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PLAYOFF RECAP: Warriors 103, Maverick 99 - Heart

Fj_cruiser_tiny by Fantasy Junkie on in Recaps

Final Box Score

Best game I've ever been to. Best Warrior game in the last 13 years. The crowd was absolutely nuts tonight. We were just as loud, if not louder than the game on Friday. We had to sustain the energy level in the arena for 48 minutes, not the 36 in the blowout last game. I have to give props to all the Warriors fans at the arena, we rocked the house tonight and gave the team that extra energy it needed to win the game. If you don't believe me, just ask Baron:

Our crowd won this game for us.

The Warriors started the game really slow as they had trouble scoring. They had a few open looks, but the Mavs really seemed to step up their D in that 1st quarter. The quarter ended 27-21 Mavericks and the Warriors looked like they were in trouble. Josh Howard was going off as he had 14 in the quarter alone. The crowd stayed with it though and kept the noise coming along with the chants. The Warriors felt the energy and didn't lose another quarter to the Mavs all night.

A lot of Mavs fans and national media have been saying that the Warriors will be in trouble when the Mavs start to shoot well. You know what? They shot much better tonight (44%) and still were denied the win. Not many people want to give the Warriors defense credit for making it tough on the Mavs. The Warriors are definitely in their heads with the frenetic style of hoops they play. You just never know where a 2nd defender will be coming from. If you put the ball on the floor, be careful, because there are 4 other Warrior defenders looking to swipe it away from you.

This game was all about heart from the Warriors. They seemed to constantly be in a hole. After the first quarter, in the 2nd they were down 9, in the 3rd they were down 7, in the 4th they were down 5. But the team kept clawing its way back in. And finally, they broke through and kept a lead when it mattered most, the end of the game. The team showed a lot of hustle and heart tonight, it was a beautiful thing to see.



This was Baron's night. He was simply amazing tonight and dominated the game. He shot 12-17 from the field including a fantastic 3-4 from 3pt range to go with 8 boards and 6 assists. But he made some huge buckets to keep the Warriors from falling too far behind. First, at the end of the first half with 1.2 seconds on the clock and the Warriors down 3, he catches a half court heave on the inbounds pass and launches a 49 footer. It hits the glass, banks in and the Warriors leave the floor on a high while the Mavs leave the floor dejected. Lucky? Yes, but still a huge momentum shift. He wasn't done though. He then closed out the 3rd quarter with a 5-0 run by himself. With the Mavs up 77-72, Baron steps up and knocks in a 3 pointer to bring the Dubs within 2. He then manages to make a great hustle steal on an inbounds pass and flies in for a 2 handed dunk. Tie game. The Warriors once again have the momentum going into the fourth quarter. I just can't say enough about how great Baron was tonight. He did all the big things and all the little things. His defense on the perimeter was top notch. He would continually fight over Dirk Nowitzki screens and stay in front of either Jason Terry or Devin Harris. It prevented the Warriors from switching the smaller Baron on Dirk. Here's what Don Nelson had to say:

"All I told Baron was to be dominant and he is now proving how great I said he is."
I guess that sums it up perfectly. Baron was dominant and the best player on the floor.



Mickael Pietrus came to play tonight! He was all over the floor scrapping for loose balls, harassing his man on D, and just flat out making big plays. He had a few memorable moments and he basically owned the 2nd quarter. The first big play came on a monstrous putback in the first half. The Warriors were down 7 and JRich just missed a shot. There were several Mavs in the paint, and in flies this blur collecting the missed shot and ramming through the rim. It was beautiful. The crowd had lost a little energy but with that putback, everyone jumped to their feet. Mickael Pietrus brought the crowd back in the game and we never went away again. His second big play of the 2nd quarter came on a Dallas fast break. Jason Terry was far ahead of Pietrus, but he sprinted back and was able to swat Terry's layup off the backboard. Stackhouse was there for the rebound but fumbled it away. He then went on to drain 2 three pointers to finish with 10 points in the pivotal 2nd quarter. The guy played an amazing game off the bench. How amazing? Let's ask Nellie:

"The guy who won the game for us was Mickael Pietrus. I thought his effort, not just his scoring, but his defense and rebounding (was really important). He went out and hustled and was able to score some points. He got the game ball tonight. Fantastic game by Pietrus. He is the kind of guy who can miss eight-straight shots, then make the next eight."



JRich played a great game as well. He picked up the scoring as he dropped in 14 points in the 2nd half. He's always been an excellent scorer but his defense left something to be desired. Ever since the Warriors started this great run at the end of the season, Jason has been one of the best defenders on the team. In the 2nd half, he did a very nice job on defense. He even had one of the biggest plays of the night. With just 1:40 left, the Warriors had just taken the lead on an Andris Biedrins dunk and the Mavs called a 20 second timeout. Oftentimes coming out of a timeout, Avery draws up a play and the Mavs score. This time around JRich didn't let them. He made a brilliant steal on Jason Terry to disrupt their offense and he came down the court to get fouled. He made only 1 of 2, but that steal marked a big point in the game because it didn't let the Mavs tie the game. Instead, the Warriors kept the lead they had and never gave it back.



