PLAYOFF RECAP: Game 6: Warriors 111, Mavs 86 - WE BELIEVE UPSET!!!!

by Hash on May 4, 2007 1:34 AM PDT in Recaps

Oh. My. God.

After 13 years of missing the playoffs, the Warriors shocked the world by squeaking into the 8th seed position with a 42 and 40 record on the last day of the regular season! It's only fitting, I suppose, that we get matched up with Goliath in the form of the Dallas Mavericks, a team who garnered the 6th best regular season record in NBA history at a staggering 67 and 15.

Alas. What can we do? Hell we already exceeded expectations simply by making it into the post season. Sure, we seemed to have the Mavs number during our regular season games but the playoffs are different, right? How can the Golden State Warriors run with the mighty Dallas Mavericks when the Mavs are thinking Championship and the Warriors are thinking, "Dude, we're actually on TNT?!" How can the Warriors, a petty 8th seed, take a best of 7 against a dominant 1st seed and accomplish something that has never been done in the history of basketball?!

Heart, baby. Heart.

The heart of Baron, who served as an inspiration to this team, even though his own physical pain. The heart of Biedrins, who grew up in front of our very eyes this season. The heart of Jason Richardson, who took personal responsibility for our previous seasons' failures and deserves tons of credit for our current status. The heart of Barnes, who has finally found his home and his role with this ballclub. The heart of Pietrus, who is developing into the perfect supplemental shooter and defender. The heart of Jackson, who consistently elevates himself to the elite in this league with every passing game. The heart of Nellie, who had the courage to recognize his team for the talent that they are, and not for the typecast the media wants them to be.

But perhaps most important, the heart of the fans, who have not only loyally stood by this organization through all of its... well, let's face it, downs; but who single-handedly turned the Oracle Arena into the LOUDEST, MOST FEARED VENUE FOR AN OPPOSING TEAM TO SET FOOT IN.

With all that heart, the only thing that shocks me is that we didn't sweep their asses.

Final Boxscore

"Open your history books class. Now turn to section "W". I think you'll find a new entry in there..."

Tonight's game may have ended in a blowout, but any true Dubs fan can attest that they were biting their nails the entire time. In a tumultuous first half, the Warriors displayed some dismal perimeter defense (allowing Stackhouse to drop bombs on us), played a lot of man to man offense, saw Baron nurse an injury that would have sent any other player but him to the showers, and, I'm sorry to say it, found themselves to be victims of the pretty questionable officiating. Yet when the halftime buzzer sounded, the Warriors were magically up by two.

It was in the third quarter that the magic really began. I can only assume that the realization of a Game 7 in Dallas lit a fire under these boys because they literally embarrassed the Mavericks. Outscoring them 36 to 15, the Warriors were raining threes, laying in floaters, and even dunking all over a very dejected looking Dallas. Hell, Jackson nailed 4 of his 7 (yes seven!) threes in that third quarter alone!

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Believe it!

Everything was right in the second half of this game. The Dubs were crashing boards, playing tight D, forcing turnovers, and distributing the ball like a Championship team. If they can find a way to harness the chemistry that they displayed in the third and fourth of this game...

I'll let you finish that sentence.

Let's talk more about the Arena for a second. That place was ELECTRIC! Warriors Nation has really stepped up to create a threatening environment to any road team. This is something that truly needs to be noted. Throughout this series, the crowd at the Arena has been given credit from both local and national media for elevating the Warriors to a higher level of play. There is a lot of truth to this. Anyone that has been to any of the home games in this series can attest to this. As we head towards at least two more games in our house, fans should note that they now have a very significant role to play in success of this team. We must protect this house!

None shall pass.

That being said, I'd like to throw out mad love to our loyal GSoM community, Warriors Nation, and of course, my fellow GSoM writers for being together for so long to enjoy this moment. You deserve every bit of joy you get from this legendary series. Don't discount what you just saw tonight. We may have very well witnessed one of the most amazing sports moments we will ever see in our lives (besides the inevitable NBA Championship of course!) Savor it. We've earned it with many long hard years of loyalty and love.

