The D.A.Y. the Golden State Warriors ruined everything
Down go the Mavs
I went to bed last night as the Mavs played the Warriors, assuming that Dallas would win their 18th in a row, the Suns would take care of Houston, and we’d be ready for the game of the year on Wednesday. For a brief second, I sat up in bed and thought to myself “Can Golden State really pull this off? No, that’s crazy talk.” Wrong. Not crazy. The pressure of the streak has been released, and now Phoenix will have to take on an angry Dallas team in big D on Wednesday night. The Mavs have not lost many times this season, but when they do, they take it personally and respond with an indignant fury. The Suns should be afraid. They should be very afraid.
GOLDEN STATE 117 DALLAS 100
Dirk had a nightmare of a game, shooting 3 of 11, turning the ball over 7 times, and going through what seemed to be a psychological meltdown. He flattened Baron Davis out of frustration and picked up a tech after Avery took him out of the game, for talking to a ref while on the bench. Nellie and the Warriors own the Mavs for some reason, and on this night they brought out the steamroller. It wasn’t as close as the 17 point score indicates. The latest unbeatable streak came crashing down to earth, killing all vegetation and millions of animals in the process. Congrats to the Golden State Warriors, who are still a game out of the playoffs. Do something with this momentum! They’ve already beaten the Mavs twice this season, and they could be headed to a first round playoff series where the Warriors can put the fear of God in Dallas, or make them so angry the Mavs sweep by a combined 200 points in four games. Dirk’s postgame quote: “We were backpedaling all game long. We were just never really ready to play. That’s something we’ve got to learn from if we want to do anything this year in the postseason.” Avery has got these guys trained to kill anything that moves. And they hate puppy dogs and sunshine. The NBA needs villains, and I think we can force the Mavs to fill that role. Dallas Mavericks, you losers.
PHOENIX 103 HOUSTON 82
Meanwhile, the Suns had no such problem. Leandro Barbosa’s speed overwhelmed the grindhouse Rockets, who couldn’t slow things down. Barbosa had 32, Marion had 14 and 15 as well as some shut down defense on T-Mac, and Yao was held to 1 of 9 shooting. The Suns are flying high, burning hot, whatever you want to call it they are ready for Wednesday. This works out nicely, cause Wednesday is the only regular season NBA game that matters, and then the NCAA tourney gets going the next day when nobody cares about the NBA. Like I wrote yesterday, we will be on the dark side of the moon, where the ship orbits and nobody on Earth can see it until it comes back around into the light, the light being April. Is everyone confused? Good. D’Antoni was tossed for picking up a double tech for the first time in two years and had a pretty amusing comment about referee Ron Olesiak “We were friends at halftime. I don’t know what happened. The relationship just went downhill in the second half. I just said a couple of things I shouldn’t have said. He should have tossed me. It happens. We’re all kids out there.” So the Suns are laughing while the Mavs are bubbling with rage. Prediction for tomorrow night: PAIN.
And the three other games…
NEW JERSEY 113 MEMPHIS 102
Richard Jefferson made his return, the Nets got 24 from Mikki Moore to complement Vince’s 30, as the Grizzlies have not yet won back to back games this season. That’s pretty sad.
TORONTO 108 MILWAUKEE 93
The Raptors smell the playoffs and a division title and they are surging towards it. Even with Michael Redd scoring 29 and Charlie Bell’s 25, the Bucks were overmatched. Chris Bosh had 25 and 10 and T.J. Ford had 19 and 9.
CHARLOTTE 119 ORLANDO 108
The Bobcats hit 14 of 22 threes, which is surprising because Orlando is supposed to be the playoff bound team here. They didn’t look like it, to put it gently. Dwight Howard racked up some big numbers in garbage time, but this was about the lights out Cats. 24 points and 10 assists for Derek Anderson. Charlotte had 39 assists as a team out of 42 field goals. Orlando drops below Jersey, into the 10th spot in the East, and now the Sixers - on a seven game winning streak - are kind of sort of maybe near the playoff picture. Wow, Eastern Conference. Just wow.
33 Responses to “The D.A.Y. the Golden State Warriors ruined everything”
Mar.13 at 9:19 am
Cub Buenning says:
I told y’all last week about this fully-constituted Golden State line-up!
Biedrins for ASG ‘08! Unless he gets outvoted by Mark Blount.
Mar.13 at 9:48 am
Tariq says:
Much like the Mavs, I also hate puppies. Sunshine I view with a certain kind of ambivalence, but my real nemesis is springtime. So, to conclude, I am very much like the Mavs, but with the hated springtime instead of sunshine. So I might justlose four straight against the Pacers. Whoo!
Mar.13 at 9:49 am
Matthew says:
Dare I say it… Baron Davis, Player of the D.A.Y. again?? Damn he had some dimes last night and their whole squad played great. Looks like Nellie’s got his protégé ’s number.
Mar.13 at 9:52 am
1hush D says:
I live in Oregon but when I go to NBA games, I drive to Oakland. Rather than suffer through a poorly managed Trailblazer team game with a bunch of arrogant, yuppie socialites in Portland, I prefer to watch Golden State with a live funk band (and DJ), breakdancers and of course, the Warriors themselves, who can beat any team, just not regularly. Oakland is a good place to watch an NBA game.
