Knowing that I need to write my first blog, and desperate for a new storyline in the NBA, I decided to write a running diary of the Mavericks/Warriors game last night. I was hopeful that I might see a Warriors team playing with renewed vigor after having played a relatively strong home stand (despite the lack of wins). Monta Ellis returned a few days earlier and Golden State fought the Cleveland LeBrons to the very end in a great game. I had been a huge Monta fan last year, as his reckless one-man fast breaking style was similar to my own on the basketball court (although my forays to the hoop were pathetically dunkless). Hopefully Golden State could parlay this influx of energy into something reminiscent of their role in years past as the giant-crushing team that nobody wanted to play.

It took less than a full quarter to realize the Warriors were in serious trouble. Being guarded by Steven “Jacko” Jackson, “Disco” Dirk Nowitzki used his full repertoire of herky-jerky mid-range jumpers and post moves with devastating efficiency. It became clear the Warriors had nobody to guard him.

As the game went on, the Mavs turned to Jason “Jet” Terry for more offense. Normally a more than capable offensive player, Terry lit up Monta Ellis who was still struggling to get his defensive reaction times back to where they ought to be. As the game wore on, it also became obvious that Golden State sorely needs somebody to be a voice of sanity tying the team together when times get tough. Perhaps Baron Davis filled this role a year ago, but this year the team gives big-time minutes to head-cases like Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, Steven Jackson and Jamal Crawford.

At no point in the first half did the Warriors play like a cohesive team, defensively or offensively. Perhaps this speaks to Don Nelson’s coaching more than anything else, but if he thinks this style can win consistently in the NBA he needs a wake-up call. Boston, Cleveland, L.A., Orlando and San Antonio all understand that the game is best played by a team, nay, a family (as KG often calls it). I bet for Christmas the Warriors just gave each other money. I bet if Don Nelson tried cooking a Christmas turkey he’d forget to defrost it. I bet the Warriors will remain in obscurity until Chris Mullin obtains a more vocal elder statesman for his team.

Warriors tirade aside, I thankfully missed some of the second half by changing over to an exciting Sixers/Rockets battle going on in Houston. At the start of the fourth quarter Houston was holding a seven point lead. Houston’s play has been impressive of late even with T-Mac and Artest out. They play as hard as anybody in the league, and defensively they really get after it with strong on-ball pressure and hustle for loose balls. They actually remind me of the way Philadelphia plays. The similar style of the two teams made for a hard-fought fourth quarter. This game was played very aggressively on both sides of the ball, with the Sixers amassing an incredible 14 blocks and 11 steals with each of them often leading to a frenetic race up the court to score.

It was like a Knicks/Heat battle from the late 90’s, but in the new seven seconds or less era of small-ball. The Sixers eventually would come back and win, using a style of play that can best be described as “video game.” They were like the kid who mashes the steal and block buttons on defense so much that he inevitably causes havoc, then gets the ball and while holding turbo races up the court and hits the shoot button as soon as he can possibly get a lay-up. I urge all NBA fans to get out there and watch this passionate Philadelphia team play.

Perhaps the funniest player on the court to me was Louis Williams, a true microcosm of this Sixers team. He looks like an eager young kid who plays streetball, and all he really needs is a haircut, a shower and a warm meal. Two plays you need to see from last night’s games include Nate Robinson of the Knicks throwing down a crazy double pump alley oop dunk. He’s a great player, similar to Louis Williams, and quicker than a hiccup too. Another incredible play was Andre Iguodala’s alley oop cram in Yao Ming’s face that reminded everyone watching of two things: Iggy’s freakishly long arms and huge hands which enable him to throw down dunks harder than anyone in the league, and Yao’s stubby weak arms that give him a soft shooting touch, but offer little in resisting dunkers cramming it down his mug.

Andrew