We earned it by being Warriors.

Tonight's Warrior Wonder can go to none other than Stephen Jackson himself. In a field of contributing players, SJax not only came out like a monster with 33 points, (going an incredible 7-8 from beyond), 5 boards, 3 dimes and 3 jacks, but he also displayed a calm, collected demeanor that helped him become a leader amongst men out there tonight. When a tussle almost started under the Mavs hoop, it was almost comical to watch Jax put his hands in the air and run like hell to the other side of the court. Combining this discipline with his ridiculous game, its safe to say that Jax ran away with this one by a long shot.

ON TO ROUND 2 BABY! Bring it.

Warriors Beat the Mavs 4-2!!

Game 1: Pre-Game 1 Links | Preview | Recap | Post Game 1 Links
Game 2: Preview | Recap | Post Game 2 Links
Game 3: Preview | Recap | Post Game 3 Links
Game 4: Preview | Recap | Post Game 4 Links
Game 5: Preview | Recap | Post Game 5 Links
Game 6: Preview | Recap Prequel

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Comments

Stephen Jax

was on a whole other level tonight. In fact, this whole series. We definately couldn't have done it without him.

RUN TMC!

by ZombieWarrior on May 4, 2007 1:38 AM PDT 0 recs

Dirk decided to leave his game in Dallas

i can't believe how the warriors played in the third quarter, that was insane.

also, i can't believe how dirk decided to take a vacation. Basically, he decided to hibernate on the bench.

by taeg on May 4, 2007 1:41 AM PDT 0 recs

btw that picture

with Mark Cuban is classic.

RUN TMC!

by ZombieWarrior on May 4, 2007 1:45 AM PDT 0 recs

i think it's safe to say

that none of us will ever forget this...

i can't wait to watch this on espn classic with my kids in like 20 years.

by sadleavy on May 4, 2007 2:01 AM PDT 0 recs

album of the day:

what a game!!!!! i gotta say i was a bit nervous after that first half since we weren't playing all that well. i was afraid that dirk was gonna come out in the second half and make life difficult for us. but alas, we came out and put the hammer down on them!!!!!!!

what a series!!!!!!! this was by far the best and most entertaining series in the playoffs this year, and probably the best series that the nba has seen in a while. and the best part was that we not only beat the top seeded team in the playoffs, we DOMINATED them!!!!!!

looking forward, is there any end in sight to the run the dubs are on??? we just knocked off the top seeded team in the playoffs, although i wouldn't call them the best team. the only things i can see standing in the way of us and the title are the spurs and baron's hamstring. i think we can hang with any other team in the leauge.

on a final note, i want to say thanx to the GSoM staff and all the members who make this the best blog in the world by far. i love all you guys (and girls)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by AJC3317 on May 4, 2007 2:01 AM PDT 0 recs

from BrightSideoftheSun

"I hope Dirk doesn't call Stevie too much on the phone to cry and whine, one of them still has to get up and go to practice"

just thought i'd share

GREAT RECAP bro

by OptionZero on May 4, 2007 2:05 AM PDT 0 recs

how could we have lost

when this man was on our side

by jam3rz on May 4, 2007 2:37 AM PDT 0 recs

We Believe

I know our motto is "We Believe", but i still can hardly believe it myself.

So that's what it's like to shoot with 10,000 pounds on our right arms!

by ssmokinjoe on May 4, 2007 4:00 AM PDT 0 recs

"become a leader amongst men"

if this means something extra to anyone else in the GSOM comunity, then throw up a "you know" cause i'm just curious.

If you have no clue what i'm talking about, then please simply disregard it. I'm just too overwhelmed to fall asleep.

