NBA Commentary: Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks

Steph Curry raises his arms in celebration after hitting the game-winning shot with .03 left in the Warriors win over the Dallas Mavericks.

It’s 30 degrees outside so we’re bundled up and ready to watch the Golden State Warriors take on the Dallas Mavericks. The Warriors, who are coming off a humiliating loss against the Charlotte Bobcats take on a surging Mavericks team that has also recently lost to a sub-par team, the Sacramento Kings. We hope to see lots of exciting action tonight, the last two commentary’s we watched ended up in stunning Warriors victories, will the same happen tonight?

Joshua Biers: I for one, was ecstatic when I saw that the Warriors lost to the Charlotte Bobcats despite Steph Curry putting up 43 points. The loss of Andre Iguodala has hurt the Warriors more than they had prepared themselves for. I’m hoping to see some more Warriors tanking tonight. I say Dirk has 8 threes, Monta Ellis bites part of Steph Curry’s ear off Tyson-style during a skirmish late in third quarter, and a Andrew Bogut own basket seals the win for the Mavs. Let’s go!

Joshua Biers (4-3 Warriors): As Matthew orders me a pizza, the Warriors take an early 4-3 lead off Bogut’s tip-in. I’m hoping Monta comes out with a scoring mentality as I’m sure he would like the Warrior faithful to know what they missed out on when he left for Dallas. This Mavericks team is deeper than people think, with Vince Carter and second-year swingman Jae Crowder coming off the bench.

Matt Tuckness (5-4 Mavs): You are not a cheap date Mr. Biers. Dirk just made David Lee look pretty awful twice. The Mav’s franchise player is forcing Lee into some bad shots and of course, he blocked one of them. This game has been very up and down as each team is firing shots from the outside. This is a big game for the Warriors, who start their home stand tonight. I am predicting a 100-96 win for the Warriors.

Joshua Biers (10-9 Warriors): Well your right on one point Tuckness, both teams are certainly taking a lot of shots, but neither team are making too many. Six minutes have passed and both teams have yet to put the ball in the basket five times yet.There isn’t much ball movement and turnovers are in abundance. The pace needs to slow down and both teams need to run their half-court sets.

Matt Tuckness (11-10 Warriors) Dirk called for the travel. I like how the refs are starting to call travels this year. It is already extremely difficult to stop somebody one on one in the NBA. When they can start moving without dribbling it makes it even harder for the defender. I think this fast pace favors the Warriors, but they are just forcing shots right now. I think they need to move the ball a little more to make sure they get the open shot. Bogut has played well to start the game, getting a few offensive rebounds and some early offensive production. Steph and Klay Thompson have been much better in the second half this season, but the Warriors can not afford to get down early in this game.

Joshua Biers: Would you have thought Monta Ellis would have a better field goal percentage than Steph Curry? It’s just a testament to how well Ellis is doing this season. Our first Vince sighting! The NBA’s most famous dunker really turned his career around once he joined the Mavericks.

Matt Tuckness (13-10 Mavs) Monta has had a very strong season for the Mavs even though he had a poor game the last time he played the Warriors. The Mavs have been doing a very good job getting back in transition this game and forcing turnovers. Shawn Marion just shot a 17- foot floater! He didn’t make it, but how can somebody shoot like that and be in the NBA?

Joshua Biers (21-16 Mavs): Well actually Matt, my shooting motion is similar to Marion’s and if I hadn’t gone down with a knee injury early in my career, it could have been me taking that shot. Its cold outside and apparently it’s cold inside Oracle Arena. The Warriors have started off 4-18 from the field with six turnovers. Things haven’t got that much better. They went through a seven minute drought without a field goal. This is by far one of their worst offensive quarters I’ve ever seen the Warriors play. We also have a Shane Larkin sighting! Shane was one of my favorite players to watch in the NCAA last year. I would love it if he went off tonight.

Matt Tuckness (21-16 Mavs): Toney Douglas just made a dirty step back three on your boy Shane Larkin to cut it to 5. The Warriors have been playing fast aggressive basketball, but have been rather stagnant with the ball. “Monta Ellis have it all”, he just went right by Kent Bazemore to give the Mavs a 7-point lead to end the first quarter. It seems like the Warriors are focusing so much on defense that they have become lazy on the offensive end and are settling for difficult jumpers. I can’t stand watching the Warriors when they end the first quarter with a large deficit.

Joshua Biers (29-16 Mavs): An interesting statistic, both teams have only lost twice this season when they are leading after one quarter, who’s percentage is going to fall tonight? Two minutes into the second quarter and the Mavericks have gone on a 6-0 run. Monta Ellis made two great backdoor passes to a cutting Jae Crowder and the Warriors simply have no answer. Similar to what we saw in the first half of their come-from-behind win against the Toronto Raptors, the Warriors are playing way too much one on one basketball and Steph Curry and Klay Thompson needs to cool the jets on their shooting and start looking to distribute the ball. They are giving up wide open lanes on fast breaks to pull up for the jumper.

