The Golden State Warriors. I wanted to do this post after they win in Dallas tomorrow night, but it just couldn't wait. I'm that confident in this team. I will be the first to admit I didn't buy them as a sleeper to beat Dallas as some predicted, but then again I forgot Baron Davis is 100% healthy for the first time since he played in Charlotte.
Let me just throw some career play-off stats at ya first.
2001 NBA Play-offs: 18 ppg 4 rpg 6 apg...Ok not so great, but his season average was 13 ppg 4 rpg and 7 apg. Credit his assists went down he was scoring more.
2002 NBA Play-offs: 23 ppg 7 rpg 8 apg...his season average was 18 ppg 4 rpg 8 apg...again improving and stepping up.
The Hornets made the play-offs every year he was on that team His rookie year he didn't get much ticks and even though he played in the play-offs the following two seasons on the Hornets after the stats I listed he stayed there wasn't much improvement from the regular season because one year he only played 50 regular season games, the last year only 18 due to injuries. Still in 2003 he averaged 20 ppg 3 rpg and 8 apg and in the following year (remember only 18 reg season games) he averaged 18 ppg 4 rpg and 7 apg in the play-offs.
So what about this year on the Warriors and HEATHY again...
26 PPG 6 rpg 5 apg and around 3 spg and his FG% is 54%
I don't know how many of you watched Baron Davis in Charlotte, but this is vintage Baron Davis here in Golden State. I forgot how great o####uard he is when healthy, arguably one of the best point guards in the league behind Nash, Kidd, and Arenas. People are saying he's old? He is 28, but people talk like he's in his 30's. I'll take Arenas out of the conversation because he's injured, but right now I would want Baron Davis on my team OVER Jason Kidd or Steve Nash. Stats aside, I just don't think ANY PG in the league can stop Baron from creating without a double team. Davis may not get as many assists, but that's because the ball gets swung around a few more passes after he creates the play. And honestly, who can cover him? Every time they didn't bring a double team he went straight to the hoop or even popped an arrogant jump shot (which he can make, 54%) in Terry's or Harris' or both their grills. I still can't believe 54% though, have you watched the games? Have you seen some of the shots he's taken that have gone in? He's had a lay-up line in some situations against Dallas, but most if not ALL his jumpers are contested. I would LOVE to see this team play the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Bell on Baron, what a match-up that would be. (There's no way they'll throw Steve Nash AKA Canadian Bacon on him)
Lets not forget about the rest of this team. If Richardson and Davis had been healthy all year along with the addition of Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington this team would have been a Top 5 contender in the West. I mean you're crazy if you don't think this team could take Houston, Utah, or even San Antonio and Phoenix in a series, or atleast give them a run for their money. Throw out the season record against these teams, this team wasn't healthy until it made their play-off run. They only lost ONCE in April. 16-5 in their last 21 games.
Lets not forget maybe their most important player. The Sixth Man on the court. The crowd. Have you seen their two home games? All this team has to do is take homecourt advantage (Like they did against Dallas) and I don't think this team will LOSE at home. They've only lost ONE home game since March. Right now The Oracle (sounds like something from LOTR, it'd be perfect Frodo came from New York and played for G State) is the hardest place to play in the NBA.
If you don't BELIEVE this team can not only take care of the Mavs in five games, you should believe this team could easily knock out Houston or Utah in the next round and I think they'd be the first 8th seed in NBA history to make it to the Conference Finals. I wouldn't be surprised.
Images Courtesy of nba.com and Google Images
A parody of the hook from Juelz Santana "The Second Coming" was used as the title.
Congrats on Most Interesting Verb; very well deserved on a great job here. It seems as though they might have a new fan. I too love the underdog and this story of their march on the Mavs is exciting stuff.
Interesting thing about Baron's health: I hear he needs to arrive at least a couple hours before every game just to get his leg ready to play. Even though he's healthy, he's hardly at his best, and still, look at the numbers he's puting up. His leadership has been great to watch too.
Closing out the Mavs in Dallas will be tough. Expect a very physical game. Dallas has to find a way to rattle the headstrong Warriors.