Through thinNthinN?

by k759 on May 4, 2007 4:33 AM PDT 0 recs

soldier style!

heart, strength, courage...few have it when the goings get tough. the warriors have at least two such men.

by OaktownWarrior on May 4, 2007 4:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

Steve Kerr

Did anyone else catch this comment: "I'm sure Avery Johnson regrets resting his stars here in the last week of the season, because if he hadn't he probably would've gotten to play the Clippers."

He said it in passing, as if it was entirely uncontroversial. I don't get it--if Dallas had played their stars they probably would have beaten us? Haven't we seen what happens when Dallas and Golden State play, every star included? How could he say we'd "probably" lose, especially at home? Obviously, in retrospect it was a coaching decision on par with starting Devean George in Game 1, but still. Say they're still a better team, say it's a funky match-up, say Nowitzki and Johnson choked, whatever I don't care. But to assert so matter-of-factly that they probably would have won that game had their regulars played is ridiculous to me. By this point, we all know what "usually" happens when the Mavs and the Dubs face each other.

I guess I shouldn't be sweating the lack of respect thing when every sportswriter on the planet is on our jock (Steve Kerr included), but it bothered me. I don't get how people still think Dallas would normally win games against us, and virtually every time we've played in the past two is an aberration.

Anyways, not sure if this video is old news, but this video was linked in the TrueHoop recap. I'd never seen it, so take a peak at Dirk looking even softer than he did over the past six games. Well, maybe not quite as soft...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghgM5Ta-4lw

"Jax has a natural thizz face."

by Backcourt in Motion on May 4, 2007 4:51 AM PDT 0 recs

Good call on Kerr

Yeah, I caught that too, but what I think happened was that Kerr was projecting the outcome of that game using the "conventional wisdom" of that time. I know we had beaten them twice already this year, but most people outside the Bay Area at that time would have given the Dubs little chance in a game that the Mavs really wanted to win.

by warriorfaninlakerland on May 4, 2007 12:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

I love

how the mainstream media still looks at the Dubs in terms of "conventional wisdom". How many of you have already become rich off of betting on these Dubs games because I think the payout was like 17-1...bet a 100 you get 1700 back! conventional wisdom really f*%ked sports betters in the a$$ yesterday!!!...

rubbadubdub thanx for the playoffs!!!

by RubberDubDubs on May 4, 2007 2:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Simply awesome

You got it right that we were nervous all the way through. My friends were going "They got it," with 8 minutes left in the game and I was telling them to stop counting chickens. I relaxed when it got under the 2 minute mark. So psyched!!! What a team. How about Jax?! Did he just swallow a handful of ritalin before the game or something? Raining 3s total poker face the entire game. Man Don Nelson cracked a little smile before he did. And that JRich tomahawk. That game just silenced the few remaining doubters.

Now let's start speculatin' for round 2, cause I say the Warriors look good.

Awesome.

by walkerp on May 4, 2007 4:54 AM PDT 0 recs

Man!!

"You got it right that we were nervous all the way through. My friends were going "They got it," with 8 minutes left in the game and I was telling them to stop counting chickens." A true Warrior fan!!!!

rubbadubdub thanx for the playoffs!!!

by RubberDubDubs on May 4, 2007 2:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

the lawsuit

Shouldn't Cuban just automatically concede the court case between him and Nellie now? I mean after this Nellie can just stand up in court and say "I own you Cuban. Pay!" If there is any doubt, he can just show the video of Game 6. There's not a jury on the planet that would vote against him.

by walkerp on May 4, 2007 5:00 AM PDT 0 recs

Cuban as jilted loverboy

The Dallas Morning News asked Mark Cuban if last night's Mavericks' loss was more painful because he lost to former coach, now enemy, Don Nelson.
Cuban said:
"Not at all. Some old girlfriends are dating guys that I've known and married (them). More power to them. It doesn't make the least bit of difference."
I think that by making the jilted lover analogy, he actually admits it DOES make a big difference.
Go Warriors!
The Jazz and Rockets must be looking ahead now. And fearing.

by erik1966lutig on May 4, 2007 5:59 AM PDT 0 recs

Heh

Well of course it makes a difference. You can't expect him to cop to it though.

by achiappanza on May 4, 2007 9:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

The Sixth Man

Thanks again for the crowd photos. To everyone who was in attendance for this historic event: great job, and I am so jealous. Marv and Kerr claimed that GSW fans were tops in the NBA at least half a dozen times.

