Deep Sixed!

A phrase that you will hear from time to time came into play on this day. 'That's why you play the game!' On paper, matchups may appear to be black and white, tried and true. However, since the advent of time, one thing you can never measure is the size of a man's heart, desire, or threshold to intensity and pressure. The moment you think you can 'take something to the bank', you're in trouble. Say hello to defeat, a bitter blow, and the element of surprise. How else to explain what happened at the AAC on a night where only eight players suited and six did most of the grunt work?

You have to go back to 1964 and 1981 for two other instances where a team was short-handed and played only six. Injuries and an absent coach made for a recipe of surprise. When you allow a 22-5 run in the last period and not go to the foul line that's a recipe for disaster.

Shawn Marion was a game time decision, he sat. He should be available for the trip to Houston. Erik Humphries, JJ Barea, and Rodrigue Beaubois played ample minutes. Down the stretch Dallas had no answers for Monta Ellis hitting 37 points and for Stephen Curry. This despite a 44-9 scoring advantage off the bench and a double double by Drew Gooden!

Three Warriors played a full 48 minutes! You would think they'd be gassed late in the game. It didn't happen. Dallas blew a nine point lead with six minutes left at 98-89 and proceeded to lose 111-103. Stephen Curry nailed 11 points as the game wound down. Goodbye five game win streak, hello to (I am guessing) less play time for some of the bench players who lost focus late. JJ took the brunt this night, but it looked like defensively a few Mavs were on their heels instead of on the gassed Golden State throat, proverbially of course...

If you like numbers the Warrior win leaves Don Nelson 19 wins away from the all-time wins total. Didn't Nellie wear #19 in his Celtic days? I'm just saying...

Off to Houston and a  tough stretch of road work. I hope this loss was a wake-up call. Ugly loss indeed.

Time for a walk!

Over and out in Big D

Mr. Will