Then there was Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes. These guys have been solid throughout the series and tonight was no different. Jax played great defense on Dirk forcing him to do things he didn't want and making him take tough shots. His 19 points were great, but his ability to run the offense made him even more valuable tonight. He relived Baron of the PG duties so that he could concentrate more on scoring. Then there was Matt "Hustle" Barnes. The guy is scrappy and every team needs one of these guys. Also, he's going to get a reputation for hitting the dagger 3 if he keeps this up. With 45 seconds left in the game, Jason Terry knocked down a big 3 pointer to bring the Mavs within 3. The Warriors then ran the clock way down and you would expect Baron, JRich, or Jackson to take the big shot. Who was there? Barnes Baby! It was like Game 1 all over again. The ball rotated to him in the right corner with his two feet firmly planted behind the 3 point arc. Out ran Dirk, but it was too late. Barnes had already released the shot and it was on its way. Nothin' but net! He put the Warriors up by a much more comfortable 6 point lead with 23 seconds to go. Dagger. Cold blooded assassin.

So things weren't all so rosy and happy tonight though. There are a couple things that need to be addressed despite the W and the 3-1 series lead. Monta Ellis, where did you go? 0 points on 0-5 shooting? In order to win another game, we'll need some more out of you. Tonight, I didn't see the usual Monta. Tonight, he seemed passive and didn't want to take the ball to the rack. He can beat anyone off the dribble but didn't do it often and when he did, he couldn't finish. He's okay though, he'll be back for Game 5.

The guy we've all been waiting to break out this series struggled once again. Al Harrington. C'mon buddy, you can make those shots. You were a top 5 3pt% shooter during the regular season. The basket is still 10 feet high, nothing has changed. Get your game together man, we need you. You were our starting center when we made the miraculous run. It's great that we're up 3-1, but it would be even sweeter if you were able to partake in all the fun that's going on. It's probably killing you inside to struggle like you have but come out in Dallas like Warriors Nation knows you're capable of. Nellie has essentially shortened his bench to 7 guys now since Al has been struggling.

Lastly, what happened to the free throws tonight? That nearly cost the Warriors the game. Dubs shot just 23-37 from the line, good for 62%. The main culprits. Baron who was 6-12 and Andris Biedrins at 0-3. I understand that Biedrins struggled because he's not a good free throw shooter. But can someone tell him the bottom of the ball needs to be at least 10 feet above the floor? Seems like every free throw is short and clangs off the front iron. And as for Baron, I'm not sure what happened tonight. Probably just an off night.

A few more notes:

  • The Warriors finally took care of the ball and ended the game with only 10 turnovers. The previous 3 games there would be at least 3 strips on the perimeter leading to a Dallas fast break. Tonight I don't remember anyone being stripped carelessly. Great to see the silly turnovers drop.
  • Fast break points: Warriors 25, Mavericks 4. That's what I like to see. A 21 point advantage in fast break points means we're getting more and more easy buckets over the Mavs.
  • This series is FAR from over. Even though the Warriors have won 6 of 7 this season against the Mavs, these next 3 are not gimmes. Game 5 in Dallas will be loud and a tough place to win. But the Warriors need to come out and play their hearts out. They can't be satisfied with coming back to the Oracle on Thursday thinking they can just win at home. They should treat the next game like a must win because a loss just gives the Mavs confidence. Remember, elimination games are the hardest games to win. I'm confident we can close out the series as long as we keep up the same level of energy.



M-V-P


Also see: PLAYOFF OPEN THREAD - Game #4: Warriors vs Mavericks - Take Control

 

Warriors vs Mavs Series

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baron
i feel like baron davis has become a much better decision maker since he joined the warriors a couple seasons ago. i remember back then when i watched him play, and would cringe as he bricked fadeaway three's when there were 15 seconds left on the shot clock. he's always been skilled and athletic, but his decision making has been the big factor.

by jam3rz on Apr 30, 2007 2:08 AM PDT   0 recs

forsure.
his ability to know when to take over and when to get other Warriors into the game is uncanny. He is truly a superstar... I can only think of the so many times hes been robbed in the past:
  • not considered for the national team
  • not an all-star candidate
I'm sure there are plenty more but those are the only two I can think of right now. Baron sure is proving all his critics wrong.
RUN TMC!

by ZombieWarrior on Apr 30, 2007 2:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yeh but you have to admit
he is playing his best right now

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 11:14 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It was even with the Warriors
that his mental toughness, defense and shot selection were questionable

Since that knee thing though damn.  To me he is up there with Steve Nash now

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 11:13 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WARRIORS!!!
Amazing game by Baron. Clutch shooting by the guys. I loved this game and if we don't win this game, I will be so disappointed. War-ri-ors!

Best wishes to Josh Powell, who apparently lost someone close to him and wasn't able to attend the game.

by DaAzNJRiCh on Apr 30, 2007 2:19 AM PDT   0 recs

1 more
Baron Davis is a great player. If he can finally turn the corner and stay healthy he will receive all of the credit and glory he deserves. Just think what this season will do for the Warriors confidence. This whole franchised has transformed over night. Keep it up Warriors, there's still unfinished business to take care of.

by manutefor3 on Apr 30, 2007 2:32 AM PDT   0 recs

Personally...
I'm praying that the Warriors can close this out in Dallas tuesday. The one true quality to a great team is their ability to finish opponents off. If they can do that, then I believe the sky is the limit this year for this team.

