[French Rage]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Depends how well they start.  If Dallas comes out swinging I could see the Warriors taking it easy to finish things at home.  If it's still close by 2Q, though, I could see the Warriors going harder to finish things off.

[French Rage]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Depends how well they start.  If Dallas comes out swinging I could see the Warriors taking it easy to finish things at home.  If it's still close by 2Q, though, I could see the Warriors going harder to finish things off.

[BostonCard]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Yes, I do, though it is a low confidence assessment, but they are playing at home with their backs against the wall, so I think it is slightly more likely than not that Dallas will win tonight.

FWIW, the bookies do too; Dallas is a 1 point favorite.

BC

[BostonCard]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Yes, I do, though it is a low confidence assessment, but they are playing at home with their backs against the wall, so I think it is slightly more likely than not that Dallas will win tonight.

FWIW, the bookies do too; Dallas is a 1 point favorite.

BC

[Leftcoast]

Game 3 surprised me when Kerr went all-in for the knock-out rather than playing for a possible longer series.  

Kerr played all starters 39 or more minutes and only Poole played significant minutes off the bench.  For an older team with some injury issues this was more than surprising.  Despite all the talk of a deep Warrior bench when these play-offs started it sure looked short on Sunday.  Perhaps Kerr wants the long lay-off as the Ws wait for the Eastern Conference finalists to wear each other out.  If so ... expect Dallas to face the same buzz saw tonight and we'll know quickly whether their heart is still in this thing or they are lining up early June golf dates.

(Link to Game 3 box score showing minutes, etc below)

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401438946

[Leftcoast]

Game 3 surprised me when Kerr went all-in for the knock-out rather than playing for a possible longer series.  

Kerr played all starters 39 or more minutes and only Poole played significant minutes off the bench.  For an older team with some injury issues this was more than surprising.  Despite all the talk of a deep Warrior bench when these play-offs started it sure looked short on Sunday.  Perhaps Kerr wants the long lay-off as the Ws wait for the Eastern Conference finalists to wear each other out.  If so ... expect Dallas to face the same buzz saw tonight and we'll know quickly whether their heart is still in this thing or they are lining up early June golf dates.

(Link to Game 3 box score showing minutes, etc below)

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401438946

[lex24]

Losing Payton and Porter leaves a thin bench.  Poole. Then Kerr will go by feel.

[lex24]

Losing Payton and Porter leaves a thin bench.  Poole. Then Kerr will go by feel.

[fullmetal]

I wonder if the NBA has an opinion one way or another.  Watch how the refs call the game lol.

[fullmetal]

I wonder if the NBA has an opinion one way or another.  Watch how the refs call the game lol.

[French Rage]

So it'll be a gentleman's sweep.

[French Rage]

So it'll be a gentleman's sweep.

[BostonCard]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Yes, I do, though it is a low confidence assessment, but they are playing at home with their backs against the wall, so I think it is slightly more likely than not that Dallas will win tonight.

FWIW, the bookies do too; Dallas is a 1 point favorite.

BC

As I was saying… maybe a little humility along with your predictions might be warranted OF.

BC

[BostonCard]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Yes, I do, though it is a low confidence assessment, but they are playing at home with their backs against the wall, so I think it is slightly more likely than not that Dallas will win tonight.

FWIW, the bookies do too; Dallas is a 1 point favorite.

BC

As I was saying… maybe a little humility along with your predictions might be warranted OF.

BC

[cardcrimson]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Yes, I do, though it is a low confidence assessment, but they are playing at home with their backs against the wall, so I think it is slightly more likely than not that Dallas will win tonight.

FWIW, the bookies do too; Dallas is a 1 point favorite.

BC

As I was saying… maybe a little humility along with your predictions might be warranted OF.

BC

Well BC, "Sometimes it's not that complicated."

[cardcrimson]

Does anyone expect Dallas to avoid the sweep tonight?

Yes, I do, though it is a low confidence assessment, but they are playing at home with their backs against the wall, so I think it is slightly more likely than not that Dallas will win tonight.

FWIW, the bookies do too; Dallas is a 1 point favorite.

BC

As I was saying… maybe a little humility along with your predictions might be warranted OF.

BC

Well BC, "Sometimes it's not that complicated."

[BostonCard]

Personally, I always liked “all predictions are wrong, or your money back”.

BC

[BostonCard]

Personally, I always liked “all predictions are wrong, or your money back”.

