Just how do the Golden State Warriors do it? Only six players played, yet the Warriors dumped the Mavericks 111-103. According to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, it was mental and physical.
"Yeah, mental. Maybe it's physical too, but I don't know. We've had too many of these games at home where we've lost focus. We've been able to win the majority of them, but tonight we left too much to chance in the last six minutes."
You would think that the Mavericks would be up for any contest against Golden State after what the Warriors did to Dallas back in 2007.
But, as it was in the playoffs, Dallas simply must have overlooked them. Again.
It's funny in sport how some teams just have the wood over others. Dallas wasn't at full strength either, but Golden State's lineup included non-All-Stars Mikki Moore and Vladimir Radmanovic, guys who would otherwise be making up the numbers on any team.
It was an awful loss for Dallas and another reason why they won't win a championship with this crop of players. They are mentally fragile and they get worse in the playoffs.
Good on Golden State though. I would love to see them get it together even though I doubt that this win will amount to anything serious. They'll remain in the western basement.
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One team that appears to be heading out of the basement is the Milwaukee Bucks. Rookie Brandon Jennings has been disgustingly good so far, but in typical understated style, coach Scott Skiles isn't getting carried away.
"We're an eighth of the way in, so I don't think it's time to be handing out any medals right now," Skiles said.
I love Skiles hard nosed approach to coaching. It doesn't always mesh with his players but all he's ever asked for is the same accountability from his players as he expects from himself.
It has been suggested that his coaching style is an act that wears thin after a while, but I think he could be a very good coach if he gets the right players and he may have that now in Milwaukee.
The Bucks have been excellent so far, especially as they've had injuries to Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut.
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The Boston Celtics have been very healthy by comparison to most of the league and that is part of the reason the team isn't interested in signing free agent sulk Allen Iverson.
I'm not surprised at all that the Celtics discussed picking him up. It might be the only team that Iverson might realize that the whole basketball, no wait, entire world doesn't revolve around him and accept coming off the bench.
Then again, this is Iverson so he probably wouldn't do it anyway.
I would have loved to have been a fly on that dressing room wall though when the idea was tossed around.
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One team that certainly doesn't need Iverson is the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last night, they brushed past the Utah Jazz, 104-94.
Kevin Durant is dis-gus-ting. He has got all the tools to be a genuine superstar in the league.
He is as skinny as a rake and like Chris Bosh, he'll probably always look like he could do with steak, but he is so talented.
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Interesting story here out of Portland. Blazers franchise star Brandon Roy opts not to stand with his team mates during the national anthem before home games.
It's caused a bit of controversy as it is viewed as disrespectful and that while Roy says he just likes to be by himself and gather his thoughts, it's suggested that it might be more a silent protest.
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