Mavs in must win game three?

This is something I wrote back on 27 April 2007 right before game 3 was played.

While many people looking at the series between the Mavericks and Golden State say that this is only game 3, and there is plenty of time if the Mavericks lose this game tonight for them to come back in the series, I believe that the Mavericks must win this game to take control of the series, or they may be looking at a very embarrasing early exit from the 2007 playoffs.
With the series shifting back to Oakland tied 1-1, Golden State has to be happy with the way they are playing, and the results of the games. Sure, they could be up 2-0, but realistically, I think splitting the games in Dallas with the Mavs must make Don Nelson and his staff ecstatic.
The Mavs in the regular season went 36-5 at home, 68-14 overall for the season. They were in a playoff mode from the get-go. Three of those 14 losses came against Golden State, two of them away from home. Golden state has Mavs MVP Dirk Nowitzki, and possibly the NBA MVP playing like an extremely average player.
The Mavericks bench, with the exception of Jerry Stackhouse, who decided to come to play on Wednesday night, has been nearly non existent for the first two games of the season.
The Mavericks need to win, and win quick or else they will run the risk of letting the Warriors think that they can hang with the Mavericks. The longer that Golden State hangs around, the more confidence they are going to get. That is why Mavs fans need to see this series over as soon as possible. The longer Dallas allows the genius coach Don Nelson to scheme up plans to limit the Mavericks weapons, the more they will lose control of the series.
It might be wise to remember that Nellie basically hand crafted this team. He was the coach when they drafted Dirk, Devin Harris, Josh Howard, and besides a few pieces, (i.e. Devin George, Greg Buckner and Austin Croshere), he pretty much built the team, and took the Mavericks from a punch line to playoff contenders. He also had Avery as his assistant coach for a few of those years. So if anyone knows how to stop the Mavericks, its Nelson.
However, history would be on Dallas’ side. only two other eighth seeded teams have beaten a one seed, and very few have not won the NBA title after having a season like the Mavs did.
With that being said, Dallas quit playing meaningful games outside of the Spurs game long before the season was ended. Golden State was fighting their rear ends off just to get into the playoffs. And already two games into this series, it seems like the layoff is hurting Dallas. They aren’t in the kind of control of the games as they once were. They are realistically a Baron Davis temper tantrum away from being down 2-0 at home.
No its not time to panic, There is still time for the Mavericks to revert to the team that won 17 games in a row at one point, which is one more that is necessary for an NBA title, but it is also not the time to start re-planning that Championship Parade though Dallas. If the Mavs don’t get it together quick, they might be looking at the most disappointing off season in their
history.

Jordan Dodson