137 Comments

If they come out bombing threes early in the game I hope they’re able to weather the storm and keep it a game. Please no game 5 vs grizzlies performance.

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May 23, 2022·edited May 23, 2022

Game 5 vs the Grizzlies did not happen. You thought you watched it but that was just a bad dream. All the reports you read, the threads here, all part of a nightmare. In the awake world we skipped from game 4 to game 6. I don't know how that is possible but it must be true.

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I don't think it's "if" but "when". I'm expecting 20 three-point attempts in the first quarter.

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Two hours, all!

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So since I stopped watching Dubs games, the team has impressively managed to lose only one game (Game 5 vs. Grizzlies). I really think that I've been a bad luck charm for this team.

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FWIW, the Warriors are undefeated when I watch the game upside down (i.e. that my phone screen is upside down, not that I am upside down).

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Or, I don’t know, maybe the Warriors are just good 🤷🏼‍♂️

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Be glad that human sacrifice went out of favor....

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Be strong. Watch the games if you enjoy them. You are not a bad luck charm.

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Yeah....I find that if I concentrate on watching the game live, the Dubs start losing, so I've been going back and forth between watching the game as it unfolds, reading the commentary here and surfing eBay for more stuff I definitely don't need. Join me on the Dubs must win, so I must not watch couch!

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That’s what I do, too. Hide my eyes for the scary parts and then peek out when my son tells me it’s close again. (He’s a brave one; he watches the whole thing from tip off to buzzer.)

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I don't care how many games it takes , we have to win this series for GP2. It's only right he makes his grand return if we advance and propels us to the promise land

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Yeah just have to hope this rag-tag supporting cast can hold the fort long enough to allow GP2 to return and carry the team on his back, like it was always meant to be.

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I mean that’s been the narrative since summer league, right?

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I'm glad everyone here is feeling optimistic, but I have a strong feeling that the Dubs are going to drop a game this series and tonight is a peak candidate: tired from travel, emboldened by the comeback win, facing Dallas's home court crowd for the first time this playoffs... Dallas may or may not get hot, but the Dubs are their own worst enemy and have shown that they will throw games away here and there. Turnovers, missed shots, dumb fouls... I'm expecting one of these two games in Dallas to be pretty much unwatchably bad, and then hopefully we'll close it out at home in game 5.

Don't forget, all we've done so far is defend home court, and it took a big comeback in game 2 to do even that. The Mavericks will have their game and we need to be ready for it. And, let's not overreact to the loss just like we don't overreact to the wins at home.

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Now you KNOW that if we lose, especially if it's ugly, we'll have a lot of overreactions here. It's just part of fandom. Besides everyone has to be good at something, and we're good at overreacting to losses AND to wins.

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If I didn't overreact, I wouldn't have anything to do all day.

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Lol

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

Yea I think this is either a blowout win or random ending

Edit: random ending

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If the Dubs had to drop a game, I'd rather it be 4. Don't want Dallas to have a chance of tying up the series at home going into Game 4. If they did lose, hopefully the Dubs would wrap it up in Game 5 at home.

Draymond said earlier in the post season that a friend pointed out to him that the Dubs had been terrible in Game 3's in the past. They've won them this year so far and I would like to see them continue that trend.

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

I think the oddsmakers have Dallas favored (by 2 points). If I were a betting person and not a Dubs fan, I'd take the over on that bet. I can't imagine a team with Luka Doncic and decent enough support cast getting swept or gentleman-swept, and in order for that to be avoided the Mavs obviously have to win tonight.

On the other hand.... DuBs iN FOuRrRr!

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Mavericks are now favored by 3 points according to ESPN NBA. It looks like the people are betting that the Mavericks will win since they have the home court for the next two games and have proven themselves that they can come back from a 2-0 series deficit. Plus, the Mavericks have shot very well in the 1st half of game 2.

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Yeah if they win I have to imagine it's by more than 2.

