They have been winning one and loosing the next game for the past 14 contests. If only that trend were broken, if only they won that pivotal last game against the Denver Nuggets, then they would have the tie-breaker and their fate in their hands. Instead, they had to win all their remaining games, and hope that the Nuggets will lose against the lowly Memphis Grizzlies. Such a tall order.

The pain of almost making it is unbearable. They have worked so hard all season lang. Just a win could have a difference. They squeezed in last season, even upsetting title-faved Dallas, but in the most competitive Western Conference ever happening this year, squeezing-in wouldn’t be enough. This is the season where they would say that they almost made it in the play-offs. Yup! Almost, but not quite in it.

The Warriors were beaten at home by the fifth-seeded Utah Jazz, 101-115. Derek Fisher was instrumental in this one, pouring 14 of his 21 points in the decisive fourth, after the Warriors and the Jazz were trading baskets back and forth. Frankly, the Jazz will win in five games. Utah has been unbeaten at home in the play-offs and they will wrap it up in Game Five at Salt Lake City.

Don Nelson’s boys were badly outplayed in this one. Most of the Golden State players are first timers in the play-offs except for Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson. But both guys were shooting poorly in this one. Jackson went 5-of-15 from the field, and Davis was a miserable 6-of-16. The Warriors can’t expect a “W” if their leaders couldn’t bring their A-game.

Even so, the Warriors did not expect to go this far. And it has been a great season for the Bay Area ballers. They will be more formidable come next postseason as they have gained much experience.

He is my second most favorite NBA player, next only to Steve Nash. He should not have blurted out those defeatist words just right before Game Four of their first round series against the Golden State Warriors.

After a remarkable 67-win season, Dirk’s Dallas Mavericks bowed out of the title contention right in the first round, against the eighth-seeded Warriors, a team who barely made it to the play-offs. Golden State had to win their last game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers to clinch the last play-off berth in the West.

When Dallas needed their leader, Nowitzki was nowhere to be found both off and on the floor. He gave up as early as Game Four, after a disappointing and huge Game Three loss. He proclaimed that if his Mavericks lose Game Four, and down 1-3, their season would be over. A leader should not have said that, he should show and emulate hope. He did not learn anything from his best friend’s (Steve Nash) example last season, when the Suns rallied from 1-3 down to win their first round series against the Lakers.

Last Thursday, Nowitzki, in perhaps the most important game this season, shot brick after brick, went 2-of-13 from the field, scored just eight points, 0-of-6 from three-point range and had big three turnovers. After going 0-of-6 at the start, Nowitzki continued to elect shooting from the outside rather than driving to the hole. He became a role player when he should have been the go-to-guy. The result: Dirk and the Mavs were thrased, 86-111, by the Warriors.

Perhaps, his former mentor, Don Nelson, had a lot to do with these unfortunate turn of events. Nellie knows Dirk’s weaknesses, he knows how Avery Johnson thinks, he knows most of the Dallas players’ games. This season, Nelson is 7-1 against his former team. That’s just bad luck for Nowitzki and the Mavericks.

It is most likely that Nowitzki will receive the MVP trophy next week. That’s such a disgrace. He may be the best player of the best regular-season team. But he isn’t a true MVP. He lacks the heart and the leadership of MVPs past. A heart exhibited by the real MVP, Steve Nash.

Enough said!

Well, I hate to do this, but what did I tell’ya. Yes, I predicted a 67-win season for the Mavericks at my post, “Total Domination.” And they did get just that.

Anyway, going into this series, the Golden State Warriors hold the psychological edge. They have swept their season series against the Mavericks, and they were high scoring games. On November 6, they won 107-104, they again were victorious on March 12, 117-100, and defeated Dallas’ second stringers last April 17 for a 111-82 victory.

Dallas needs to heed to Avery Johnson defensive game plan for them to be victorious, and I believe they will just do that. They will clamp on these inexperienced Warriors. Nelson is just the master of the run-and-gun style that the Mavericks won’t thrive in. Expect Avery to preach defense all series long.

Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop have to be effective underneath to grab rebounds so as to prevent the Warriors from running. The wingmen trio of Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard and Devean George have to be quick on their feet to shut down the perimeter threats of Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Monty Ellis and Jason Richardson.

And Dirk Nowitzki will have a superb series. There is just no one in that Golden State roster that could match-up against the premier MVP candidate. Al Harrington is just too short and Andres Biedrins is too slow. Dirk will average over 30 points in this match-up.

The X-Factors are Jason Terry for Dallas, and Monty Ellis for the Warriors. Whoever has the better game will catapult his team to victory.

I predict a five-game series with Dallas advancing to the second round.

The cast for the Eastern Conference Playoffs has been completed for some time now, but the match-ups have yet to be determined. Most teams, especially the Central Division, are still battling for two of the top four slots, and gain home court advantage. Detroit has clinched the top spot, but Cleveland is just a half game behind Chicago for the second seed.

Out West however, the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers are slugging it out for the eighth and last spot. Hell, the Clippers may even snatch the seventh spot if the Lakers lose their last assignment. Right now, the Warriors own that eighth spot at 40-40, just one game ahead of the Clippers (39-41). The Warriors have won their last three games, while the Clippers lost four of its last six, a bad omen for the Los Angeles boys.

The Clippers would love to go back-to-back in postseason wars. The last time they did that was in the 1991-93 seasons. They have Phoenix and New Orleans as their last assignments. A lone win, coupled with two Golden State losses, will catapult them to the play-offs since they own the tie breaker.

The Warriors, on the other hand, will clinch that play-off spot if they win their last two games. Thus, in any scenario, they need to win their last two meetings, one with Dallas and the other with Portland, to avoid any complications.

For me, I would like Golden State to go to the play-offs. Why? First, their coach, Don Nelson, was the one who brought the Dallas franchise back to life as he stirred the Mavericks to successive play-off appearances from 1999-2005, after the ballclub has stayed in limbo for a decade. What drama would emanate if Nelson faces his former team. It is also important to note that Nelson was the last coach to guide the Warriors franchise to their postseason appearance back in 1993-94 when his General Manager, Chris Mullin, was still playing for him.

Second, Golden State holds the edge against Dallas in their season series. And only two other teams have won twice against the Mavericks. They are Phoenix and Utah. But the Warriors may sweep Mark Cuban’s boys tomorrow, and hold that psychological advantage coming into the first round.

Lastly, I would love to see another running team making it to the postseason. That will really make it more exciting. Imagine Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, the Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the play-offs and eventually beating methodical and boring ballclubs like the Jazz and the Spurs. I would just love to see that.

Phoenix is just 3 ½ games behind the league-leading Mavericks. And these are the only two teams who have put together more than two double-digit winning streaks this season. Both teams also had the seventh longest winning streaks in NBA history, when they both won 17 straight at different times. Dallas’ 17-game run was snapped the other night by the Golden State Warriors, when they were whitewashed, 100-117.

Going into this game, Dallas has won 52 of 56, while Phoenix is on a 10-1 rampage ever since Steve Nash came back. They lost all three games without the two-time MVP. And they vow to win this one in Dallas. But it’s gonna be tougher for them since the Mavericks are gunning for their 23rd straight home victory.

For me, I still do think that Dallas has the depth and superior defense that will be the key in their impending victory. The Mavs are on a different level right now, and they are on track to a 70-win season. But irregardless of the game result, this would still be one of the best games to watch this season. Don’t you miss it!

But the biggest hero of them all is French sophomore Ronny Turiaf, who swatted three shots, including two crucial ones in the final seconds. With the Sonics just down by four, Turiaf blocked two undergoal stabs from Seattle forwards Chris Wilcox and Rashard Lewis, which more than helped his team prevail for the win.

For the past two games, the Lakers displayed great, not just good, ball movement, the kind of teamwork that wins games for you. Almost all plays involved all five players on the floor in their offensive sets. This enabled them to erect an early 20 point lead in the first quarter, 33-13.

