Blog Moved To Seattle PI Website

Seattle PI has me blogging for them now under their reader blogs section on their site. The topics will be the same as this blog so make sure to check it out on the Seattle PI website.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/hoopsgrid/
Thanks

Warriors Make History!

Thursday night history was made. The 8th seeded Golden State Warriors defeated the #1 seeded Dallas Mavericks 111-86 in one of the best playoff series I have ever seen. This game was a blowout. The so-called MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, had 8 points and was terrible the whole series as the double teams and physical defense played on him by Jason Richardson and Stephen Jackson shut him down. The series was won 4 games to 2 games in favor of the Warriors and was the third time a 1 seed had beaten a 8 seed, but this was the first time in a seven game series that it had happened. The Warriors won 42 games and 10 of their last 13 to close out the season while the Mavs won 67 games and rested their starters to close out the season. The Warriors definitely had all momentum because of this, coming into the series. Stephen Jackson was 7 for 8 shooting on a playoff career night with 33 points. Jax hit 4 three balls in the third quarter when the Warriors where going on a 24-3 run to get up big in the game. Baron Davis went down early with a strained hamstring, but then would return, and had an amazing performance as he willed and helped shoot his team to victory with 20 points. Let me add that J-Rich also had 15 big points for G-State. The crowd, which is the best in basketball, went absolutely crazy for every big play the Warriors made whether it was on D or on offense. After 13 years, Golden State Warriors basketball is back and is in full force once again. Next up for the Warriors are the Utah Jazz who I think the Warriors will take care of in 6 games. However more on that later. Let me add that in my playoff predictions post I predicted a Warriors series win in 7 games and this series ended in 6. More will come on my preview and predictions for the Warriors second round match-up with the Jazz. Watching this series the Warriors have turned me into a believer and I strongly support their playoff motto of "We Believe". I have been hooked by the way the Warriors play as a team and how exciting their style of play is. So, Let's Go Warriors.

Elimination Game for The Lakers?

I just stopped watching the Lakers game, there was about 6 minutes to go in the first half and the Lakers were down by 15 with the Suns just dominating them. The reason I stopped watching is because the Lakers aren't playing with the right intensity and the amount needed to avoid elimination. After all, if the Lakers lose they are out. But right now it doesn't even look like they want to win the game or feel like they can win the game. I just cannot stand to watch them play with such a lack of intensity. To me as a fan of basketball it is just unacceptable to play with such low intensity in an elimination game in the playoffs.

Goin Back To Cali

Bay Area here we come.
The Mavs were up by 21 in the first quarter before the Warriors rallied back during the second quarter and third quarter untill they eventually took a 6 point lead in the late stages of the forth quarter. The crowd was stunned and it looked like G-State was going to eliminate the #1 seed Mavs 4-1. But then Nowitzki got hot and Dallas went on a 15-0 run to close out the game forcing a game 6 in Golden State Thursday night. I believe that some of the calls that led to the Mavs going on their run and winning were terrible calls and I think that the Mavs got lucky in the last 1 and a half to 2 minutes. Baron Davis fouled out on a terrible call with under 20 seconds left in the game. Also, Stephen Jackson got thrown out for clapping sarcastically near the ref when the game was out of reach with a short number of seconds to go. It was a game the Warriors should of won but they could not close it out. Thats OK for now though as game 6 is back at Oracle Arena where the Warrrior's crowd is absolutely crazy and the loudest in all of basketball. The Bay Area will be loud when the #8 seeded Warriors try to clinch the series against the #1 seeded Mavericks. On the upside of losing this game the Warriors now have a chance to win the series, which will be the biggest upset in playoff history, in front of their own fans. The fans will be deafening and I certainly think that the Warriors will close the series out strongly with the help of their fans and reward them with their first playoff series victory in over a decade. WE STILL BELIEVE....GO WARRIORS