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I think an underrated aspect of the “Championship DNA” is the ability to fully embrace the fact that it’sa 4 quarter game. When the opponents come out guns blazing in the first quarter and overexerting themselves like a runner sprinting to take a big lead in the first quarter mile of a 1 mile race… the Dubs are happy to run their own race and have the energy left for the final kick as they round that final turn of the race.

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Did y’all see this? Some words from GP2 to dub nation. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/this-is-for-dub-nation-01g3cwtm62pk/amp

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When he ordered that fan a beer when he accidentally knocked it over I knew the guy was a real one. This article just confirms it. Man deserves all the love we can give him.

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Thanks for sharing. GP2 is just lovable and seems like a very solid guy all around. Glad he’s on our team! Make it happen, Bob!

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Love it! GP2 might have made up with Brooks, but I haven't. Fuck that guy

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Yeah, Brooks annoys the sh!t out of me and that’s even before he hurt GP2.

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I'd be shocked if he doesn't stay over the summer.

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Steph has already went on record saying that Bob better pay the man. No way he's not staying

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Best 15th man ever.

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That’s playoff starter GP2 you talking about

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Unbelievable piece of writing. The dude is a prince.

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Give than man a statue already I don't even care.

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Awesome. Lots of love from GPII. Great little stories about the interactions on the team. And makes me hopeful he'll be back before our season is over. Maybe not before Dallas is done at the rate things have been going, though. ;)

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

We haven't really had an A+ performance on the road in these playoffs.. something like what Boston did to Miami in game 2. These next 2 games would be a great time to mimic that performance

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As great as Moody's stint was in the fourth quarter, it is very hard to expect consistency from 19 year olds. Not to mention the difference between playing at home and on the road (notable that Ziaire Williams had his two best games of the last series at home) and also that I think the short rotation Mavericks were a bit worn out by the fourth quarter given how they faded.

I think he has earned the first look over Lee in this game, but I would not be surprised if we do see Lee again before this series is over.

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I wouldn't even mind Lee playing today. Just don't put him in a lineup with Poole and Klay.

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With most 19 year olds, I would agree completely. But there is something about Moody. The dude is just consistently solid and makes smart, winning basketball plays.

I don’t have a problem if Lee gets some run tonight. He can be good in spurts. But I’d love to give Moody a little more rope, especially being up 0-2.

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Moody had a great game! Super solid, mistake-free, and punished the defense when they cheated away from him. It was notable that he and Lee were the only players in garbage time in Game 1 that didn't embarrass themselves or stop running the offense.... Hoping he gets more opportunities.

I do think that Kerr will look for a chance to get Lee in this game, even for spot minutes, just to keep his morale up - it seems like Kerr does that. Rooting for Lee's success after all he's done to just get in the league; can't imagine battling through 2 ACL injuries, balling out in the G League, 10 day contracts, etc, to finally get into the league, only to be told regularly by internet allstars "yOu'rE heRe bEcaUse wIFE cUrRy bwAAAA!"

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> With most 19 year olds, I would agree completely. But there is something about Moody. The dude is just consistently solid and makes smart, winning basketball plays.

It'll be interesting though because Moody has never experienced being adjusted against in a playoff series. If Kidd thinks he's going to play I'm sure Kidd will have something in mind to exploit him, we'll see what it is and how capable Moody is of withstanding it.

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

That’s a really good point. Also, the road is a bit less forgiving than playing at home. But, for some reason, I still feel confident in the kid.

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Both Moody and Kuminga come across quite mature for their age, especially Moody who is very philosophical in interviews. Also, my husband rode in an elevator with just him and JK and he said JK is a nice young man and he even initiated conversation. What can I say, our team is easy to root for.

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The question I have is, is GP2 with 1.5 elbows better than Lee? I'd say it's a toss up.

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Role players usually shoot better at home, so I expect the Mavericks bench to put up a better performance tonight. In game 2, they only had 13 points. I expect Dinwiddie and probably guys like Kleber and Bertans to shoot better.

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My hope is that Ntilikina continues to miss and be unplayable, he seems like their best option at slowing Poole down.