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

by coma on Apr 30, 2007 2:48 AM PDT   0 recs

B. Diddy
I'll admit, I never bought his jersey in the past because I hated how he jacked up 3s randomly the years before.  Now that's he's transformed under Nellie... oh my god.  Buying his jersey will greatly be considered now. All hail "Lord Baron".

I wanted to go to game 4 so bad, that I considered selling blood for tickets!  I went to game 3, while that was the best game I've ever went to, we all knew it was over by the mid 4th quarter(probably end of 3rd).  Game 4 was still a tight game even w/ the warriors up below the 10 second mark.  Plus, they actually handed out towels this time!  I think we should start a tradition at the Oracle, like in hockey w/ a hat trick or the Octopus w/ the red wings.  It's too bad we don't have a signature introduction like the Bulls did in the 90's with Ray Clay and Eye in the Sky.

Also, I LOVE the M-V-P chants haha.  You guys should put another caption under Baron's picture, as Steve Kerr just proclaimed Baron Davis as "the world's best athlete".  

We got one more game before we can knock Dallas off, so we still shouldn't be too excited and claim that the series is over.  Don't be like the Fakers or Mavs of last year!

by MVP on Apr 30, 2007 2:48 AM PDT   0 recs

Couldn't agree more
This has been a Renaissance year for BD -- after that horrid game he was playing last year.  He's done everything right, from the get-go.  And he's steadily improved throughout the season -- and the playoffs, thus far.  I simply love how -- when the jump shots start clanging for the W's -- he takes it on his shoulders to drive to the hole.  Amazing!

For oldtimers like me, Baron's play brings to mind the play of the best I've ever seen (Yes, better than MJ, who comes in a close -- but distinct -- second): The Big O.  Oscar could do everything -- and play every position.  A true point guard, he was a much better passer than MJ; and he was so strong, he was a terrific rebounder.  There was one year he AVERAGED a triple double.  And in the last five minutes of a game, he was money.  (I know, because I saw his lowly Royals best my Pistons time and time again with late-game heroics -- this, in the pre-TV days, when seats were cheap and you could see teams up close 4-5 times a year.)

BD's playing like this right now.  He's a true point; he's a leader; his shooting is vastly improved; his rebounds are incredible (he lead the team last night); and he's built like Oscar -- thick, strong, impervious to being bodied-up.  The only difference at the moment is that Robertson was taller (at 6'5" and even bigger and stronger).  But BD's been a revelation.

by johnl on Apr 30, 2007 10:15 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Better than MJ???????
Holly shit man

Talk a few deep breaths and relax

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 11:17 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You're kidding. . .
You must be too young to have enjoyed watching Oscar Robertson in his prime; otherwise, you would NEVER have been surprised to hear someone say the Big O was better than Jordan.  Love MJ all you want, he never had the breadth or depth of Oscar's play.  

True, MJ did score more points -- he averaged about 30 to O's 26 -- and a few of the stats were close (both FG and FT percents were within a point), but O not only had 4500 MORE career assists than MJ, he hauled down 1100 more career rebounds -- even though MJ played more games.  And O did the almost unimaginable: he AVERAGED a triple double in his second year.  Ya shoulda been there, is all I can say on that.

But my point was that BD is now playing more like Oscar than anyone I've ever seen -- with the possible exception of the early Magic.  That, no matter how you cut it, is a HUGE compliment.  Just ask him.

by johnl on Apr 30, 2007 11:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

i think zig was referring to the
davis is better than mj comment. davis playing pretty incredible and def. showing the leadership qualities that championship winning players --isiah thomas comes to mind too -- demonstrate, like the ones you mentioned. but damn BETTER than mj??? serious? that's big.

by dj fuzzylogic on Apr 30, 2007 11:52 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I read your comment to mean
that therefore Baron is playing better than MJ (either Magic or Michael)

I know Oscar was great and you are correct that I am to young to know him but stats never tell the whole story.  

With his sheer force of will on offense and defense MJ was a force.  He must have been the best winner ever.  He never missed in the clutch.  He refused to lose a big game.

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 11:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I re-read your post
My mistake I thought you were going one furtherr by saying Baron is playing better than MJ

I think the Big O/MJ thing debatable too though.  Stats never tell the whole story.  Jordon was some kind of winner.  

I do see how you are comparing Baron's game to Oscar's.  

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 12:01 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

OK
You got it right: I was saying that BD was playing like O -- who was the best I'd ever seen (in my opinion, slightly better than MJ).  BD's not O; neither is he on a level with either MJ.  Still, at the moment, he's playing at their level.  And, as one who criticized Baron a LOT last year, I'm happy as a clam to see that.

