Benn Hodapp: Non-believer

After a spectacular dismantling of the team that would be champion, the Warriors are looking for an upset of a milder degree over the Utah Jazz in round two. The only thing is, I am sick of the Warriors and their undeserved feeling of accomplishment. Has anyone else noticed that there is approximately 650 percent more Warriors gear around lately? To those who have and always have been Warriors fans, congratulations, I want you to enjoy this.

Bottom line: I don’t know if the Warriors are for real. I think the Mavs series was a mix of things, few of which had to do with talent. The Mavs had this ‘they can’t really beat us’ thing going on and the Warriors had this ‘let’s make 80 percent of our three-pointers’ thing going on.

No team in the history of the NBA has played a more perfect series than the Warriors did against the Mavs, and if it happens again, I will be more than shocked. I don’t see any chokers on the Jazz, unlike Dirk and his amazing disappearing role players.

Who is going to contain Carlos Boozer? I’m pretty sure I remember him torching an excellent Rockets defense for 24.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. Then there’s the real Most Improved Player, Deron Williams, who is a poor man’s Steve Nash.

I didn’t see it coming against the Mavs either, so I could be wrong. But my official prediction is Jazz in six. I know it has been a while for you, Warriors fans, but don’t set yourselves up for a fall with unrealistic expectations.

Whether it be Baron Davis severely spraining an ankle, Matt Barnes remembering that he isn’t good or Stephen Jackson shooting up Energy Solutions Arena when called for a charge, something will happen and their season will end. Book it.

Lamont Weaver: Mavs got punked

I never thought the day would come where I would be writing about the Golden State Warriors being in the second round of the playoffs.

If, before this season, you genuinely said that the Warriors are for real and would be going deep into the playoffs, I would have made an appointment for you to go see professional help. Yet after making the playoffs on the last day of the season, the Warriors have become the story of the playoffs.

Before you say that I have jumped on the Warrior’s bandwagon like everyone else in the world, you have to look at the facts. The Dallas Mavericks choked, again, like no team has ever choked before. Since the start of the first game where Mavericks’ coach Avery Johnson changed his lineup from the normal combo of big to little guys to an all-small lineup like the Warriors, you had the feeling that the Warriors had them worried.

I do give the Warriors credit. They punked the Mavericks and they showed me that they are a good team. Now they are playing the Utah Jazz, and it will be interesting to see their pick-up game style versus the disciplined style of the Jazz.

Even though the Jazz are tough and they beat Tracey “It’s On Me” McGrady and the Rockets, I have two reasons why the Warriors are for real and will win this series; Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis.

Davis to me is the best point guard in the NBA. It’s just too bad that he is healthy as often as leap years. Davis, unlike Steve Nash, can dominate on both sides of the court. During the series with the Mavericks, he played with a swagger that the Mavericks kept waiting for Dirk to show, but never did.

Jackson has taken over Artest’s title as the NBA’s bad boy, but if the Warriors hadn’t gotten him in a trade this year, the Warriors wouldn’t be here. He gives the Warriors everything: toughness, defense, scoring and, most important, championship experience.

As long as Davis doesn’t bust his ever-fragile knees and/or Jackson doesn’t go into the stands to knock out more fans, the Warriors are definitely for real.

Nick Lozito: In the beginning

And in Genesis 2, Game 6, Don said: “Behold for this is Baron, my finest creation, what think you?”

And Baron stepped forth and took an apple from the tree of knowledgeThen Don called upon his other son, Stephen, and said, “Son, confess thy sins to me!”

And Stephen repented his three deadly sins (shooting up thy club, brawling at The Palace and clapping in the face of authority), prayed to Don, and was pardoned. Stephen then scored 33 points.

And Don made Monta out of a rib.

Are the Warriors real? Yes, I’ve always Believed.

Evolution can’t explain this transformation. It’s illogical to think a team can evolve this much, on its own, in one season’s time. There has to be another force, a Creator if you will. We know this creator to be Don Nelson.

I watched as Don was crucified in 1994. Then, 12 years later, He resurrected. He chose His Twelve Apostles, brought them to the Oracle – a place where deities are consulted – and set forth on a mission. These brave Warriors set foot in treacherous lands and tamed the biggest beast. They stepped into the fire, only to come out with not a burn.

Now we have all these born-again Believers.

And at the end of Genesis 1, Game 82, Don said: “Be fertile and multiply, my Warrior Nation; fill the court and subdue it. Have dominion over the Mavericks of the west, the Pistons of the east, and all the living things that move on the court.”

And we watched as Don called upon Baron, and Baron parted the Green Sea , leading the Warriors to freedom. And 20,000 fans shouted his name. They said “Jesus Christ!” Followed by “Holy f–ing sh-!” Followed by, “Let’s get hyphy, you beezies! Yeeeee!”

And there was light in Oakland .