Mar.13 at 10:04 am
Boyd says:
Tomorrows game is gonna feel like a finals game. I hope to god GS make it to the playoffs, this postseason could be even better than last year. The West is truly awesome. GS or LAC or LAL, the 7/8s in the West, could all push Detroit in a finals series, maybe not win, but it would be more competitive than when the Pistons get destroyed by PHX or DAL. Fuck me I can’t wait til tomorrow.
Mar.13 at 10:10 am
Ike says:
We all knew it was comin. Dirk and the rest of the Mavericks were both getting too full of themselves and having the worst game of their streak. Very disappointing, but ish happens.
Mar.13 at 10:12 am
Matthew says:
Or, how bout the dude with the best J’s in the League. Since Baron has already got, what, 4? d.a.y. awards, give it to DA. And I’ll go ahead and call it; Tomorrow, the player of the D.A.Y. will be Dirk. Mav’s by 8.
Mar.13 at 10:15 am
A_B says:
I see phoenix winning wednesday’s game. or dallas making it a blowout
Mar.13 at 10:22 am
Ike says:
I wish we put Dallas and Suns in seperate divisions. Just imagine the Finals.
Mar.13 at 10:28 am
Ron says:
Sixers vs. Pistons, 1st round in the Leastern Conference. Billy King will screw the great city of Philadelphia again, this time by winning games when the team should be losing. The last 2 seasons we wanted a winning team and got crap. This year we appreciated the crap and look at what they decided to do. They are the hottest team in the east right now and will get the last spot in the playoffs.
Mar.13 at 11:07 am
Brian says:
I am sorry, but Dallas is not that good. Soft as tissue. Detroit would beat Dallas if they played in the finals.
Mar.13 at 11:22 am
Eric says:
I wouldn’t go by this game aqnd say the Mavs are soft and would lose to the Pistons. Remember, the Pistons lost by 20+ to the Warriors twice this year, including a thirty point drubbing at Oakland. warriors are 4-0 versus the big D’s (Dallas and Detroit).
Mar.13 at 11:48 am
TONIO says:
tomorrow’s game wont’ mean shit.. they won’t meet in the playoffs unless they somehow play each other before facing the spurs.. cuz once they go up against them its over for either.. dallas maybe has a chance but phx aint’ shit for the spurs.. believe dat..
Mar.13 at 11:48 am
albie1kenobi says:
the GSW/mavs game was awesome. if you are a warriors fan that is. they ran out the gate to 8-0, fueled with 3 steals in those first posessions. then there were a lot more backdoor lobs and passes that led to spectacular plays. the warriors employed a quick pace rotate-everything, double-everything, challenge-all-passing-lanes defense, and the mavs never could any sort of offense going. i don’t think i’ve seen mavs as disorgnaized as this in god know how long. GSW were wiping mavs off the floor, leading by at least 31 points mid-way through the 3rd quarter.
and honestly i don’t think any one player can win the P.O.T.D. because they were playing as a team and no one player really dominated or stood out. richardson, whoo, and baron all had 7 assists, and the high point man was pietrus at 20. i’d give it to nellie, but he’s not a player so that’s off. but shouldn’t warriors have some sort of recognition anyway for living up to their potential and ending the league’s best team’s 17 game winning streak? i’m scratching my head though.
Mar.13 at 12:02 pm
J3K says:
Last night Dallas was sloppier than any other game I can remember and they didn’t look anything like a number one team in the league.
Half of their turnovers probably came on spin moves away from the basket at the freethrow line. It was ridiculous!
Goldenstate just picked ‘em clean. P.S. Baron flopped when dirk ‘leveled’ him.
Mar.13 at 12:42 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
At least Mark Cuban has this to cheer him up: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=internetNews&storyid=2007-03-13T131722Z_01_WEN5351_RTRUKOC_0_US-VIACOM-YOUTUBE.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
Mar.13 at 12:48 pm
Chris says:
“I am sorry, but Dallas is not that good. Soft as tissue.” Wha-a? Not that good?!? They’re 52-10. They could take the rest of season off and probably still have home court advantage in the playoffs. They’ve beaten the Suns, Spurs, Lakers, and Pistons this season. Damn, they lose for the first time in months and the haters just come out of the woodwork.
Mar.13 at 12:58 pm
Chad Nothe says:
A few Words, that make Dallas great, Avery Johnson tells them all the time “I don’t care about winning” just do what you’re suppose and play the game right and you may have a chance at winning. Any time a team that concentrates on what they “should” be doing will win games, alla Dallas Mavericks..
Mar.13 at 1:16 pm
Aaron says:
I vote for Shawn Marion for player of the day. He was everywhere last night and played great D on TMac.
Mar.13 at 1:34 pm
Vic Alexander says:
Warriors have a serious roster. Now if they can only stay healthy. They must have the worst training staff in the NBA. What other team can’t seem to keep their guys on the floor? With all the $ teams spend on player, they should start holding the trainers accountable. If you can’t keep guys healthy though regimen, diet, etc., then get people who can. Otherwise, you could have Dr. Dre behind the bench to tape up guys and hand out ice and it’d be the same result as GS has anyways.
