day until the warriors game, I guess I have to do my Homework while waiting.
Go Warriors!

by chili01 on Apr 22, 2007 11:43 AM PDT 0 recs

i stayed up until

5am finishing crackdown so i would not have to feel that way, but i am not liking this lakers game so now i want to sleep some more...

by stedanko on Apr 22, 2007 2:16 PM PDT up 0 recs

Let's Go

We could do this fellas.

by maybenextyear on Apr 22, 2007 12:10 PM PDT 0 recs

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

make another game thread when this one gets over a couple hundred comments!. With all the big sigs, the page is impossible to manage! THANKS!

RIP mAC dRE aka aNDrE mACAsSi aka MuHaMMeD I-E aka pILL cLinToN

by jmefrisco on Apr 22, 2007 12:13 PM PDT 0 recs

shock the world

Hope that we don't get too jittery out there. Dictate the pace and run run run Dallas into the ground. I can't believe I woke up at 7. This is the most excruciating 11 hours of my life. Shock the world Warriors!

by Caught Backcourt on Apr 22, 2007 12:21 PM PDT 0 recs

my keys to the game

CONTROL THE TEMPO: the warriors need to take advantage of fast break opportunites every time we can. they're not good enough on either end of the court to play dallas half court to half court. they need to get after it on defense and get some steals that will fuel the fast break.

CLEAR THE GLASS: dampier and diau are useless except for one thing: rebounding. the warriors need to make sure they are completely useless. clearing the class may also lead to fast breaks which in turn will make dampier and diau stay on the bench.

KNOCK DOWN OPEN JUMPERS: this is key to every game the warriors play since they're a jump shooting team, but it's especially key in a playoff road game. the shots will likely be there due to either baron's penetration or the fast break, they just need to find the bottom of the net.

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 12:26 PM PDT 0 recs

edit

diop not diau

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 12:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

okay.

If the Warriors win game 1, all bets are off.

It will be interesting to see what tactics Dallas tries to use to slow down the pace, and if nellie can counter it with anything.

I don't think I've ever seen a series like this before that needed so much strategy from the coaching aspect. Regardless of what Dallas says, this is a well balanced series, that should be hard fought. Nothing will come easy to Dallas. Absolutely nothing.

I pray the Warriors win tonight. I can't give them the benefit of the doubt until they shift home court advantage in to their favor.

Playoffs in '07, baby! *It Happened.*

by coma on Apr 22, 2007 12:27 PM PDT 0 recs

im sorry

i dont see the warriors losing any playoff games. we are too fast and monta and baron steal pretty good.you cant fake the most steal in the nba.

by stevenro59 on Apr 22, 2007 12:38 PM PDT 0 recs

I agree.

...Yeah. They're clearly the best team in the league. Invincible. If we were healthy we woulda went 82-0.

...ROFL.

Playoffs in '07, baby! *It Happened.*

by coma on Apr 22, 2007 12:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

uhh....

wow. can you say... homer?

let's keep it realistic and logical man, GSoM isn't a homer-site.

RUN TMC!

by ZombieWarrior on Apr 22, 2007 6:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

"GSoM isn't a homer-site"

Ummm ... now who's not being realistic? ;-)

Realism is definitely more the exception than the rule on this site...

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 22, 2007 7:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hmmmmm...

Maybe that Eddie fellow is smarter than he looks. 16-0 playoff run, I say!!!!!!! ;-D

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 22, 2007 9:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Mos' Def.

Warriors need to hit their shots.

Speed the game up.

Rebound.

Frustrate their starters.

You can bet that Avery will do everything he can to slow the game down like bringing in Damp, Diop, Wilis, fouling, timeouts. If you watched Tuesday's game, then you know what I mean.

by MVP on Apr 22, 2007 12:42 PM PDT 0 recs

I can guarantee only one thing

Tonights game won't look anything like Tuesdays.

