The Roller Coaster Ride

Even though the Warriors lost this game, I think our original statement about this series is holding true, that this would be the greatest 1 v. 8 playoff matchup in NBA history. The Warriors were down 21 at one point, only to storm back and take a 9 pt. lead and then finally - after 5 games - the MVP decided to show up. The Warriors proved they can rise from the dead, while the Mavs, for once, proved they can actually be clutch (although D-Wade probably disagrees). This series certainly has an NBA Finals feel to it.

What was strange though was that down the stretch the Warriors totally collapsed. The Mavs did a good job of denying BDizzle the ball, but still, he could have come back out after passing off to Barnes or Jackson to get himself one on one with Harris again. The Warriors didn't do that and they paid the price. It also kind of hurt that Davis fouled out (the last one True Hoop thought was a horrible call) seeing as he's the key to the entire series.

Meanwhile, I can't say I'm all that worried about the Warriors. The Mavs can't beat the Warriors 3 straight. The last time they beat the Warriors 3 straight was 1942. The Mavs also played their best game of the series by far (Austin Croshere? What the hell?) and they still only won by a hair's breath. The Warriors, however, didn't even bother to show up for the first quarter. But that's what you get with the Warriors. They're the Phoenix Suns on amphetamines. They take horrible shots and make horrible passes at times, but they also can catch fire as well. That's just who they are. It's their greatest strength and their greatest weakness all rolled into one. Dallas has deserved to win the two games they've won in the series, no question, but at the same time the Warriors sometimes get so out of control they essentially beat themselves. Stephen Jackson getting ejected again was also not real surprising, although I have to be honest, those were the two quickest T's I've ever seen in my life. Jackson got called for pulling a "Baron Davis" by clapping too much and I believe the refs seem to dislike him more than other players. Why? Well Jackson gets two T's for clapping while Jason Terry gets only one T for bodyslamming Baron Davis. Huh?

But now the series shifts back to Oakland, where the fans (and Jessica Alba) will bring everything they have and it will be absolutely deafening. Plus TNT has been doing a great job of using Gangsta Rap instrumentals whenever they go to a commercial break in Oakland. That's unbeatable.

There's no question that the Warriors know they should have won this game. No one even thought Game 5 would even be close. The Warriors also know that they can win no matter what the Mavs throw at them. And you know BDizzle is fuming about that 6th foul. The Warriors are pissed, big time, and they always play well the game after Stephen Jackson gets ejected. The City will do what Dwyermaker originally predicted them to do - win it in 6, at home, in Oakland.

-WCK