Baron & Barnes: 36 points, 21 rebounds, 13 assists, ... and 2 bad hammies.

by jgurney on May 4, 2007 7:08 AM PDT 0 recs

did anybody see barkley last night?

the fat man went from wearing a mavs jersey to a suns jersey and then last night, to a 15XL we believe t-shirt.

by CatchAndShoot on May 4, 2007 7:40 AM PDT 0 recs

It was in the third quarter

"that the magic really began."

actually I think it was earlier. When Baron went out our boys could have just folded but Monta comes in and goes to the rim and shows the mavs that we were not gonna lay down. Sure the big points and big story came from SJax and Baron but the little things that make a winner were Monta's coolness, Dris's hitting free throws when they tried the hack-a-shaq, Pietrus making a sweet inside pass to Jason for a dunk and Barnes leaping up to tip away a pass for a turnover. Watching them play thru the injury and seeing the total team hustle made it clear they really do believe.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 4, 2007 8:20 AM PDT 0 recs

We Believe!

I think every team wants to avoid the Warrior Machine!!!!

" Sleepy Floyd is Superman!!!"

by CoachBarry on May 4, 2007 9:01 AM PDT 0 recs

check this out

got it from an espn thread...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/byucygnus/caveman.gif

www.TRACKjams.com

by MANUTEs BOLs on May 4, 2007 9:17 AM PDT 0 recs

greatest moment of my life

literally. and im sure for many of the warrior faithful as well. we have waited years for this and it's here. it's surreal. the past two months have been surreal...from our playoff push to now.

by Genejo on May 4, 2007 9:30 AM PDT 0 recs

mad, mad love

For the GSOM boys. Atma, Hash, DJ FL, YaoB all you guys are tops. I've only been on board this Warriors trainwreck since Baron came to the bay and I was an emotional wreck all week. I can't imagine the satisfaction you all are feeling right now. Congratulations and so much respect for staying up in the face of such massive mediocrity for so many years.

This is history and we're all a part of it. Baron and this team are now legends and we knew it was possible. 1 DUB, last night was glorious.

by redape on May 4, 2007 9:32 AM PDT 0 recs

MADNESS

by agtarr on May 4, 2007 9:56 AM PDT 0 recs

re. Madness

Nice photoshop! This has got to be the poster at Game 3, ROUND 2!

by dubfan607 on May 4, 2007 1:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dallas had no heart

and the Warriors had loads of it. When it mattered, when the series and the season was on the line, the W's threw the knockout blow and Dallas folded. They didn't have it within themselves to respond and the GSW showed why they were the better team.

Frankly, I don't think too many people in here are surprised at all by the outcome of this series, because the W's were hot going into the playoffs, Dallas hadn't played a meaningful game in awhile and the W's simply own Dallas and have played great ball against them the past couple of years.

I was surprised that Dallas did not put up more than a fight. For most of the season, this team played like a "team on a mission" to get back to the Finals and win it this time, inspired by their total choke job last year to the Heat. But they thought they had a cakewalk and that the series would be handed to them just by showing up.

Unfortunatley, for them, they overlooked the Warriors, this whole series and didn't take thme seriously, until game 5 that is, when it dawned on them that their playoff run was going to end before it started. By then, it was too late. The W's had smacked Dallas in the mouth the whole series and Dallas had no answer.

Were there 2 consecutive quarters in this series where Dallas was the better team on the floor? No. They gave the W's their absolute best shot in Game 5 and the W's still had the game, only to let it slip away. Dallas blew a 21 point lead and couldn't believe it. At their best, Dallas knew the W's were at least their equal, if not superior.

