Excitement, noise, lights, and 20,000 screaming basketball fans introduced the City of Dallas and the country to the opening night of the NBA Western Conference playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks. What they got was an occasional pop, some fizzle, and two teams who played like it was their first game of the season.
From the opening tip the game was of poor quality. Each team missed several shots, and the Mavericks couldn't buy a rebound. Coach Nelson of Golden State played his small team, (4 guards 1 forward,) which the Mavericks had supposedly prepared for. But like Nelson said in the locker room after the game, "I play what I have, which is eight players. There is nothing fancy about our game plan. It is the offense I am going to use throughout the playoffs." The Mavs adjusted by playing a three guard and two forwards defense.
Warriors Dominate Mavs in First Half
The first quarter ended with the Warriors leading 23-17. The Mavericks were shooting a dismal 26% and their defense was even worse. The Warriors weren't much better with 36%. The Mavericks missed lay ups and even the slam-dunk appeared beyond their ability. The Warriors allowed the Mavericks the outside shot, and the Mavericks obliged by constantly missing the shot. Even Dirk couldn't make his little turn around jump shot that he is so famous for.
And things didn't get much better in the second quarter. Mavericks Coach Johnson turned to his bench, which had been his "go to" strategy throughout the season. But even Jerry Stackhouse couldn't deliver. Even though Stackhouse played over 20 minutes in the game, he never made a bucket, going 0 in 6 with 3 assists.
With 4:35 left in the second quarter Jason Terry made a 3-point base line shot that brought some hope for the Dallas crowd. Just prior to that, Nowitski has missed a dunk shot, only to get the rebound and slam it so hard through the hoop that the pigeons were startled in the American Airlines Center rafters. The quarter ended with the Mavericks scoring 21 points and the Warriors 15. The game was tied 38 all at the half, and the Mavericks could hardly wait to exit the court. They had improved their shooting percentage to 32% and the Warriors fell to 29%. The feeling in the crowd was that things were going to get ugly.
Although the third quarter revealed a higher shooting percentage for both clubs, the playing was still dismal. With 7:50 left in the quarter the Mavericks got the lead 48-47 only to lose it seconds later and struggle to keep up throughout the game. For many, disappointment rules with the same thrust that the colonists must have felt against George III.
Can you imagine a team that won 67 games in the regular season played against a team that had won 42 and yet lost by 12 points. The Mavericks lost only 5 games on their home court the entire year. This would make the number 6, and it was nasty. The third quarter ended Warriors leading 85-72.
Warriors Obliterate Mavs in Fourth
In the fourth quarter Mavericks fans felt like they were watching a slow moving train. A train that would jump the track shortly and head into post-season abyss.
By the final period the Mavericks had been gutted and hung out to dry. With the clock ticking away the final seconds in the game, the Mavericks would walk to the locker room with shoulders slumped and heads down. The fans responded with boos. The first I had heard all year. Dirk Nowitzki had scored 14 points, going 4-for-16. He went 0-for-3 from the 3-point line just in the fourth quarter.
Golden State's point guard Baron Davis played like an MVP. He scored 33 points, with 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Guard Stephen Jackson for the Warriors had 23 points, 4 assists and went 3-for-7 from the 3-point range.
Small forward Jason Howard for the Mavericks had 21 points followed by Devin Harris with 19.
Warriors, Mavs Coaches Ready for Tough Playoffs
After the game, Mavericks Coach Avery Johnson had no opening remarks for the press, but did take questions. Although the Mavericks had been whipped like the mean neighbor's kid, he appeared confident the team would learn from the lessons they had been taught, and would come back on Wednesday night with a new game plan and play better ball. But I kept remembering what Nowitzki would say later, "Our shooting was off a little, and we could make the shots when we needed to."
Warrior Coach Don Nelson said he was real happy, but knew that this was going to be a tough series. "I am just proud to be here," he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes that could worry the heartiest of Mavericks fans.# # #
Feeds