I also heartily agree that stats don't tell the whole story -- especially for O and MJ.  They were on their own plane. One could certainly make a good argument that MJ had the edge.  My reply was to your response that -- to me, at least -- read like any comparison of anyone to the great MJ was blasphemy.  The stats were only to point out that you certainly couldn't discount O in any comparison -- and I cited the stats because I was pretty sure you hadn't seen this guy in the 60s.

To end, a great example of stats NOT being the total story is illustrated by Biedrins' play last night: his stats are unimpressive; his effect on the game was huge -- Dallas simply could not drive the bucket when he was in the game, and their points in the paint invariably came off long offensive rebounds.  I'm also hoping to see more of those "Worthy" PNRs from Jack on Tuesday.  What fun we're having!

by johnl on Apr 30, 2007 12:55 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

So lucky
Man, I feel robbed that I never got to watch the Big O play. That guy really sounds like he owned the game.

Given the supreme athleticism of today's players, but diluted talent pool with 30 teams- what kind of numbers do you think O could average in the present NBA era?

by Atma Brother ONE on Apr 30, 2007 1:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Big O -- Watch Him
Check out this three plus minute collection of Oscar  highlights at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3cDGOO2v8g.  You'll see what I mean.

Though most of these shots are hazy and come from later in his career, when his dominance wasn't total, you get a feel for a guy who had fluidity and grace balanced by extreme strength and will.  Note his style and body type.  Although these clips hardly do justice to his drives to the hole, catch his passing, that sweet, arching jumper (he could shoot from anywhere -- no "sweet spots" needed -- and he shot as well off the dribble as he did catch and shoot), and the way he just muscled that rebound from Wilt or kept his shot true even as he was fouled.  

Now, does this remind you of anyone we've been watching the last few weeks?  Sure looks like BD to me.

The thing is, Oscar played like this virtually every game -- for the first ten years of his career, anyway.  Frankly, though styles and speed have changed, I'd guess his numbers would be about the same now as then.  

by johnl on Apr 30, 2007 2:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Fear the Beard!
This could have been a good chant for the Warriors fans at the arena tonight.....to late though. Oh well, we can save it for the next round! I can hear it now, FEAR THE BEARD! FEAR THE BEARD! FEAR THE BEARD!

by manutefor3 on Apr 30, 2007 2:51 AM PDT   0 recs

How do you say 'Warriors' in Chinese?
From my days in Hong Kong and now in Beijing, I've learned how to say 'Mavericks', 'Rockets', 'Spurs', 'Suns', 'Lakers', 'Heat', and 'Pistons' in Chinese because those are pretty much all the teams they showed on local TV.

When we get to round 2 and if we face the Rockets, I'll be sure to let you guys know how to say 'Warriors' in Chinese =).

Thanks for the recap and the venue for all of us to show our dub luv!

GO WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!! JIA YOU (add gas)!!!!!!!!!!!!

by snelj22 on Apr 30, 2007 3:18 AM PDT   0 recs

Which dialect of Chinese?
I'm assuming you mean Mandarin because you're in Beijing.  There's a lot of different ways to say it, but I can't really spell it in English.

By the way, the Photographer that was at the game tonight, Rocky Widner takes excellent shots.  Really rich saturation that shows the high contrasts with the jerseys and background due to the excellent lighting.  I'm assuming that those photos were taken by a Canon camera... but give him credit for his photographs in the recaps when you can.

by MVP on Apr 30, 2007 3:39 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Any info on game 6 tickets?
Do we know if they're selling any more game 6 tickets individually?

If so, any info on when?

by SkipT on Apr 30, 2007 3:23 AM PDT   0 recs

umm...
Remember, elimination games are the hardest games to win.

i've been a warriors fan for awhile, but i honestly can't ever remember being a situation where we could eliminate a team in the playoffs.  go dubs.

by yuta tabuse for prime minister on Apr 30, 2007 3:46 AM PDT   0 recs

Matt Barnes
doesn't get enough props.  Man, I love that guy's attitude throughout this series.  He kept Jackson in check in game 2 when he was getting ready to throw down and he prevented him from getting worse than a fine.  He has just been present when it counts and hustling all the time.  And he looks cool with his hulking, leaning stride.

Poor Barkley, he sounded so confused and befuddled when he was backtracking.  Couldn't even make a coherent sentence.  But he did admit he was wrong, so I'll give him respect for that.

Man, what a great game.  Watched it in a New York bar. The only other person watching the game was a mavs fan who wouldn't admit it!  I felt bad for the guy, but have some pride.  All the New Yorkers in the bar were rooting for the Dubs.  It's like Bizarro world!

Great pictures!  More!   More!  More!