And I'll semi-guarantee one other thing. Kevin Willis won't get off the bench unless someone gets hurt.

_Mavs fan- here to talk basketball, not smack._

by BrodyV on Apr 22, 2007 2:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

wow 9 pt favors huh

it'll be a lot closer, not sure who wins this one. But if we do lose we'll win the next 4 straight.

by djchuckdeez on Apr 22, 2007 1:57 PM PDT 0 recs

we'll see who the soldiers are

i'm hoping bd stays physically strong. i'm hoping stephen jackson gets hot and keeps his cool. i'm hoping that nellie finds some wrinkles that give us edges here and there.

i'm thinking monta is going to step up. al harrington could make the difference. j-rich needs to be the workhorse: 3s, rees, and hard drives to the hoop.

it's not about what avery does. we have the talent to win. dirk is not a cold-blooded winner.

we can do this.

by OaktownWarrior on Apr 22, 2007 2:00 PM PDT 0 recs

GO WARRIORS

we need to set the pace for this series, show everybody that we aren't scared and that we are ready to play GO WARRIORS

by push kicks on Apr 22, 2007 2:33 PM PDT 0 recs

that video is sick

It's almost too emotionally overwhelming. That got be super-pumped! I need a couple rounds with the heavy bag or something. I'm getting butterflies.

LET'S DO THIS!

by walkerp on Apr 22, 2007 2:34 PM PDT 0 recs

that video got me in the mood

damn i cant wait! a little more than 3 hours..

by danschmeck on Apr 22, 2007 3:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Our Time

Time to make highlights for a new video... Go Dubs!

run TMC

by run TMC on Apr 22, 2007 3:25 PM PDT 0 recs

Waaaariors!

I have nothing substantial to add other than, "Unstoppable, baby!"

by longus on Apr 22, 2007 3:43 PM PDT 0 recs

I have been

waiting ALL season for this.... LETS GO WARRIORS.

P.S. I hope TNT does those closeup HD shots of the women in the crowd in Dallas.... because they are smokin hotttt. Out of all the NBA cities... Dallas/Phoenix/Miami have the hottest women in their crowds. Coincidence that they are some of the best teams in the league?

RUN TMC!

by ZombieWarrior on Apr 22, 2007 5:46 PM PDT 0 recs

Warriors BABY!!!

Usually I hate Sunday's because work tomorrow ... but I'm so excited for this game!!
No predictions here ... I've decided I'm bad luck when I do =)

by YaoButtaMing on Apr 22, 2007 5:53 PM PDT 0 recs

LIVE FROM DALLAS

hey all! met zorgon, jrich signed my jersey, interviewd for kpix...i'm dude w/short black hair and light beard! Mavs fans are soft; all i got from them is a random 'boo'...more later!

by GameSix on Apr 22, 2007 6:22 PM PDT 0 recs

Did you travel from the Yay?

by jashugan on Apr 22, 2007 6:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

nah

just moved here two weeks ago...luckiest dub fan on earth!

by GameSix on Apr 22, 2007 10:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's fun to hear the national media

talking about the Warriors this much. Golden State is on the map!

by jashugan on Apr 22, 2007 6:39 PM PDT 0 recs

But I bet most people

still don't know where we play.

by jashugan on Apr 22, 2007 6:40 PM PDT 0 recs

game time baby!

13 years of waiting officially comes to an end tonight!! let's do it!!!!! SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!!

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 6:41 PM PDT 0 recs

GAME ON!

I woke up at 630am here in Beijing just cause I was too excited; it's 940am now and I'll be taking the rest of the morning off work!

Also managed to find a 'The City' jersey in a local hip-hop shop nearby; the only had #34; I asked the shopkeeper if it was fake and he told me "They don't make fake Dunleavy jerseys!" HAHA.

GO WARRIORS!!!

by snelj22 on Apr 22, 2007 6:42 PM PDT 0 recs

LETS DO IT!!!!