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A good comfortable 10 point win please.

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Per quarter

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*30

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The Curry "night night" shit is definitely going to be thrown back in his face should the Warriors lose. You have players on the Mavericks talking about it, not to mention the standard collection of haters the Warriors have amassed over the past decade champing at the bit to kick them whenever they get down. My suggestion to the Warriors on how to deal with this?

Don't lose.

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That there is some great advice, and I hope the Dubs are listening: "Don't lose."

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I hope to see it 6 more times before the end of June

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I enjoy it! It's in the heat of the moment for the most part and is no different than Luka shushing the crowd and telling them to sit down when he hit that 3 before half time.

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Haters will find a way to hate.

They survived 2016, they'll survive anything lol.

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I mean if this is what's fueling him to lead the NBA playoffs in fourth quarter points, TS%, and just about every other stat, I'm all in.

The Warriors will get crapped on if they lose regardless of how Curry celebrates.

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May 22, 2022Liked by punk basketball

When CP3 angrily shimmied on Steph on national TV when the Rockets went ahead of the Warriors in the 2018 Playoffs, did Steph fume or rage ? No, he laughed on the spot, and then in the after game he said “if you shimmy, you have to be ready to get shimmied on”. And then he led the Warriors to a comeback victory in the series.

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Honestly that shimmy was the closest I've ever come to liking Chris Paul.

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May 22, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Well yeah, he was making the same point I'm making now.

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Not quite, imo.

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Definitely was but whatever

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Steph's celebrations has definitely gotten more disrespectful with age. I thought the shimmies or even those random dances in the past were playful taunts but the sleepytime gesture feels more hostile (by Steph's standards) lol. I'm here for it though as long as he wins Finals MVP to back it up

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Steph's unhinged! Between the "night night" gestures and T'ing up refs, the guys a maniac.

Gotta admire his confidence, though. Saying "night, night" while his final 3 ball is up in the air is right up there with the turn around and run back on D before the shot drops moves.

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Disrespectful? He's just using the skills he learned as a father!

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May 22, 2022·edited May 22, 2022

Trash talk is always thrown back at you… this is normal. The Luka special, whoop that trick, light years, etc… be like Draymond and don’t be afraid of the consequences of your confidence and expressions.

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Dray didn't have a new podcast since last game (from what I can tell). Hopefully all is good and he is just ultra focused on scouting for today's game.

Let's go.

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Maybe because be stunk so much in game 2?

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Could just be because he was traveling on the only off day, honestly.

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He has always posted between games, even the games with one day gap. And sometimes more than once if gap is larger.

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And you know Andre is going to get in his face today, just before they step on the court, and tell him to settle down and play ball.

I was so wrong about Andre. Playing or not, he's been so important to this team.

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Here's hoping! Go Dubs!!

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May 22, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

For those of us - myself included - who initially though Larry Ellison would have been a great candidate as a buyer for the W's, now there's this: https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/22/23136790/larry-ellison-oracle-call-sean-hannity-lindsey-graham-overturning-election-results

I'm so glad Lacob bought the team now, but first impressions were rocky - who the hell is this Lacob guy? WHAT, the idiot traded away Monta?

It's so humbling (and kind of funny to me) looking back at some of my old takes: preferring Ellison to Lacob, oh no Jordan Poole, we traded DLo for ANDREW WIGGINS dammit. It's helped me realize that Meyers, Kerr, and co. do a way better running things than I ever would, and I get to sit back and let them wreak their havoc on the league while I get to enjoy the results.

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Ellison is a big reason why oracle was rumored to have such a toxic work environment

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author

***

Here’s Andrew Wiggins on his ankle twist from the last game. Said he really felt it postgame before he went to bed. Feels better today. Doesn’t believe it’ll impact his lateral movement.

https://twitter.com/anthonyvslater/status/1528424524659802112?s=21&t=iZI0WyuUIUfpZEOHMfMQfQ

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May 22, 2022Liked by punk basketball

It’s Game DDDay!!! Let’s go!!

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