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American Airlines Center, the following night.The entrance of the Warriors' players triggered a storm of boos. The infamous "Black Eight Miracle" from two years ago was a historic triumph for the Warriors but forever branded the Mavericks with an inescapable mark of humiliation.
Liam Gonzalez shook hands with Rick Carlisle, smiling while recalling what Nelson had told him before arriving in Dallas:
"Liam, no one knows the Mavericks and Dirk better than I do. Their roster has aged a few years, and running and shooting is their eternal nemesis. Speed is the magic weapon to beat the Mavericks!"
Carlisle's expression was serious:
"Anthony Tolliver... Do you think he can defend like Stephen Jackson?"
Liam smirked lightly.
"He's good enough to guard Nowitzki."
Carlisle scoffed.
"We'll see about that."
The two parted ways and returned to their respective benches as the large screen displayed the starting lineups.
The Mavericks, without Shawn Marion due to injury, fielded Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Drew Gooden, Rodrigue Beaubois, and Quinton Ross. Beaubois and Ross were largely placeholders.
Meanwhile, the Warriors made some subtle adjustments. Anthony Tolliver replaced Varejao as the starting power forward, a decision announced just 10 minutes before tip-off due to a reported "back strain" for Varejao.
This exchange was precisely why Carlisle had confronted Liam earlier. Carlisle believed Liam underestimated Nowitzki, especially by starting Tolliver, a player with limited defensive skills. But Liam's confidence was unwavering.
Broadcasting live across the United States, ESPN's Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy were on commentary.
Mike Breen, with his signature magnetic voice, remarked on the lineups:
"Anthony Tolliver is replacing Anderson Varejao as the starting power forward. He's a stretch-four shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc this season, averaging 1.5 triples per game. But his overall skill set isn't as well-rounded as Varejao's. Jeff, why do you think Coach Liam made this decision?"
Jeff Van Gundy, known for his analytical insight, pondered briefly:
"Like you said, Tolliver's only clear advantage over Varejao is his shooting. Coach Liam might be trying to recreate the Warriors' successful 'Black Eight' lineup from two years ago, relying on speed and perimeter shooting. But Tolliver's defense is average at best, and Nowitzki might have a field day against him."
Breen chimed in, referencing his notes:
"The Mavericks are on a five-game winning streak and currently sit second in the Western Conference with a 10-3 record. Nowitzki is averaging 26.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, shooting an astonishing 49.3%. It's hard to imagine Tolliver containing him."
Van Gundy nodded.
"I agree. Nowitzki is in top form—a German juggernaut. The Warriors' firepower, even with Curry, might not be enough to match the Mavericks."
The game tipped off.
With Erick Dampier out for the Mavericks, Biedrins easily won the jump ball over Gooden and passed it to Curry. Without hesitation, Curry advanced the ball while the Warriors' players sprinted forward.
Caught off guard, the Mavericks scrambled to defend. Spotting an open Kelenna Azubuike, Curry delivered a precision pass. Azubuike, unguarded, drained a three-pointer with ease.
3-0, Warriors.
Carlisle shook his head, dissatisfied. He had repeatedly emphasized the importance of defending against the Warriors' fast breaks, yet they conceded right away.
"Focus on transition defense! Stick to the nearest Warrior player immediately after losing the ball!" Carlisle yelled.
Carlisle's confidence stemmed from what he saw as the Warriors' glaring weakness—an interior defense he deemed incapable of handling an elite offensive big man like Nowitzki. However, as the Mavericks began their possession, Carlisle's smirk faded.
The Warriors switched matchups, assigning Azubuike to double Nowitzki aggressively. Despite Nowitzki's best efforts to pass out of the trap, Quinton Ross and Beaubois repeatedly missed wide-open shots.
In contrast, the Warriors thrived. Curry orchestrated plays masterfully, exploiting Kidd's diminished speed. His quick drive-and-dish to Biedrins resulted in a thunderous dunk. Azubuike, instructed by Liam to shoot without hesitation, maintained the pace despite early misses, as per his coach's directive:
"Be bold. Shoot whenever you get the chance. Forget about your percentage—your job is to get shots up!"
The Mavericks' offense continued to sputter. Their reliance on Nowitzki proved futile as the Warriors' double-teaming forced him into passing to unreliable shooters. With a 23% three-point shooter like Quinton Ross and the inconsistent Beaubois left to bail them out, the Mavericks couldn't capitalize.
Timeout Mavericks.
Carlisle signaled for adjustments. If he didn't act swiftly, the game could slip away.
End of this chapter
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