Matt Tuckness ( 29-16 Mavs): I completely disagree with Steph and Klay cooling it with the shooting. The two of them just need to work for better shots. I have always been a fan of the Marquette product, Jae Crowder. He matches the manimal effort-wise even though they have very different styles of play. Warriors have just been flat to start the game, but they are starting to show some life as Steph and Klay hit back to back jumpers. Andrew Bogut just had a monster block on Dejaun Blair. He just took it from him for his 11th rebound.

Joshua Biers (29-22 Mavs): 11 rebounds before the half is over? That’s production. Well it was bound to happen. Everytime I harp on one of the Splash Bros., it always comes back to haunt me. The roles have reversed and with seven minutes left in the half, the Mavs can’t seem to find a basket. The key to this little run has been Bogut, who has set the tone down low and Barnes, who is lighting it up on the offensive end.

Matt Tuckness (31-25 Mavs): I am surprised you didn’t notice what really sparked the run Josh. Did you see who wasn’t on the floor for the last 5 minutes. I’ll give you a hint: He is the only white american on the Warriors. That’s right. David Lee was subbed for Draymond Green and the line-up of Bogut, Barnes, Green, Klay and Steph plays better defense and has more space to get easier buckets. He is just a momentum killer when the Warriors try and force the ball to him down low to see him throw up a shot trying to get fouled which either goes out of bounds or gets blocked.

Joshua Biers (37-29 Mavs): True. David Lee’s play truly doesn’t reflect the double-doubles we see him post every season. It seems after every timeout, the team that was cold suddenly becomes hot and vice versa. With eight minutes gone by in the second quarter, we’re seeing some point guard mastery from Jose Calderon. The Spaniard and Monta are shredding this Warriors defense (minus Bogut). If the Warriors can’t break the 40-point margin by half, this could be their lowest scoring half of the season. The Mavericks are absolutely killing the Warriors on the backdoor cut. We have a somber looking Tuckness wearing his stupid beanie.

Matt Tuckness (46-34 Mavs) Too many turnovers by the Warriors. They have been feeding the Mavs lead which is now at 12. Steph and David Lee had back to back turnovers and Steph already has five in this first half. I love Steph, but sometimes he can be a detriment to offensive rhythm when he gets so careless with the basketball. The Warriors need to continue to play small against this Mavs line-up. Dirk is just lighting it up right now.

Joshua Biers (52-38 Mavs): You know what, I applaud David Lee. Why should he try on defense? He’s clearly the Warriors go-to guy on offense. His turnaround bank shot is absolutely unstoppable. It doesn’t matter if he has no three-point range. He’s DAVID LEE. Dirk hit two threes from 30 feet, but David Lee answers back with a short 8-foot floater. Don’t forget he made the all-star team. He knows he’s due for a big payday. He’s David Lee. My boy. Stick it to them. Fuck defense.

Matt Tuckness (55-44 Mavs): Haha exactly. David Lee knows that offense is what gets paid. Why not let Dirk shoot two wide open threes. If anything, it’s going to tire Dirk out a little so he can go by him for a lay-up. On a serious note, That was a nice little run by the Warriors to cut it to 11, but overall, this was another bad half. Coming out flat is unacceptable for this team without Iguodala. It is going to be a grind until he comes back; which realistically, won’t happen until after Christmas and even then he won’t be at 100%. They need to grind out wins against teams like the Mavs. Go blow for blow for 48 minutes. They can’t always try and shoot them out of the gym for the first 12 and then play good basketball. It just doesn’t work.

HALFTIME

Joshua Biers (59-46 Mavs): Warriors have a sluggish start to the second half. Missed alley-oop attempts and an airball three by Curry pretty much sums up the entire game for the Warriors to this points. Monta continues his reign of terror as he dazzles Oracle Arena with an array of offensive moves.

Matt Tuckness (61-51 Mavs): Steph just hit a big three as the Warriors have been putting a little run together. David Lee just had a nice put-back and the Mavs have started to go cold from the outside. Steph Curry just shot a three that hit every single part of the rim bounced out(Josh’s face lit up) and then some how fell to make this a six point game.(Josh became very upset)

Joshua Biers (69-60 Mavs): Tuckness, you sir, are a nosy anti-Roy Hibbert, Warrior-loving bastard. The Warriors trimmed the deficit down to six before giving up a three and two Nowitzki free throws. With five minutes left in the third, Golden State needs to develop some sort of offensive momentum to take control of this game before its too late.

Matt Tuckness (72-60 Mavs) SMH… Sean Marion hits a three as the Mavs stave off the Warrior run and take a 12-point lead. David Lee goes 1-2 from the line as my hatred for him grows. I don’t know what the Warriors can do right now to get back into this game. They can’t put enough stops together on the defensive end to really cut the lead. The only way I see them having a chance is cutting this to six before the start of the fourth. Otherwise, they are going to make their run and fall short just like they did against the Bobcats.