BC

[OutsiderFan]

I told a friend before Game 4 the only way the Warriors lose is if the thing that causes every team to lose, happens. Namely, the Mavs shoot 55% from 3pt line and the Warriors are 25%. 

At the end of 3 quarters, the Mavs were shooting 58% 3pt FG to the W's 25%. They only made one in the 4th and ended up 47% from 3 to the W's 35%.  If the Mavs shoot even 40%, which is above their season average, the W's win. They ended up +30 from 3, after being just the 31st team in NBA Playoff history to make 20+ 3pt shots in a game.  

The NBA Playoffs this year have seen too many games be decided by who is hot and who isn't on high volume from 3pt line. It's been established that the Mavs must shoot well above their season average from 3pt line to beat the Warriors. That's just a crazy bar to have to clear for a win, like needing to score at least 30 to win a football game.

I can't help but wonder if Warriors players were impacted by the mass murder in the state they played in. This isn't to say the Mavs weren't impacted, but they also were playing to continue their season and avoid sweep. The W's didn't have that urgency and it showed. We'll never know how it would have turned out if 19 more kids went home from school alive last night, but I expected the Warriors to play with more urgency, force, and attention to detail  than they did in Game 4. The fact they only had 6 turnovers through 3 quarters shows they weren't themselves more than any other available stat.

[OutsiderFan]

I told a friend before Game 4 the only way the Warriors lose is if the thing that causes every team to lose, happens. Namely, the Mavs shoot 55% from 3pt line and the Warriors are 25%. 

At the end of 3 quarters, the Mavs were shooting 58% 3pt FG to the W's 25%. They only made one in the 4th and ended up 47% from 3 to the W's 35%.  If the Mavs shoot even 40%, which is above their season average, the W's win. They ended up +30 from 3, after being just the 31st team in NBA Playoff history to make 20+ 3pt shots in a game.  

The NBA Playoffs this year have seen too many games be decided by who is hot and who isn't on high volume from 3pt line. It's been established that the Mavs must shoot well above their season average from 3pt line to beat the Warriors. That's just a crazy bar to have to clear for a win, like needing to score at least 30 to win a football game.

I can't help but wonder if Warriors players were impacted by the mass murder in the state they played in. This isn't to say the Mavs weren't impacted, but they also were playing to continue their season and avoid sweep. The W's didn't have that urgency and it showed. We'll never know how it would have turned out if 19 more kids went home from school alive last night, but I expected the Warriors to play with more urgency, force, and attention to detail  than they did in Game 4. The fact they only had 6 turnovers through 3 quarters shows they weren't themselves more than any other available stat.

[Phogge]

It was a better game without the 3 pointer until most teams played iso. The best games of the mis 60’s were the Russell/Wilt tilts with the Jones boys, Havlicek against the Cunningham, Walker, Greer Sixers.

The Warriors/Grizz Series was the first I’ve looked at since Russ retired because my son works for Memphis. I like the way the Warriors move the ball but I have turned off the current series because the 3 pointer is boring to me.

The triple is still baseball’s best play. Pass, pass, screen, back door layup is still basketball to me. Homers and 3 pointers are for fans who don’t know the real game inside the game. Instant gratification. Bam, bam, thank you mam.

[Phogge]

It was a better game without the 3 pointer until most teams played iso. The best games of the mis 60’s were the Russell/Wilt tilts with the Jones boys, Havlicek against the Cunningham, Walker, Greer Sixers.

The Warriors/Grizz Series was the first I’ve looked at since Russ retired because my son works for Memphis. I like the way the Warriors move the ball but I have turned off the current series because the 3 pointer is boring to me.

The triple is still baseball’s best play. Pass, pass, screen, back door layup is still basketball to me. Homers and 3 pointers are for fans who don’t know the real game inside the game. Instant gratification. Bam, bam, thank you mam.

[lex24]

I told a friend before Game 4 the only way the Warriors lose is if the thing that causes every team to lose, happens. Namely, the Mavs shoot 55% from 3pt line and the Warriors are 25%. 

At the end of 3 quarters, the Mavs were shooting 58% 3pt FG to the W's 25%. They only made one in the 4th and ended up 47% from 3 to the W's 35%.  If the Mavs shoot even 40%, which is above their season average, the W's win. They ended up +30 from 3, after being just the 31st team in NBA Playoff history to make 20+ 3pt shots in a game.  

