It's been kind of weird to listen to the Mavs during this series. As they're losing games, they're also being very complimentary to their foe. Golden State is very dangerous, a great team, explosive, etc. etc., they've been saying. I've been pretty surpised by those niceties, and sort of an acknowledgment that they're getting whipped in the hustle categories for the most part and that they really aren't sure how to stop it.
So, anyway, the series is still on. If the Mavs can hold on and take Game 5, the pressure starts to build a little more on Golden State. Then they've got to really be thinking about closing it out at home in Game 6, not wanting to have to win a Game 7 here after being up 3-1.
Stackhouse was asked if he believes the Warriors' surprising success can actually increase the pressure on them to put the Mavs out. Here's what he had to say:
"Write that, maybe they'll read that and tighten up a little bit. But right now they're playing loose and with a lot of confidence. They've said from the start that if they came out and got swept by us, then it's nothing -- they were the eight-seed and we were the No. 1 seed. But, at the same time we've got our backs against the wall. Now the pressure's on the them. It's hard to close out a series. We did it three times last year and it was three of the hardest games. We had to fight and hopefully if we're going to go down, we're going to go down fighting the same way and it's going to be one of the toughest things they have to do, to knock us out of this series."
-- Jeff
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