Golden State vs Dallas

The Golden State Warriors finished off the 67-win Dallas Mavericks late last night with a barrage of three-pointers & dunks in what is being discussed as the biggest upset in NBA Playoffs history. I'm not qualified to comment on the historical implications, seeing as I am only 24 years old. However, I will say that it was one of the most enjoyable series to watch as a fan that I've ever seen. The games were intense and free-wheeling at times, with the contrast between the two organizations making it that much more entertaining. Today's storylines center on the underdog Warriors being an eight-seed, Dallas losing much earlier than anticipated, and Dirk Nowitzki's supposed inability to perform in the clutch (not true always, definitely true in this series). However, not enough has been made about the characters on this Golden State team and how it was put together.

Baron Davis is the centerpiece of the Warriors' squad. He came over in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2004-2005 season and was the number three overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the then-Charlotte Hornets. As a Hornets fan turned Bobcats fan, I must say that Davis' brilliance in these playoffs is not surprise. When it matters most, when it's "do-or-die" time, when the spotlight is on your team in the playoffs, Baron Davis shows up. Big time. He was virtually unstoppable in the 2002 playoffs. The problem in his career has been two-fold. He has battled injuries and lacked a ton of talent around him. After the team moved from Charlotte, Baron has suffered injuries that kept him out for an extended period of time every season. The New Orleans Hornets were a middle-of-the-road team, with no real shot at a championship; the Warriors were stuck with a bad salary cap situation and too many young players. But now, with the right system and a talented (yet borderline crazy) group of guys around him, Davis is excelling. His game one performace was almost exactly as I remember his performance against Orlando in those 2002 playoffs: scooping layups, a vicious dunk, spinning jumpers, and three-pointers from waaaay downtown in someone's face with the shotclock winding down. Of all the players in the league, a Baron Davis three-pointer is one of the most fun to watch. He shoots with such a pronounced squat, almost throwing his arms down in the follow-through, spinning to celebrate almost before it goes in, always back-peddling. So exactly the kind of shot you dream about hitting on someone in a pickup game, except he hits them on a regular basis. Quickly, Davis has reintroduced himself to the NBA world as a clutch playoff performer.

Steven Jackson came over in a trade with Indiana. We've all seen him in the Palace brawl backing up Ron Artest and throwing wild haymakers at a fan. We've all heard him through his various run-ins with the law, most recently the strip club shoot-out as a member of the Pacers. But now, we're getting to see why he was instrumental in the Spurs' 2003 championship and why fellow players have so much respect for the guy. He is tough, he doesn't care what people think, and he plays big when it matters. He was a second-round pick out of high school, played in Venezuela, the CBA, and the Dominican Republic. I would never argue Jackson to be the brightest crayon in the box, but I would argue him to be one of the most loyal and tough players in the game today.

Jason Richardson was a first-round pick by Golden State in the 2001 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at Michigan St. He is a two-time NBA Slam-Dunk Champion and a highlight real on many a night. This is his first playoff series. He has taken a backseat of sorts to Davis, and even Jackson recently, but has continued to go about his business of averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds per game.

The supporting cast is no different than the three big guns on this team. Al Harrington - very talented, often traded. Matt Barnes - five NBA teams, an ABA stint, and an appearance in the NBDL. Monta Ellis - high draft pick, no experience. Andris Biedrins - high draft pick, no experience. Mickael Pietrus - French pro with no playoffs experience.

Don Nelson is the coach of this ragtag group. They free-wheel, the NBA's version of rapper Twista - fast, exciting, hard to understand, and without a clue where it will all lead. But Nelson has found a mix of players who love his system. A lot of these players are finding an identity on this team with a coach who accepts them and emphasizes their strengths. He wants them to play with reckless abandonment, borderline out-of-control. Plus, Nellie really understands what buttons to push as a player's coach. He has formed a style and a mantra that these guys rally around, where they want to play hard, play tough, play aggressive defense, and play for one another. The scary thing about this team is they have been together and healthy for less than half a season. No one in their rotation has been in the league longer than seven years, there is no age factor adversely affecting this team's ceiling. Translation: they could be just scratching the surface of being a competitive playoff-caliber team.

Where Golden State goes from here (meaning after this season) is up to Chris Mullin, a former Warriors' great and the current decision maker on player personnel. He has been rightfully criticized for some horrendous signings, specifically of big men (see Dampier, Eric and Foyle, Adonal) and tall, unathletic white guys (Murphy, Troy and Dunleavey, Mike Jr.). With the development of Biedrins and hopefully last year's first rounder, Patrick O'Bryant (I'm not holding my breath on O'Bryant, he is a long ways off), the Warriors could have a young core of eight or nine guys who would potentially win a lot of games.

In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy Golden State; an eclectic, often-hilarious bunch of guys to watch fly around, wreaking havoc and having a blast. The Phoenix/San Antonio series will be great, but Golden State has stolen the show thus far in these playoffs.