The NBA Playoffs this year have seen too many games be decided by who is hot and who isn't on high volume from 3pt line. It's been established that the Mavs must shoot well above their season average from 3pt line to beat the Warriors. That's just a crazy bar to have to clear for a win, like needing to score at least 30 to win a football game.

I can't help but wonder if Warriors players were impacted by the mass murder in the state they played in. This isn't to say the Mavs weren't impacted, but they also were playing to continue their season and avoid sweep. The W's didn't have that urgency and it showed. We'll never know how it would have turned out if 19 more kids went home from school alive last night, but I expected the Warriors to play with more urgency, force, and attention to detail  than they did in Game 4. The fact they only had 6 turnovers through 3 quarters shows they weren't themselves more than any other available stat.

Seriously? Wow.

[lex24]

I told a friend before Game 4 the only way the Warriors lose is if the thing that causes every team to lose, happens. Namely, the Mavs shoot 55% from 3pt line and the Warriors are 25%. 

At the end of 3 quarters, the Mavs were shooting 58% 3pt FG to the W's 25%. They only made one in the 4th and ended up 47% from 3 to the W's 35%.  If the Mavs shoot even 40%, which is above their season average, the W's win. They ended up +30 from 3, after being just the 31st team in NBA Playoff history to make 20+ 3pt shots in a game.  

The NBA Playoffs this year have seen too many games be decided by who is hot and who isn't on high volume from 3pt line. It's been established that the Mavs must shoot well above their season average from 3pt line to beat the Warriors. That's just a crazy bar to have to clear for a win, like needing to score at least 30 to win a football game.

I can't help but wonder if Warriors players were impacted by the mass murder in the state they played in. This isn't to say the Mavs weren't impacted, but they also were playing to continue their season and avoid sweep. The W's didn't have that urgency and it showed. We'll never know how it would have turned out if 19 more kids went home from school alive last night, but I expected the Warriors to play with more urgency, force, and attention to detail  than they did in Game 4. The fact they only had 6 turnovers through 3 quarters shows they weren't themselves more than any other available stat.

Seriously? Wow.

[PAsportsfan]

This is for BC.

Spotted Shaw in court side seats tonight.

[PAsportsfan]

This is for BC.

Spotted Shaw in court side seats tonight.

[CompSci87]

This is for BC.

Spotted Shaw in court side seats tonight.

Terrible, he should have been out recruiting. ;-)

[CompSci87]

This is for BC.

Spotted Shaw in court side seats tonight.

Terrible, he should have been out recruiting. ;-)

[TrumpCard]

Draymond looks like he could help at EDGE.

[TrumpCard]

Draymond looks like he could help at EDGE.

[OutsiderFan]

The closest game of the WCF was 9 points.

The Mavs only outscored the W's by 9 from the 3pt line in Game 5.

A playoff high 36 assists pretty much tells the story of a TEAM win.

Who would have thought Nemanja Bjelica would actually make some meaningful contributions to winning? He was pretty darn good in his 22 minutes, with a +4 rating. Actually defended Doncic better than anyone probably believed possible.

And the Warriors aren't losing when Draymond Green goes 6/7 with 17 pts.

But man, Klay Thompson is like a weather vane for Warriors playoff wins. If he gets hot, they win. They can win when he isn't, but they simply don't lose when he is. He joins LeBron James as the only player since the 60's Celtics to make the NBA Finals 6 straight seasons in which he played a regular season game. Even Michael Jordan didn't make the NBA Finals the year after he returned from his baseball hiatus. Pretty sure Klay should be on that 75th Anniversary Team and he would have been were it not for the injuries.  But to me, the fact he came back from those injuries to make a 6th straight Finals in seasons he played in, makes his snub even worse, though I know he did get a chuckle out of being #77 - LOL!

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warrio...ey-creator

[OutsiderFan]

The closest game of the WCF was 9 points.

The Mavs only outscored the W's by 9 from the 3pt line in Game 5.

A playoff high 36 assists pretty much tells the story of a TEAM win.

Who would have thought Nemanja Bjelica would actually make some meaningful contributions to winning? He was pretty darn good in his 22 minutes, with a +4 rating. Actually defended Doncic better than anyone probably believed possible.

And the Warriors aren't losing when Draymond Green goes 6/7 with 17 pts.