Game 5 is going to be tough.

by walkerp on Apr 30, 2007 6:07 AM PDT   0 recs

Missing from the recap
Composure.  This game was a lot like Game 2 in that the Mavs and Warriors were going tit-for-tat, trading baskets, with no team taking a sizeable advantage.  The difference between a pissed away game 2 and last night's winnable game 4 was composure.  The Mavs went on their inevitable Run in the third quarter.  There were some bad calls.  Charmin Soft Dirk was falling over the place and there were moments were you thought the techincals could start flying.  But they kept their cool, and THAT was th difference between a loss and the win.  They channeled it tonight.  It was fun to watch, because it's evidence of progression and the maturation process a contending team has to go thru.  So, so very proud.

by GameSix on Apr 30, 2007 6:28 AM PDT   0 recs

cautiously optimistic
As a transplanted Warrior fan living in lala land, I remember all too clearly Kobe's remarkable late game heroics against the Suns in game 4 last year. They had all the momentum. The Suns were supposed to be deflated. The entire town was talking Lakers-Clippers. Mychal Thompson and Vic the Brick Jacobs could not be more annoying on the radio (for those of you who live in LA, can you relate to this?).

But the Suns eeked out game 5. Then game 6 in LA. And then Kobe gave up in game 7. And just like that, a 3-1 lead was overcome by a clearly superior team and Flaker fans all over forgot about Kobe's great game 4.

I've never been so happy in my life as a Warrior fan (this has surpassed everything Run TMC has done in my mind). But I would hate to see game 3 and 4 become merely a footnote to this great NBA season. They would mean nothing if we can't close the door in this series.

I know we have ALL the momentum. I know we took a huge punch from the Mavs in game 4 and came out victorious. But these still are the Mavs and they did win 67 FREAKIN' games this season. They have all the tools to come back from this deficit (similar to the Suns last year), they just haven't shown us that yet. Avery Johnson is a great coach, he can motivate as well as anyone. Eventually, the Mavs will remember how to hit their outside shots (they've been atrocious from the perimeter, a team tha tnormally thrives from this distance).

The key will be that we maintain our composure and our aggression. We just have to stay with the Mavs until the 4th quarter and then lay it at them.

Again, I'm optimistic that we can do this. Just cautiosly.

Go Dubs. Continue to make me proud.

Where the !@#$ are you now, Billy Owens????

by Manute4Three on Apr 30, 2007 7:12 AM PDT   0 recs

Best Game of My Life!
And I was there! Yesterday morning, I didn't have tickets. I called some dude on Craigslist, and got 2. They tried to burn down a bridge to keep me away from Oracle! I took BART in, and it looked like it would be a long night for the Dubs. We weren't playing great in the first half, but it was mostly the Mavs who were focused and playing strong. The second half was a game of runs. Every time we made a run, they would pull away again. The fourth quarter was the key. Lord Baron led the push, and led us to victory! Never have I been so proud to be a Warriors fan!!!
Barkley, you were wrong!

by tadams1080 on Apr 30, 2007 7:20 AM PDT   0 recs

San Francisco Warriors
For what it's worth I attended the third game of the NBA finals between the Warriors and the Bullets when the Warriors swept the Bullets to win their last NBA championship. Because this game was so unexpected, it had to be scheduled at the Cow Palace. In any case they were the Golden State Warriors then as they are now, despite what Dick Stockton had to say. He referred to them as the San Francisco Warriors. True, they had been the San Francisco Warriors, but not in 1975. Did anybody else catch that? This was during an interlude when props were being given to great Bay Area basketball teams of the past such as the Bill Russell-led USF Dons which won the NCAA championship in 1955 and 1956 and the University of California Golden Bears who won the NCAA championship in 1959.

by Vermontguy on Apr 30, 2007 7:21 AM PDT   0 recs

My dad uncle and grandpa went to
the game

He said you could get tickets the day of at the Cow Palace.  IS that true?

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 11:19 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

For the 11 years of being a Dubs fan
of my 15-year life .. that was the loudest and most exciting game ever. From Friday and tonight, I've learned to love nosebleed seats.

At this moment, I'm listening to 106.1 and they got an original Dubs song playing?!? Amazing.

But continuing, the Dubs showed heart tonight, and the will to win. Barnes' clutch 3 late in the 4th, even though his shot wasn't falling for most of the game, made the crowd go CRAZY. Best game of my life.

And for all the people at the game lastnight .. Did you guys see Jessica Alba? I was looking all night to find her.

by WarriorFanForLife on Apr 30, 2007 7:27 AM PDT   0 recs

Barkley
Although he has pissed me off so much, i've learned how entertaining he actually can be....at his own expense. I loved how we've responded to that, and TNT featured nearly every single anti-Barkley sign. The best part was the Thunder Pie in Chuck's Face video clip. No one talks S!@* about us without a response. Barkley declared war on the Warrior fans, and I'm so glad that we came out on top.

To his credit, Chuckie did admit that he was wrong, and that made me respect him a little more. Either way, it's been hella entertaining.