Joshua Biers (72-66 Mavs) Well, it looks like the Warriors answered your fruitless prayers Tuckness. They closed the third quarter strong and dwindled the Mavs lead to six entering the fourth quarter. Do the Warriors have it? I say no. Jose Calderon has been the anchor for this Dallas team with 18 points and steady offense.

Matt Tuckness (72-66 Mavs): Six point game!! They listened to me. Mark Jackson may want to find an opening for me. Then, I can help him move David Lee into a sixth man role. TURNOVERS ARE KILLING US. What is happening right now?!

Joshua Biers (78-70 Mavs): I’m enjoying the intensity of the game right now. You know what I enjoy more? Watching my boy Shane start a run that extends the Mavs lead to eight! The Warriors have whittled it slightly, but things aren’t looking too great for Golden State with eight minutes left. Turnovers have been the name of the game and the Warriors have way too many of them. Something about not having A.I. in your starting line-up is seriously disrupting this starting squad’s chemistry.

Matt Tuckness (80-72 Mavs) Why can’t the Warriors play with half of this intensity earlier in the game. They are the young team, their legs are supposed to outlast the vets of the Mavs yet they have been playing so flat. I can tell that Mark Jackson is heated right now. They need to get a bucket out of this time-out. CURRY!!!! FOR THREE!!!! It’s a three point game with 5:30 left. I love me some clutch Steph threes. Don’t you love it too Josh?

Joshua Biers (82-79 Mavs) And the Warriors cut the deficit to three on Curry’s long range bomb. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that their run was sparked by the Warriors defense, but more on the Mavs inability to create on the offensive end. I will be absolutely devastated if the Warriors can somehow beat Dallas tonight. They were down by 18 points!! I can’t keep sitting through these games with a smug Golden State fan next to me thinking that they’re going to lose and then have them overcome insurmountable odds to win!

Matt Tuckness (82-82) STEPH AGAIN!!! HE has silenced Josh with two huge threes to tie it up. The Mavs are on their heels. Dirk with the veteran move. He pumps and get Barnes in the air and hits the bucket for an and-1. three- point lead for the Mavs as they stole some of the momentum from back from the Warriors.

Joshua Biers (86-82 Mavs): Redirkulous! The Jerrrrmaaan thrives in moments like this and his and-one bank shot was vintage Dirk. These last four minutes will see a lot of Dirk and Curry. They can do it!

Matt Tuckness (88-84 Mavs) Two bad plays by David Lee as he threw up a shot that never had a chance and then let Monta go by him for a lay-up. Someone else beside Steph is going to have to provide some scoring for the Warriors if they want to win this game.

Joshua Biers (92-89 Mavs) Rats. Steph Curry just made an incredible four-point play to breathe life in a failing Warriors comeback. If he makes the free throw, it’s a two-point game. The refs have began giving Steph star treatment this season, I personally don’t think there was much contact, but what do I know. It’s important to note that Klay Thompson is having his worst game of the season. He can’t buy a shot with only 11 points on the night, all in the first half. He takes contested catch-and-shoot three-pointers and his defensive efforts on Monta Ellis are questionable at best.

Matt Tuckness (93-92 WARRIORS!) Draymond Green hitting a huge three to take the lead!! The Warriors have been a different team this fourth quarter and have gotten back into the game with excellent defense. Words cannot adequately describe my happiness right now. The Warriors haven’t lead since early in the first quarter yet somehow they lead with a minute left. Can they hold on? They have all the momentum but the Mavs have Dirk. That scares me.

Joshua Biers (93-93): Steph Curry misses a lay-up out of the timeout and Dallas calls their own with 32.8 seconds left on the clock. If I’m Rick Carlisle, I’m going to either Ellis or Nowitzki, probably the German because of his hot hand this quarter. However, Monta did have a game winner earlier this week so….

Matt Tuckness: 95-93 WARRIORS WIN!!! Steph hits a cross-over pump fake pull-up 17 footer with Shawn Marion on him for the win. Earlier tonight, Josh had been saying how Steph wasn’t clutch. I swear that the Warriors locker room must have a direct line to his home because whenever he is hating on a player they just show him how wrong he is. Steph makes clutch shot after clutch shot in the fourth quarter as the Warriors win another stunner. Like I said last time, if Josh and I are doing a commentary you know it’s going to be a good game. I think it is some sort of rule in the NBA. The Warriors still need to fix their issue of coming out flat in the first half, but right now I just want to enjoy the win. Also, the beanie was on!! It’s BEANIE MAGIC. Gotta Go. The highlights for the game just came on ESPN and I need to relive the magic. Peace out, until the next Warriors stunning victory!!

Joshua Biers: As founder of Sports With Biers, I have decided that it is in my best interests if we don’t cover Golden State Warriors games anymore. We will be doing Kings and Lakers commentarys now! Yay! Maybe some of this ridiculous commentary luck will rub off on more important teams.