That slip up wasn't going to happen in game 6, however, and as soon as the W''s started that 3rd quarter run, it was over. Dallas didn't have the heart to respond. Their leader was not leading them. They had no head, no heart. If the playoffs are about anything, it's about the will to win. Dallas never had it. The W's had it going away. That's the story of this series.

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

by Kobe on May 4, 2007 10:16 AM PDT 0 recs

congrats

way to go warriors on making it to the 2nd round. you are now average. i'll laugh in 2 years when jackson murders someone and drunken nellie quits on you too.

by crowbar on May 4, 2007 10:50 AM PDT 0 recs

Aw, poor Mavs fan

So spiteful...there was only one average team and we all know who that was.

by NY Warriors Fan on May 4, 2007 2:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

but now

You are crying!!!!!!!!!!

by Psion on May 4, 2007 2:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

Celebration

After watching Barkley with a WE BELIEVE T-shirt, I ran outside with my suitemates and we shouted "Warriors...Unstoppable Baby!" all throughout the Dorms. We got quite a few responses; it was great. We even had some chants going. I've never been so happy in my life. We better make it to round 3 so I can actually go to a home game; Round 2 is during my finals.

by racsan on May 4, 2007 10:53 AM PDT 0 recs

I think...

Finally, my mom understood my happiness. Normally she teases me about about all the "it's been so long" but yesterday when I hugged her for about a minute straight as the buzzer sounded, and said "I was 1 year old the last time they did this", I think at least someone understood what it's like for us die-hard Warrior fans.

THANK YOU JRICH, BARON, NELLIE, JACKSON, MULLIN, ALL THE WARRIORS, ALL THE FANS, ALL THE GSOMERS!!!

UNSTOPPABLE BABY!!!

by bradyk2 on May 4, 2007 11:06 AM PDT 0 recs

Hard to Believe

After the high hopes at the start being nearly crushed, to the Trade, then the fall, to knock off the 1st Seed is amazing.

Baron was a true Warrior but let's not forget SJax, he hit 3 consecutive 3's in the 3rd to help build the lead from 5 to 18 and he went for 33 all while playing great physical, hustling D on Nowitzki.

The Warriors played hustling D, wanted the long rebounds more and stayed aggressive.

Nothing better than "The City".

by philsmith75 on May 4, 2007 11:32 AM PDT 0 recs

UNSTOPPABLE...

BABY!!! How can you not love this team! Since 2000, I've gone to the Arena (when no corporate sponsor wanted to touch it) and watched the Warriors put on a great show! For the past 3 home games, the fans have become part of the show!

Props to GSoM!

by dubfan607 on May 4, 2007 12:58 PM PDT 0 recs

The ecstacy, the agony

Dude, I'm so happy for the Warriors I could spit. Mind you, I'm paying for your success. My team, the Pacers, now "enjoy" the services of Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy. Our loss was your gain, particularly since Stephen Jackson was instrumental to the upset. So yeah, I have mixed emotions. It's like going out to the club with your buddies, spending half the night and $100 hitting on the hot chick, then watching your best friend go home with her. Yeah, you're sort of happy, and yet also sort of miserable at the same time.

So, you know, congratulations.

by basketbawful on May 4, 2007 1:51 PM PDT 0 recs

Crowd Noise

I heard on KNBR afterward that the crowd got up to 121 decibels at one point. That is unreal. Great series and bring on Round 2!

by amalik49 on May 4, 2007 2:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Honestly...

...a tear came to my eye when the game was over and the guys put on their "We Believe" shirts. I had my one from Game 1, but had to watch at home. God, I love this team.

One Dub, One Love Baby!!

