I've been calculating Vegas Power Ratings this season based on all the spreads for every game. It's interesting and informative to know how a team rates according to Vegas, because as you probably already know, it's very tough to beat Vegas. Therefore, I would argue their rating system is probably better than virtually any other "lay person" rating you'll find on the web. In other words, when you find a rating system that can consistently beat Vegas, let me know. Or better yet, don't tell anyone, and try to make some money off of it. Chances are, if the guy posting the ratings could beat Vegas, he would keep that system to himself, don't you think?

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Warriors have 10 games scheduled on ESPN or TNT, and several more on NBATV this season. Six of those ESPN/TNT games come in April. Our back-to-back-to-back games come on April 20-22, and then we play again on April 24. That's 4 games in 5 nights! Crazy.

Is everyone psyched? Let's do this thing.

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With the NBA lockout finally over, the first big basketball question on most fans' minds is how their team's roster will take shape.

Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area has already laid out an overview of the Golden State Warriors roster, Tom Ziller of SB Nation has laid out the NBA free agent list for the entire league, and David Fucillo of SBN Bay Area has posted the list of Warriors free agents. Of course, there's that whole amnesty clause thing too, but for now let's begin with free agency by taking a closer look at the Warriors' four free agents.

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A 101F fever didn't stop this move.

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I only have time for a quickie today: Another must win for the Mavericks tonight to take the series lead before they head back to Miami for Game 6 and 7. Expect the Heat to strike hard after going scoreless for 5 1/2 minutes in the 4th qtr. Expect LeBron James to go for a quintuple double after his poor scoring performance. Expect Dirk Nowitzki to play better without the fever.

Tonight's lineup

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What will these guys say tonight about Mark Jackson as the Warriors head coach?

Mike Breen: So Jeff, any thoughts on your partner being a head coach?
Jeff Van Gundy: There's going to be some ugly basketball coming out of Oakland.
MB: Why's that?
JVG: Every player on the floor will be flailing their arms and falling to the floor trying to flop a foul call.
Mark Jackson: What's wrong with that? You have to sell the call!
JVG: Sell the call?!? They're NBA players, not door-to-door salesmen! I can't wait until we broadcast one of your games. Then every time I see one of your players flop, I'm pointing my finger at you and saying "Mark Jackson, you're better than that!"

Tonight's lineup

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These guys are unpredictable. No Kidding around.

5pm PST | ABC

Game 2 was a flat out shocker. I was watching the game with my boys Clipper Raj and Laker V. We were blown away by those talents in South Beach. I was proclaiming the series over with the Heat up by 15 in the 4th. I was also proclaiming this decade in the NBA over with the Heat about to win 6 titles. But then in their usually unpredictable way the Mavs came out of nowhere and won it.

It's gets even more unpredictable, so JUMP!

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The Western Conference Champs of 2011: Dallas Mavericks

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For most of the night, the Mavericks hung around a 6-8 pt deficit. You kind of got the feeling that they felt they could turn it on in the end and just sprint past the Thunder. Which was what they did, sort of. The Mavericks turned up the defense and stole the ball twice from the Thunder. But what ultimately killed the Thunder was 2 key rebound fails: First, with the Mavericks deficit at 2, Dirk Nowitzki goes for a 3 and misses. Russel Westbrook failed to secure the rebound (or officially, he DID get the defensive rebound, then lost it to Jason Terry), and the ball made its way back to Dirk who took another 3 and hit it, Mavericks up 1. Second, with the Thunder down 2 and 17 seconds to go, Dirk takes a 2 that rims out, but AGAIN, the Thunder could not get that rebound. It went to Kidd instead, game over.

And so, the Mavericks return to the Finals to face what will most likely be the Heat in a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals. But first, the Heat need to close out the Bulls, which brings us to tonight.

Tonight's lineup

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The puck's over there somewhere! Get it! Uh oh...

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You've probably heard of the organization called PETA. They're the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. They work on protecting animals from mistreatment and cruelty. I propose creating an extension to that group called PETSF, People for the Ethical Treatment of Sharks Fans. It's bad enough that the Sharks lost AGAIN in the postseason. It's a form of animal cruelty to Sharks fans when you see HOW they lost in double OT:

Youtube link: Canucks final goal

The Canucks players didn't know where the puck went. The Sharks players didn't know where the puck went. For god's sake, even the camera man didn't know where the puck went. Only Canucks player Kevin Bieksa saw it because it ricocheted off a stanchion right to him. And in hockey, OT = sudden death, so that lucky Bieksa goal instantly terminated the Sharks playoff season. When you add in a questionable icing call against the Sharks in the 3rd period that eventually led to the Canucks game-tying goal, you may want to donate a few bucks to PETSF.

So if you see a Sharks fan crying their eyes out or cursing the sky at the hockey gods, give 'em a hug, buy 'em a drink, and tell them that you're a Warriors fan and you understand pain. Then grab a plane for Dallas for tonight's game to see if the Mavericks can close out their series.

Tonight's lineup

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