GO WARRIORS!!! TONIGHT IS DA NIGHT!!! LETS DO IT!

F**K REFS!!!

by faetati on Apr 22, 2007 6:43 PM PDT 0 recs

avery going small

nowitzki starting at center. we've forced a change already!

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 6:44 PM PDT 0 recs

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

We're getting underway! I gotta watch this game in peace... comments to come after the game.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Apr 22, 2007 6:44 PM PDT 0 recs

tipoff

tipoff at 646, three missed baskets already.

by jtoj on Apr 22, 2007 6:47 PM PDT 0 recs

damn

gotta get a shot to go down here

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 6:49 PM PDT 0 recs

Why this timout?

What happened???

F**K REFS!!!

by faetati on Apr 22, 2007 6:49 PM PDT 0 recs

good call by nellie

to calm them down. they look gittery out there... at least they seem that way from the comfy couch i'm sitting on

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 6:49 PM PDT 0 recs

YES!

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 6:50 PM PDT 0 recs

aw damn...

gotta make some of these layups

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 6:51 PM PDT 0 recs

c;mon!

lets move the ball around get some more easy baskets!

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 6:52 PM PDT 0 recs

horrible start

can't hit a shot and the mavs are flopping all over the place

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 6:54 PM PDT 0 recs

word..

a lot of quick shots..

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 6:56 PM PDT 0 recs

were those

flops? looked floppy to me

by T Baggey on Apr 22, 2007 6:56 PM PDT 0 recs

5 missed layups

thank god we're only down 1

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 6:56 PM PDT 0 recs

Dick Stockton

Has no idea who any of the Warriors are. He's mis-named players 5 different times. Get on the ball, DICK!

by budgerock on Apr 22, 2007 6:57 PM PDT 0 recs

why watch tnt?

it's all about FSN!

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 7:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

wow

horrible shooting by both teams, yet the dubs are only down 1 playing the Mavs style of bball.

by jtoj on Apr 22, 2007 6:59 PM PDT 0 recs

AHHhhhhh

get out dirk

by T Baggey on Apr 22, 2007 7:01 PM PDT 0 recs

MATT BARNES!!!

Namesake time!

The Son of Dippin.

by Barnesgasm on Apr 22, 2007 7:01 PM PDT 0 recs

I take that back

by T Baggey on Apr 22, 2007 7:01 PM PDT 0 recs

wow

even in the playoffs the refs still hate us

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 7:04 PM PDT 0 recs

aww yea !!

richardson in harris' face! man, he's a bigger flopper than vlade! 6 pt lead!

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 7:06 PM PDT 0 recs

that's warriors basketball!!!!

keep it goin baby!!!!

by AJC3317 on Apr 22, 2007 7:06 PM PDT 0 recs

ahhh

there scared

by T Baggey on Apr 22, 2007 7:06 PM PDT 0 recs

harrington playing STRONG

great D by everyone so far, lovin' it like mcdonalds!

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 22, 2007 7:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Man I'm losing my voice already!

can't talk!

by YaoButtaMing on Apr 22, 2007 7:07 PM PDT 0 recs

we are starting to see what it means to be

underdogs.

Can you guys believe all these favoritism calls that the Mavs are getting from the refs?! I cannot believe half of those flops are getting called. But that's what you earn when you get as many wins as the Mavs throughout the season.

RUN TMC!

by ZombieWarrior on Apr 22, 2007 7:08 PM PDT 0 recs

Underdogs

Don't ya'll love being the underdog. These guys are poised. They ain't scared.

Southern California Warriors Fan.

by dlyrious on Apr 22, 2007 7:08 PM PDT 0 recs

I get the impression

that Dallas still doesn't take the W's that seriously. Well, it looks like the W's are taking this very seriously so Dallas better watch out! The W's don't know they're not supposed to win.

Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on Apr 22, 2007 7:08 PM PDT 0 recs