The warriors shouldnt even be in the playoffs how many teams can say that there best two players miss a combined 53 games , trade away half the team and still make the playoffs. Thats jus great coaching. But watch out next year when they play the whole year together. They have in my eyes the best back court in the league. (never mind i forgot kidd and carter) but still al harington is great and jackson is known for making big shots(or lettin them off lol) if they can jus get a good center who knows
Good Post. Tonights game will decide if this Mavs team has any balls at all. I still feel the Mavs are the better team and history says that it is possible for the Mavs to comeback. It will be tough and Dirk needs to be the MVP tonight. No question about it.
Steelerfan: Thanks man. I finally popped the Most Interesting Blog cherry. Champaigne showering is in the near future.
MD: I had no idea he's still not 100%, he's definitely not playing like he's still having knee problems. And even if Dallas wins tonight, I think they have the series locked either way I don't see them losing at home.
JQP: Agreed.
RayRay: I wouldn't say they shouldn't be in the play-offs. They kept in it for the most part even with injuries then went on that huge run when they had all their guys back. Coaching is a part of it though, I definitely forgot to give Nellie credit in my post. Next year if healthy they will be a Top 5 team in the West as they would have been this year if they stayed healthy.
PTI: True, but even if Dallas wins tonight I don't think ANY team would be able to beat Golden State in that Game 6 situation it'll create. The Oracle will be even more insane with the chance of them being able to eliminate Dallas AT HOME. They all ready broke their highest attendance record twice in this series and I'm sure they'll break it again if there's a Game Six in Golden State.
Now i laugh because when John Thompson said that they would win on his radio show, i laughed but he did predict the Heat winning the championship last year and he knows basketball. Don't count utah out yet either, but if anyone can win 3 in a row it is the Mavs.
When i said they shouldnt be in the playoffs its not they there not good its how many teams can loose there best 2 players for that long and still make it. It shows that they are real tough to me. And again they traded away there whole team. Its like they fit together perfect. Next year they might be a 4-7 seed. Thats what i meant by they shouldnt have been in the playoffs. They were the hottest team in the league towards the end of the season. they went 16and 5 to make it. They are not a normal 8 seed they r much better. But u take marion and nash off the suns for 53 games and lets see what they do we all saw what happen to the wiz when they lost there best 2 players
I live in the Charlotte area so I remember how good he was here. I am not sure about closing out in Dallas. However, I agree they will win the series. Very possible they go to the conference finals. Good post.
DatStar: Dallas is capable of winning three in a row, but not against this Golden State team. Dirk even said if they lost Game Four their season was over. They look more shook they then did last year against the Heat.
RayRay: I see what you're saying.
JoeDuke: Thanks man. Him and Mashburn were a joy to watch back then.
Great post, first blog I actually read through concerning the Warriors Mavericks series (there are about 100).
I'm a heartbroken Knicks fan, but this well coached Warriors team can truly create a Cinderella Story in the future and next year be serious contenders
Great read
I really, really wanted to predict this upset before the playoffs began.
Unfortunately, I didn't and there is still a small chance that I'll be happy that I predicted Dallas to win.
I've stated this many times but Dallas' inability to control opposing star guards is nothing new.
Kobe dropped 62 in 3 quarters versus them last season. Wade destroyed them in the Finals games 3-6.
It's no surprise to me that B. Davis is having this much success against the Mavericks. Davis is a terrific player but he's exposing flaws in that team that have existed for quite some time.
I'm not surprised by Nowitzki's failure to assert himself either. He's a great player but he hasn't proven himself to be cut throat enough to win a championship as the leader of his team.
What I am surprised by is Avery Johnson's inability to make adjustments once more. He's being outcoached by Nelson just as he was Pat Riley in last season's Final.
dzyanks: You're not the only heartbroken Knicks fan.
Hoffman: You're right. I had Dallas in Five in this series before it started, but guard play has exposed Dallas all year. Avery Johnson seems to play on emotions more than strategy. I still think Baron Davis is one of those players that could give any team in the West major defensive problems, except maybe San Antonio (who's doing a great job on AI and Melo). As for Dirk, he doesn't have that cut-throat championship mentality, but he shows glimpses of it (The two threes at the end of Game 4 were pretty clutch, but also too late).
Last edited by Verbal_Intercourse on May 1st at 3:53 PM.
Yao Fan: Thanks man. The Rockets looked solid last night. Hell Idk who Houston or Utah would rather play if they moved on though, Dallas or Golden State?