Where the !@#$ are you now, Billy Owens????

by Manute4Three on Apr 30, 2007 7:34 AM PDT   0 recs

I agree
People need to get a sense of humour

The guy is a clown and he's funny and he knows it

by Zig on Apr 30, 2007 11:20 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

He reminds me of
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan...tries to be irritating but his insults are extremely entertaining and inocuous!
www.TRACKjams.com

by MANUTEs BOLs on Apr 30, 2007 1:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Quickies
  • I'm proud of these fellas. They won this game and played tough despite the horrendous calls against them.
  • MIA: Dallas Mavericks
  • The Mavs collapsed down the stretch, while the Warriors were CLUTCH.
  • This team got killed on the boards and shot poorly from the FT line, but still won.
  • Aside from Josh Howard, Dallas played scared.
  • The Arena was electrifying! The fans were amazing.
  • MIA: Monta and Al Harrington. It's really too bad. Both played huge rolls in the regular season. If it weren't for Al there would be NO playoffs in the Bay. Al had a beautiful pass to MP2 for a jam and played some decent defense, but he can do much, much more.
  • Biedrins- work on those FT's. It's disgusting. I can't believe he still has that ridiculous form. It's an embarrassment. If I were the Mavs I'd hack-a-Andris.
  • Props to MP2 for stepping up! His rebound-dunk was JR-esque.
  • Jax and Howard are very similar players. Jax is a slightly better defender, but Howard is a superior rebounder.
  • BD was clutch ALL NIGHT LONG. Big Shot Baron.
  • JR was bringing it on both sides of the ball.
  • Barnes continues to play big. He's been pretty much a sure thing off the bench. This guy has heart.
  • Much respect to Nellie. The man simply knows what he's doing.
It ain't over yet, but it sure is looking good!

by Atma Brother ONE on Apr 30, 2007 8:49 AM PDT   0 recs

BIG SHOT BARNES
Forget about BIG SHOT BOB who was a former FAKER!  I think we should pass that title on to BARNES!

ALL HAIL "BIG SHOT BARNES"!!!

GO WARRIORS...TO THE NBA FINALS!!!

"If you build around them...they will come!"

by scottiepimppen on Apr 30, 2007 9:22 AM PDT   0 recs

PUT YOUR HANDS UP OVER YOUR HEAD
I was at the game last night and it got me pumped up when JAX would raise his hands in the air and get the crowd up on its' feet!  It's good to see that JAX has been the model citizen since being traded to the W's and the only time he's had to put his hands over his head was to get the crowd pumped and not to get frisked by the POPOs!!!
GO WARRIORS...TO THE NBA FINALS!!!

"If you build around them...they will come!"

by scottiepimppen on Apr 30, 2007 9:26 AM PDT   0 recs

Looking ahead...
Just thinking who I'd like the Dubs to face in the next round... I'd rather get Utah, but the Dubs had recently defeated Houston, too, so none of them will stop the Dubs from reaching the Conference Finals. I hope that the Suns will defeat the Spurs in the other Semi-Final, because Duncan is no Diop+Damp. Dubs-Suns in the Conference Finals will be one of the most exciting playoff series ever. And the Dubs had already proved that they can win easily in Detroit.

We Believe!

It's All G-Dub!!

by jaybee764 on Apr 30, 2007 9:41 AM PDT   0 recs

WARRIORS
TO THE NBA FINAAAAALLLSSSSS!!!!!
With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on Apr 30, 2007 10:18 AM PDT   0 recs

Don't count chickens yet...
Like everyone said, last night was a huge game because 3-1 is a lot better than 2-2. You could argue that 2-2 puts the Mavs in the driver's seat.  But it is still not a done deal.  So far, the Warriors have done what they have to do, but we've all seen times where that hasn't happened.  I'll be putting all my rooting energy in ending this quickly.

I only got to see half the game at the airport last night and half on tape, but for my money the game turned when Pietrus brought home that rebound/slam over Dirk in the second quarter.  I want to see the  Warriors come out running and make Avery use up all those rally-killing time outs in the first quarter.

by achiappanza on Apr 30, 2007 10:28 AM PDT   0 recs

Key players as we get to Game 5....
It was a great and exciting Game 4 for both teams, to be honest.  It's one of those classic games with nailbiting moments from tip-off all the way to the final buzzer.  In the end, the Dubs wanted it more, the Mavs continued their troubles of finishing quarters, the Oracle crowd kicked it into gear, and the Dubs kept great focus in closing out the game.

Areas of improvement for the remaining game(s):

  • free throw shooting
  • Monta to get back his aggressiveness. (A key moment for Ellis in Game 4 was when he got a pass in the left wing with a wide open lane, but settled for a long shot which he missed.  We all know what this kid is capable of a la posterizing Barbosa.  Next time he gets that, I expect him to take it hard to the rack!)
  • keep taking it strong into the paint...not just only by Baron either...It will pay dividends to attack Diop, who to his credit, has been playing very solidly for the Mavs.
  • Attack D.Harris as well and play smartly as he is quite a master at flopping.  Getting him out of sync will negate the effectiveness of their fastest player.
Props and some great plays in Game 4.  I've been raving about the Dubs, but I'll throw in some respect for the Mavs as well:
  • Dirk with the last second 3's to keep it close.  He had a pretty decent game tonight, to be honest.  At least he showed up more than some previous games.
  • MP's play...already talked about that previously
  • BDiddy's half court shot and Stack's almost half court shot...2 amazing shots in one game!
  • J-Ho's solid first half play.
  • Stack's great second half play as he tried to carry his team on his back.
  • BDiddy's rocket pass to Biedrins in the closing minutes and seconds of the game for a dunk.
  • Jax's slick no look spin away pass to JRich on the break for a layup.
  • Barnes nailing a HUGE 3 late in the game..and his overall hustle and intensity throughout the series has been AWESOME!  Way to go for the UCLA connection of BDiddy and Barnes!
  • Dubs keeping composure all the way through.  The Mavs seemed to get it and play very well in stretches, but the Dubs constant pressure and intensity prevailed.
  • Nelson doing his masterful work.  He's been there and done that...loaded with experience and wisdom....so he's THE ideal coach to lead us.
  • Great job with the jokes vs. Barkeley on TNT...LMAO...alcatraz...krispy kreme..pie in the face...great stuff!!! And props to Kenny Smith for keeping him in check.

