Many expected the Golden State Warriors to give the Dallas Mavericks a good run in their first round playoff matchup. However, nobody expected eighth-seeded Golden State to have first-seeded Dallas on the brink of elimination going into game five, but that is exactly what the Warriors have done.
Golden State currently holds a 3-1 lead over the Mavericks in this best-of-seven series, and it has led to flustered Dallas players and some dissension. Head coach Avery Johnson recently criticized Dirk Nowitzki for telling the media that he is having trouble against the Warriors' swarming defense and that he will take what shots they give him. Nowitzki, widely considered the frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award, is shooting only 40.9% from the floor in this series and has not scored over 23 points in any of the first four games.
Baron Davis has looked like the real MVP in this series, averaging 25.8 points per game and shooting 55.2% from the field. Davis took over in Golden State's game four win, racking up 33 points and hitting a shot from halfcourt to conclude the first half. Stephen Jackson has also been phenomenal, averaging 22 points per game.
Al Harrington is yet to find his groove for the Warriors, averaging only five points per game in the series and shooting only 18.5% (5-for-27) from the floor. Head coach Don Nelson remedied the situation, starting Andris Biedrins in games three and four. Biedrins has provided a nice spark for Golden State in this series, particularly in game three when he posted a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).
The Mavericks, a team that won 67 games during the regular season, have lost six of their seven meetings with the Warriors this season.
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