In a Western Conference Finals matchup that only a few saw coming, the recharged Golden State Warriors are facing off with the upstart Dallas Mavericks. Following the surprising conclusion to their series with the Suns, Luka Doncic and the Mavs are playing some of their best basketball. While they were able to knock off No. 1 seed Phoenix, Dallas still has to contend with the reimagined Warriors who, not too long ago, ruled the NBA. In Game 1 of the series, the Warriors trounced Dallas at home by a margin of 25 points. Can the Mavericks turn the tide in the Bay in Game 2?
In this breakdown, SBS will go over what to look for from each team and who will ultimately prevail in Game 2 on Friday evening.
In their Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors looked like their old selves with some dominant shooting, winning 4-2. This has permeated over to Game 1 of the Western Finals where the Warriors shot a dominating 56.1 percent from the field. In their first contest of this series, Golden State led throughout the matchup and stepped on the gas from the second quarter on. A full team effort, all five Warriors starters finished the game with double-digits in points scored. In fact, Golden State also outrebounded the Mavericks by 16 and basically never trailed in the contest.
Led by the greatest statistical shooter of all-time, Steph Curry (21 points in Game 1), the Dubs drubbed the Mavericks at the Chase Center. With the series staying in the Bay Area for Game 2, Dallas will have its hands full trying to clamp down on the blistering Warriors. While Golden State is known for their fantastic trio of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they got some much needed fire support from small forward Andrew Wiggins (19 points) and Jordan Poole (19). One of the most well-balanced teams in the NBA, Golden State is always a tough draw when you play them at home.
After slaying the dragon that was the Phoenix Suns, the Mavericks were riding high heading into Game 1 against the Warriors. That victorious feeling was short-lived though as Dallas looked flat in the second half against Golden State. All-Star guard Luka Doncic paced the Mavericks with 20 points, but he had a disastrous plus-minus ratio of -30. Though that statistic is not primarily Doncic’s fault, it still is a strong indicator that things were not going the right way for Dallas’ amazing star guard. In addition to Doncic, the Mavs also featured double-digit outings from guards Jalen Brunson (14 points) and Spencer Dinwiddie (17). A team that has some stout backcourt depth, Dallas will be relying on this more as they shift the game plan for Game 2 on Friday.
Perhaps the biggest area of improvement for Dallas could come from their frontcourt. While Doncic is of course the main centerpiece of the Mavericks offense, he will need some more help from his big man counterparts. For instance, forward Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock combined for a paltry 17 points in Game 1 while center Dwight Powell only notched one field goal (three points). Even if they can just double the marks (for Finney-Smith and Powell), it will go a long way in helping Doncic and the guards fend off Golden State’s ferocious marksmen.
Prediction: The Warriors put together a terrific mark of 31-10 playing at home this last season. This record, along with their success against Dallas this year (+32 in games played vs. Dallas at the Chase Center in the regular season) gives Golden State the nod in Game 2.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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