by warriorsfan4life on Apr 30, 2007 10:38 AM PDT   0 recs

People will say
I am overly negative on here but I have to say that I think the Warriros have a pretty good shot to beat either Utah or Houston (especially Houston)

The player who would worry me on Utah is Boozer

I think we can contain Yao

There is no way the Mavs run off three straight here.  bank it

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

Is that really you, Zig?
;-)

Seriously, dude, there is certainly a way the Mavs can run off three straight here. They'll be big favorites in Game 5 and (God forbid) Game 7, and if they play like they did last night they can easily knock us off in Game 6. Teams come back from 3-1 deficits all the time.

I'd give them a 25% shot, at worst. I really, really hope we come out in Game 5 as if it were Game 7. We have to step on their throats now, and not think about how nice it would be to win in front of the adoring fans at the Oracle. If we give them any breathing room at all, they could rediscover their regular-season mojo and run us out of the playoffs.

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 30, 2007 1:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

EXACTLY!!
if we even give them a gasp of air, they will win game 5 and then coming back from down 1-3 becomes something they can pull off for the first time in dallas' franchise history. oh how the mffl's would love that!

hey sleepy, do you still think my point about regular season series sweep vs playoff series success was "interesting", but "not really that meaningful or predictive"?

GO WARRIORS!!

by stedanko on Apr 30, 2007 4:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoa, good memory
Yeah, I'll gladly eat a lot of crow for all the dumb things I've written on this board, but I'll stand by that one. Remember, we were talking about a sample-size of three games -- one when we still had Dunmurphy (really, a different team) and the other a total gift-wrap job courtesy of Avery (he must be having few second thoughts about that now, huh?) So basically you were ascribing predictive value to a "sweep" of one regular-season game.

There were certainly lots of good reasons to be semi-optimistic entering this series, but for me the fluky fact that that one game happened to put us in a select group of "regular season-sweepers" really wasn't one of them.

Anyway, let's get this series out of the way first, shall we? If we can win that last, toughest game, we'll have lots of time to discuss who saw it coming and who didn't...

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 30, 2007 6:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yo!
baron for president.

i love everyone.

by redape on Apr 30, 2007 11:28 AM PDT   0 recs

Why the Warriors OWN the Mavs
  1.  The Mavs have no answer for Baron Davis.  Their best lineup is Terry, Harris, Howard, Dirk, and Diop, but BD forces them to play George and Buckner who are absolute liabilities on the offensive end.  Neither player needs to be guarded, allowing one defender to free lance and create havoc.  It should be noted that Buckner and George can't guard Baron either but he needs an extra dribble to beat them.
  2.  The Mavs lack a true point guard or a great passer from any other position.  Throughout the series the Mavs have been mostly incapable of producing easy layups via the pass.  As much gambling and double teaming as we are doing the opportunities are there, but they are always a second behind making the pass.  They don't whip the ball around the perimeter like San Antonio and they don't run an offense to take advantage of our aggressiveness like the Lakers do.
  3.  Irk Nowitski.  This fool has no "D".  Nelson is a smart enough coach to know that the best way to negate a great offensive player is to take advantage of him on the other end.  We have done an excellent job of attacking Irk, whether he is guarding Jax, J Rich, or Barnes that player has been able to expose his slow feet.
  4.  The Mavs don't know what they want to do on offense.  They have a mismatch at several positions and haven't been able to come up with a way to score consistent buckets.  We just go to Baron or whoever Irk is guarding.  The Mavs just try to feed the hot hand.  Also the fact that Josh Howard defers to Stack, Terry, and Irk in the second half is of great benefit to us.  Game 4 the Mavs really tensed up down the stretch.  Stack missed a couple open threes and was afraid to pull the trigger on a great look with just over a minute left, instead turning the ball over on a travel.  Howard didn't want the ball and Irk was more interested in trying to draw a foul than making shots.
DUBS IN 5!

by bigrobbieb on Apr 30, 2007 12:04 PM PDT   0 recs

I still can't get enough of Baron Davis...
and his shot before the end of the first half:

by callahan on Apr 30, 2007 1:40 PM PDT   0 recs

the funniest part
about dallas letting that happen is dirk complaining in post-game about nobody guarding the guard on that shot, but he was the closest player to bd.

by stedanko on Apr 30, 2007 2:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Look who partied with J-Rich Friday night...
Dats right! Yours truly! And he even signed a jersey for my homie and I with the date and "30pts 8 reb" on it. What a class act!
We Believe!!!

by crossphaded on Apr 30, 2007 2:43 PM PDT   0 recs

Baron!!!
Baron showed up last night like the true leader he is.  I am also glad that MP stepped his game up.  A good comeback in crunch time with timely scoring and DEFENSE.  The Arena was the loudest I've heard it in the 5 years I've been going to games.  I have been a loyal Warriors fan since the days of RUN TMC and of course the last playoff series we had...Spree for 3!!!  See ya next game...

by Spree15 on Apr 30, 2007 3:28 PM PDT   0 recs

year of the underdog?
Man, last night was effin incredible. My friend got tickets to the game and she said she was screaming so loud a vein woulda popped out of her forehead. Lucky. Still awesome watching it on TV though.