Mar.13 at 2:05 pm
Redrum says:
Can anyone see else the Mavs loosing from the Spurs? I truly think the will not win it this year. I really cannot pinpoint what is missing though… they play great basketball, but… it seems to me they are lacking personality and leadership. Their stongest personality is their coach…
Mar.13 at 2:15 pm
Redrum says:
P.S. How do I get my name to be in orange?
Mar.13 at 2:37 pm
Sherri says:
“Dallas Mavericks, You Losers”-CLASSIC. i like the way u described the unbeatable streak as well. and wht the hell is wrong with orlando, could they possibly do anything right? Suns are so boring to watch, just as boring was nets and grizz game.
Mar.13 at 2:50 pm
Bozaframa says:
Warriors earn 8th spot in west, the SHOCK THE WORLD and beat the Mavs in round 1!
Mar.13 at 3:16 pm
mei says:
If you read some of the comments of what Avery Johnson and what some Mav players said about the Warriors, not very humble 50+ winners. Then you get a team like Phoenix. Class all the way.
Mar.13 at 3:27 pm
Brian says:
Chris, Dallas lost to Detroit this year. I do not have an explanation for their record this year. It is impressive. You can pound them inside though. This is a team I saw send a double team at Rueben Patterson on the block.
Mar.13 at 3:41 pm
Zig says:
Got to be Barbosa for Player of the D.A.Y.: 32 pts. in 35 minutes plus 8 boards & 3 dimes. Give it up for the Brazilian Blur — the 2006/2007 6th Man of the Year!
Mar.13 at 4:23 pm
Hersey says:
LB for Player of the D.A.Y. The man has unstoppable last night. Redrum, if you put a website in the website field your name will be orange.
Mar.13 at 5:20 pm
PIMPN says:
ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!!!! JULIAN WRIGHT!!!!!! B RUSH SUPER MARIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mar.13 at 11:10 pm
Tom Jackson says:
The Grizzlies have not yet won back to back games this season, but if I could, I’d seriously bet, I mean actually bet money that were they in the Atlantic and had played the schedule of an Atlantic team they’d be very close to playoff contention in the East, especially since Gasol’s return. That’s even sadder.
Mar.13 at 11:28 pm
Tom Jackson says:
btw Sam, I love the Clubber Lang innuendo.
Mar.14 at 6:12 am
Boyd says:
One thing about the Mavs, and why it is very UNLIKELY they will win it all. In a revision of an earlier argument, no team, other than the Jordan Bulls, has ever won a championship without a very good pivot, a very good point, or both. These two positions are fundamental to the game, so lets look at the facts; Last years heat, Shaq, Pistons, Chauncey and Big Ben (both at the time top 3 players at their pos. in the L) Tim Duncan is a pivot, not a powerforward, he just never made it back after D-rob left. The Lakers with Shaq, Rockets with Hakeem, Pistons with Isaiah first time round, Celts wouldn’t have won it without Parish, a top 5 centre of his day, in the middle to police the Hakeems and Kareems of the world. Dr. J won squat til Moses turned up, the Lakeshow had Magic AND Kareem, the Blazers had Bill Walton; on and on it goes all the way back to Cousy and Mikan et al in the 50’s. Dirk Nowitzki is no Jordan, and the Mavs have no elite players at the two key positions. The Suns on the other hand, are loaded at both, with the best point guard, and a top 3 centre (who has dominated Howard and Yao this year, the only two bigs you could legitimately put above him.)
May.2 at 5:08 pm
» W.I.N.N.E.R.S. - SLAM ONLINE says:
[…] DALLAS: Dirk Nowitzki. Finally coming through. The season was over and he saved it. Rather than getting into a whole big thing about whether he is or he is not the MVP or a leader, I have an easier solution. Do it again Dirk. Let’s see it on the road now. No excuses about being guarded by aggressive smaller players, or the system, or double teams, or whatever reasons there are. Does anyone remember this? Dirk has sucked against the Don Nelson coached Warriors in Oakland, and that is a fact. He needs to overcome that. But right now, after last night he is a W.I.N.N.E.R. We have been down this road with Dirk before, when he has the big clutch moment and then everyone gushes oh you can’t stop a guy that’s 7 feet tall, can hit from anywhere on the court, can not be guarded, is playing at such a high level… and then he goes back to being a guy that floats around the perimeter and gets tight. That is not allowed tomorrow night in Oakland. var staf_confirmtext = ‘Mail sent’ #stafBlock { position: absolute !important; z-index: 100000; display: none; width: 200px; } #stafForm { background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #cf2652; padding: 5px; margin:0; } #stafForm h2 { margin: 0; } #stafForm input, #stafForm label, #stafForm h2 { font-family: ‘Lucida Grande’, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; font-size: 1em; color: #222222; } #stafForm input { width: 90px; height: 15px; margin-top: 5px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } #stafForm label { float: left; display: block; width: 90px; line-height: 16px; } #stafClose { float: right; margin-right: 5px; } x […]