But man, Klay Thompson is like a weather vane for Warriors playoff wins. If he gets hot, they win. They can win when he isn't, but they simply don't lose when he is. He joins LeBron James as the only player since the 60's Celtics to make the NBA Finals 6 straight seasons in which he played a regular season game. Even Michael Jordan didn't make the NBA Finals the year after he returned from his baseball hiatus. Pretty sure Klay should be on that 75th Anniversary Team and he would have been were it not for the injuries.  But to me, the fact he came back from those injuries to make a 6th straight Finals in seasons he played in, makes his snub even worse, though I know he did get a chuckle out of being #77 - LOL!

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warrio...ey-creator

[Mick]

Who would have thought Nemanja Bjelica would actually make some meaningful contributions to winning? He was pretty darn good in his 22 minutes, with a +4 rating. Actually defended Doncic better than anyone probably believed possible.

Good thing Bjelica made that rainbow 3 from 30 feet out...and he really flummoxed Doncic on defense.  
Nemanja Bjelica defensive play on Luka DONCIC - YouTube

BTW, I've noticed that Kuminga tanks if he's not a major part of the action.  Really disappointed to see that.  He did it in Santa Cruz.  When Moody and Kuminga went to Santa Cruz, Moody played like crazy and Kuminga sulked and pouted. Hate to tell you, JK, you're almost there, but you're not there yet. You've got a lot to learn before you can fill Draymond Green's shoes...

[Mick]

Who would have thought Nemanja Bjelica would actually make some meaningful contributions to winning? He was pretty darn good in his 22 minutes, with a +4 rating. Actually defended Doncic better than anyone probably believed possible.

Good thing Bjelica made that rainbow 3 from 30 feet out...and he really flummoxed Doncic on defense.  
Nemanja Bjelica defensive play on Luka DONCIC - YouTube

BTW, I've noticed that Kuminga tanks if he's not a major part of the action.  Really disappointed to see that.  He did it in Santa Cruz.  When Moody and Kuminga went to Santa Cruz, Moody played like crazy and Kuminga sulked and pouted. Hate to tell you, JK, you're almost there, but you're not there yet. You've got a lot to learn before you can fill Draymond Green's shoes...

[TrumpCard]

I wonder what the Warriors will do this off-season. They have a salary cap time bomb set to explode in the summer of 23 when they’d have to pay Dray, Wiggins, and Poole. Summer of 23 seems like the wrong time to start a rebuilt because they traded their 24 first round pick. But I can’t imagine Joe Lacob blowing up the team this summer when 22-23 is stacking up to be a terrific roster/season.

[TrumpCard]

I wonder what the Warriors will do this off-season. They have a salary cap time bomb set to explode in the summer of 23 when they’d have to pay Dray, Wiggins, and Poole. Summer of 23 seems like the wrong time to start a rebuilt because they traded their 24 first round pick. But I can’t imagine Joe Lacob blowing up the team this summer when 22-23 is stacking up to be a terrific roster/season.

[BostonCard]

Yeah, I think you have to ride the team for as long as you can before rebuilding. You never know when the stars will align again.  It is better to get one more run at a championship and have to do a deeper rebuild than prematurely dismantle.

BC

[BostonCard]

Yeah, I think you have to ride the team for as long as you can before rebuilding. You never know when the stars will align again.  It is better to get one more run at a championship and have to do a deeper rebuild than prematurely dismantle.

BC

[OutsiderFan]

I know it sounds berserk and sacrilegious, but...

The Warriors should trade Klay Thompson if they want the new core to have a championship chance, while the young guys are still on rookie deals.

They simply must get under the luxury tax threshold, not only to afford the roster, but to be in position to sign a big 20-something Free Agent to replace what Klay provided to a degree, maybe even Wiggins if he needs to go too.

If they don't trade a big contract they will be facing a $500M payroll when tax is factored in.  That's just not going to happen.

I don't understand the intricacies of NBA salary cap management to know exactly what the options are, but it sure seems like a monumental challenge to figure it all out given all the variables that must be juggled.

[OutsiderFan]

I know it sounds berserk and sacrilegious, but...

The Warriors should trade Klay Thompson if they want the new core to have a championship chance, while the young guys are still on rookie deals.

They simply must get under the luxury tax threshold, not only to afford the roster, but to be in position to sign a big 20-something Free Agent to replace what Klay provided to a degree, maybe even Wiggins if he needs to go too.

If they don't trade a big contract they will be facing a $500M payroll when tax is factored in.  That's just not going to happen.

I don't understand the intricacies of NBA salary cap management to know exactly what the options are, but it sure seems like a monumental challenge to figure it all out given all the variables that must be juggled.