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Big Lessons Learned from Game 5, Mavs vs Warriors
By Coach Randy Brown

One of most spirited and highly contested game in recent NBA history was played last night. In this crucial game 5, the Mavericks overcame a major threat by the Warriors to win an emotional contest. Down 3-1, the Mavs had their back to the wall in their own building and were tested to the hilt.

Maybe Charles Barkley was right and maybe he will be wrong. Only time will tell in this incredibly popular Western NBA series between the Mavs and Warriors. The end of the game produced 3 major lessons that all coaches can learn from.

Down by 21 in the first half, the Don Nelson-led Warriors, an 8th seed in the West, charged back and took the lead in the forth quarter. The comeback was fueled by great play from Baron Davis and Matt Barnes. Barnes jumped off the bench in the second half and played like a man on a mission. Davis was an offensive machine and was virtually unstoppable. The Mavs had no defensive answers for the San Franciscans. What happened late in the game when the Warriors held a 6 point lead?

Lesson #1-The Warriors beat themselves on the offensive end in the last 2:30 minutes of the game. They not only missed the last shots, but 5 of them were threes!! With a 6 point lead with a very short clock left, a team must defend and get fouled by going to the basket. Three's are great in the midst of a comeback but offensive common sense and execution must take over late in the game. Win by the three and die by the three. The Warriors Died!

Lesson #2-Dirk Nowitzki is a great offensive player, period. Though he had taken only three shots in the second half prior to the dramatic end, wouldn't you think the Mavs might go to him for big shots? He hit to major three's to cut the lead to three and eventually take the lead. What could the Warriors have done in that position? One strategy would be to put your best defender on Nowitzki and make him bounce it every time he caught the ball. This would eliminate any three's by the All-Star. Isn't this the time of the game where stars like Dirk want to take the shot? I hate bag on the former University of Iowa All-American and Basketball Hall of Fame coach, but that adjustment could have won it for the Warriors.

Lesson #3-A major lesson can be learned from the defensive adjustment on Baron Davis late in the game. The strategy, which worked perfectly by the Mavs, force the ball away from Davis. When he did catch the ball late in the game, they double teamed him making him give it up.

Essentially, the victorious Mavs took the best offensive Warrior out to the game, while Nowitzki on the other end was allowed to get good looks at the basket and make it count. Great game, great coaches, great players. I can't wait to see game 6!