I have never forgotten how good Baron Davis is. The guy is awesome and it's a shame he has been hurt so often in his career. It's great to see him really balling again. Any team with a healthy Baron has a chance.
Now close this thing out and keep on marching along.
You're right it ain't over till it's over. G-State just proved it by coming back and making this a ball game. What a game this is I hope you guys are watching this. It's exciting basketball.
Oh and how was Jason Terry not ejected for DDTing Baron Davis? If ANYONE on G-State did that they'd be ejected.
Verbal, Baron is a worse actor than Madonna!
When he comes off his cocaine high, he'll crater.
It was a GREAT game.
Dirk is the key for Dallas. Send him to the hoop on every play.
Who was that GState fool who was T'd up twice and tossed out of the game? Jackson again.
Finally a great series.
If State is cold, meaning under 50%, Dallas is back, yet, I doubt it. Davis is playing so far over his head, he won't come down till the next round.
Did Dirks performance in the fourth quarter quiet his critics a little bit? He misses those threes, Dallas' season is over. A lot of work is still to be done, but perhaps people were being too hard on him.
Idk how Baron fouled Harris without touching him. He maybe body checked him from behind, but that kind of thing happens on every rebound. Baron got called for a foul because he did go for it, but BACKED OFF. Stephen Jackson gets tossed for nothing, but Jason Terry slams Baron Davis to the ground clearly after the play was done and doesn't get thrown out? I'm not going to blame the refs because it wasn't their fault there's a few bad calls every game. And by the time Jackson was ejected the game was over. Golden State #### up in the last minute in a half.
That was the worst clock kill attempt of all time. One guy holds the ball until 6 ticks on the shotclock and THEN makes the first pass? Idk they did it THREE times in a row and basically handed the game to Dallas.
and a note, I never downgraded Dirk.
But the good thing about this game was Golden State's second half run, if they got blown out I doubt they'd recover for Game Six.
Last edited by Verbal_Intercourse on May 1st at 10:35 PM.
Verbal...Alot of bad calls in this game for sure, I don't think Dallas has a chance to win two straight, Pardon you have a lot of troubles even if you get lucky and get by GS, which you won't , great post Verbal!
verbal.
did you actually watch the game? Baron Davis is the worst actor in California since your Governor.
look at the film. Davis lock arms with Terry then as Terry stumbles over him barely touching the guy, he fakes a facial injury.
his face never got touched excpet by air.
Don Nelson at his best teaching his players how to flop and force the refs to make up calls..
this series is UGLY UGLY..
just shows you how bad the NBA is..
the Suns with no defense are tring to turn the league into peewee ball, the Heats bad acting got them a championship last year, then got them swept this year, and squads of gangsta wanna-bes like the Warriors and Lakers have their fans jumping on Bandwagons faster than Simon Coweel on Sanjaya...
This whole NBA playoffs thing is about as predicatable as Hendricks racing finishing 1,2 every week in NASCAR
Is Football Season here yet??????
Yes I did watch the game. Without a Texas or Golden State bias either. One, I'm not from Cali so that's not my governor who acts. How can you say this series is ugly, every game except Game 2 has been exciting basketball.
And two, are you serious? Davis was acting when he got thrown to the ground by Jason Terry? You can clearly see his arm on his chest-throat area of Baron Davis.
As for Golden State being floppers in general? Did you watch this game? They're one of the most aggressive teams in the play-offs.
If you don't like how the NBA's image is then don't watch it?
The Warriors aren't thugs. Baron Davis is one of the classier guys in the NBA.
And for the Lakers having thugs? Yeah Walton and Sasha Vujacic are gangstaaaaaaaaa with Big Papa Phil Jackson turning tricks.
Last edited by Verbal_Intercourse on May 2nd at 9:06 AM.
I write my opinion like I'm chatting with my friends .I'm a college student. I go to the University at Albany. I'm a Psychology major as of now, and I'm not looking to spark a career off this blog. I just want to have some fun with this. I'm 20 years old. I'm from New York but I've only been a homer for the Giants during my life. Not too big on any other New York team except I'll jump on the Knicks bandwagon if they're doing good. I'm a big fan of the Lakers and Chargers. Other then UAlbany sports I'm a big fan of USC football and basketball. I'm a sucker for players though. I'll route for teams based on their superstars alone, especially when my teams aren't doing well. I try my best not to be bias with my opinion and I hope you enjoy my writing.