"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 4, 2007 2:13 PM PDT 0 recs

Thank You

I have said this in past posts...but this has been the most entertaining website that I have ever been too. Its nice sharing this moment with Warrior faithful at home, at the arena, and here online. THANK YOU GSoM for a great year, and its not even over yet! Last night was beautiful...I was happy to be at Game 3, so I KNOW what it was like at game 4 and 6, and in the future rounds. PROPS!

by gswrico on May 4, 2007 2:16 PM PDT 0 recs

One issue

hash I have to ask you to make this a co-warrior wonder. I almost threw up when I saw baron davis walk to the locker room last night. It was the one thing that could shake my confidence and it happened. But bum hamstring and all, baron outplayed jason terry and devin harris for almost the entire game, and we would have been down a whole lot without him dropping 11 straight in the 2nd. BD is amazing, even without all the talent his will, determination, and heart were just amazing. Baron has the heart of a champion, he deserves serious props for last night. Nothing against SJax who was NBA jam level ON FIRE last night, he plays with the same heart and determination. So let both of the men get theirs.

by FoyledAgain on May 4, 2007 2:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Couldn't agree more

Baron was outstanding! Might as well call it a three way and give love to the Arena crowd as well. 121 decibels (see above) is RIDICULOUS.

by Hash on May 4, 2007 2:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

unreal

Man, the Warriors can't be described with one word right now. Strength, belief, hustle, heart, power, fire, determination, magic etc etc etc. Webster's gonna have to put a new word in the dictionary. All I can say is much love to the Warriors and GSoM for keeping us on this one heck of a rollercoaster ride.

The Warrior revolution. It's here to stay.

by Caught Backcourt on May 4, 2007 3:54 PM PDT 0 recs

What the experts predicted...

http://crosspostings.blogspot.com/2007/05/warriors-beat-mavs-and-experts.html

A friend of mine forwarded me this link. Pretty interesting how the analyst predicted the series to turn out.

by pne987 on May 4, 2007 4:02 PM PDT 0 recs

Congrats

First of all I like this site. Very cool. Secondly good job taking out one of our biggest threats. I thought about stirring the pot alittle but really I am glad that you guys (the warriors) won. You guys are fun to watch. JRich is the man and Baron isn't too bad either. Hopefully we'll catch you in the finals.

by PISTONSFAN on May 4, 2007 6:37 PM PDT 0 recs

baron davis

is he gonna be ok for round 2?

by llamalimbo1 on May 4, 2007 8:09 PM PDT 0 recs

Warriors Nation in Beijing

After the game (which was Friday morning in Beijing), I was out at a music festival celebrating the victory with some cold Yanjings and sporting my The City jersey; I was there for no more than 1 hour when some random guy came up to my yelling, "WARRIORS BABY! THE CITY, YEAAHH!".

My reply: "ROUND 2 BABY! ROUND 2!"

Excellent. =)

by snelj22 on May 4, 2007 9:05 PM PDT 0 recs

aye aye aye.

i can't wait to see the next link dump. it's going to be like 40 pages long. it's warriors warriors every, on the net, on the tv and the friggin radio. it's a warriors love fest.
and i cannot seem to get enough.

by justin on May 4, 2007 11:04 PM PDT 0 recs

if you have not seen this...

it should tide you over.

http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2007_Playoffs_Media_Coverage.html

by stedanko on May 4, 2007 11:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

nice recap

the game was great. our team showed great team defense and of course, offensive poise.

everything has been said, but it was an excellent experience to be part of as a fan. do whatever it takes to treat yourself to playoff game at oracle. i am going to skip round 2 and save my money for the western conference finals(i believe).

i am still trying to read, listen to and watch what i can, but there is no way to consume all of the coverage. a couple of weeks ago we could read just about everything written about our favorite team in a single session of browsing. the amount of golden state warriors coverage these last few days is, has been, insane.

the best thing i read today was a blog that had a simple post for the singular purpose of sharing this quote from steven jackson. unfortunately, no date for the quote was given, but i know it was from before he came to golden state.

"I make love to pressure" -Steven Jackson

i found that in todays bullets on true hoop.

by stedanko on May 4, 2007 11:17 PM PDT 0 recs