The guys were nothing but resilient. Every time we were down 9, we kept attacking and attacking. Can't give enough credit to Baron for being the backbone of the team. He was the definition of leader last night.

I'ma start calling Barnes "The Dagger" from now on. That 3 was the knife-in-the-heart for Dallas.

I hope Al gets his touch back soon. Baron/Jax/Barnes have been pretty consistent, JRich/Andris/Pietrus/Monta to an extent got their breakout games. It's time for Al to get his breakout game.

by Caught Backcourt on Apr 30, 2007 3:37 PM PDT   0 recs

Davis Excels
    It is truly wonderful to see Davis perform at such a high level of excellence since late march, and especially in this playoff series.  Though the Mavericks are truly a top team, because of Davis the Warriors have been even better so far in this series.  While I want the Mavericks to go all the way this year, I cannot root against Davis, and would also be very pleased to see the Warriors go all the way.  Davis is so likable because he is such a wonderful example of a human being coming close to reaching his potential in at least one area of his life:  (in this case basketball).   Though His abilities are great, he is almost over-achieving and is almost outstripping even his abilities.  At least this year Davis is as much of an overachiever as the players and the coaches on the Mavericks team and the Spurs team, and for this reason his team is just as easy to root for as theirs.  And as an achiever who is coming close to realizing his full potential, Davis also reminds me of Jordan, Earvin Johnson, Stockton, Malone, Iverson, Isaiah, Larry Nance, Dantley, Kareem, Bill, Russell, Sam Jones, Havlicek, West, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, and of many other basketball players.  Whatever happens in this rest of this year's playoffs, it is well to remember Keats' words, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever", and as the relatively short cherry blossom season is now coming to an end in most parts of the United States, (and is already over in other parts of the U.S.), it is well to reflect on the impermanence of beauty as the Japanese tradition of reflection on cherry blossoms directs us to do.  In the form of poetry that best expresses causal relationships I would say.  
     Past my eyes he flies.  
     A vision blurred but gold.  
     So I watch some more.  
As a comment on Haiku, I would remind all readers that Haiku is not only a poetic form defined by the 5 - 7 -5 relationship of syllable structure,  (though this is part of what makes Haiku poems sound so good and makes them so easy to write), but Haiku is also defined by the causal relationship in which the first two lines, (7 and 5 syllables respectively) describe the conditions that lead to an action, then the third line (5) shows us that action.  (Thus always teaching us a lesson in the nature of causal relationships)  In this case the action being the action of spectating which excellence leads us to sometimes perform.  

by George on Apr 30, 2007 5:57 PM PDT   0 recs

spectating which excellence
 " leads us to sometimes perform."

   Don't over analyze it..Baron's grandma said she'd give him a whuppin if he screwd up..that's the real driving force.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Apr 30, 2007 7:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

that deserves a haiku
Baron will get whooped
by his gramma not dirk
so i watch him play

by azw on Apr 30, 2007 10:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The daring young man in his flying machine
     Past my eyes he flies.  
     A vision blurred but gold.  
     So I watch some more.  

by George on Apr 30, 2007 6:04 PM PDT   0 recs

Nice.
If we close out this series, George, you should totally open a GSW haiku diary. I'll never be a poet, but here's my stab from Japan...

Life moves fast
No more cherry blossoms here
Warriors play on

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 30, 2007 6:22 PM PDT   0 recs

D'oh!
Gotta learn to count syllables. Try this:

Life goes by too fast
No more cherry blossoms here
Warriors play on

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 30, 2007 6:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No more cherry blossoms here
 Nor here,
   my cherry tree died
  all I've got is a stump
  Baron's got a beard!

by Skeptic con Urquell on Apr 30, 2007 7:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Fixed to fit 5-7-5
My cherry tree died
All I've got now is a stump
Baron's got a beard

That's awesome, dude. Seriously. I can't write poetry, but I know it when I see it (Baumerworld says hi). Clearly, you're a poet and I'm not.

by Sleepy Freud on Apr 30, 2007 8:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I can't write poetry
"but I know it when I see it'

   No Dude!  My cherry tree really DIED!  I've gotta cut the stump lower cause I keep stallin the lawn mower on it.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Apr 30, 2007 10:56 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

close
     Your poem sounds good even if it is 5-7-4 instead of 5-7-5.  I think the best thing about haiku is that it leads one to express the action that follows the setup in only 5 syllables, (following a 12 syllable setup), creating the affect of th