But Seattle superstar guard Ray Allen refused to give the game away, as he fired 15 of his 30 points in the third quarter, where they tied the Lakers at 77-all with a little over four minutes remaining in the third. The Sonics even led by as much as eight after that. However, the Lakers made a big run behind Turiaf’s two jumpers.

Lamar Odom continued his amazing display of fire power for Los Angeles as he contributed 28 points. Luke Walton added a career-high 20 points.

Allen paced Seattle with 30 points, but none in the pay-off period. Lewis added 28. (pic courtesy of yahoonba)

With Don Nelson aboard as the comebacking coach for the Golden State Warriors, expect a lot of changes for this team, who just won 34 games last season. Nelson was the coach who led this Warriors franchise to their last playoff berth in 1994, back when he had Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, young guns Latrell Sprewell and Chris Webber, and now Golden State basketball-boss Chris Mullin. He is also the one responsible in turning the Dallas Mavericks into title contenders. He laid the foundation there, changed the line-ups coz he did not like it, and inserting his basketball philosophy. At their pinnacle, the Mavericks went to the Western Conference Finals bowing out to eventual champions San Antonio Spurs in 2004.

But Nelson claims he need not change the line-up here in Golden State. He has the tools that he needs to turn this team into a Don Nelson-type-of-team. Nelson is known for his up-tempo style of game, small-ball roster and unorthodox plays. He uses at times a four-guard line-up and an undersized center. He expects his team to run-and-run all the time. Thus, he demands that his players should be five pounds lighter when they report for training camp.

Troy Murphy is expected to play heavy minutes at center for Nelson’s system. He loves big men who can light it up from the outside. Murphy is a natural power forward, who at 6-11 can shoot the three and has a deceptively quick first step. He may not be able to guard the opponents’ bigs, but Nellie does not care about defense. Alongside him, Mike Dunleavy will play much at the power forward spot. He can handle the ball, penetrate, has a good perimeter shot and a very good court vision. Nellie may utilize him as a point forward. He will draw the defense towards him, and will kick out to his open teammates. Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Murphy, Keith McLeod, Zarko Cabarkapa and Anthony Roberson can all shoot from the perimeter. Dunleavy sure do has a lot of options.

Nellie also loves athletic guys in his line-up. This is where sophomore Monta Ellis and Frenchman Mickael Pietrus come in. Both are athletic who could finish in fast breaks. Davis and Richardson can do the trick as well. These four guys could combine together on the floor with either Murphy or Dunleavy at center. Imagine them cutting through passing lanes, hustling for loose balls and running on the break all the time. That’s pretty much the quickest five I can think of.

With fast-paced games in store for this new-look Warriors, expect Nelson to use up all 12 men each night. He will also mix up his starters at times depending on the match-ups. But the most logical starting line-up would be Murphy, Dunleavy, Pietrus, Richardson and Davis. Ellis, Roberson, Andris Biedrins (who is a running big man), Cabarkapa (who can shoot threes at 6-11) and McLeod will regularly come off the bench. When they badly need classic low post scoring, I see Nelson going to sophomore sensation Ike Diogu who proved his worth last year. And when they need to match-up against big guys like Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan, Nellie may call on shot-blocking specialist Adonal Foyle to fill that role.

But one player who is truly excited with Nelson taking over coaching chores in Golden State is All-Star Baron Davis. Davis knows that point guards under Nelson in the past flourish under his guidance. Just take a look at Hardaway and two-time MVP Steve Nash. Davis knows that he will jack-up his numbers and his reputation in Nelson’s open floor style of play. Expect Davis to work twice as hard this season.

Expect a lot of good changes in Golden State and a lot of fan-following as well. Nelson’s games are exciting and they will certainly draw a lot of attention. People at the Bay Area are not expecting a trophy, but a playoff berth after 12 years will be rewarding. We’ll see if this new electrifying style could rack-up the wins as well. They did win their first pre-season game against the Denver Nuggets in Mexico, 121-115. Roberson scored 28 points, and Baron Davis added 18 and seven assists. But the pre-season is different to the regular season. Let’s just wait and find out! (photos courtesy of yahoonba)