These guys are for real.  The Golden State Warriors pummeled the top-ranked Dallas Mavericks again last night and took a two-games-to-one series lead in this first round Western Conference match up.  They did it with hustle, heart, speed, and quickness.  They did it with unmatched athleticism and incredible malice.  They looked the number one seed in the eye and told them to get out of their way.

These Warriors are a collection of individual talents with unparalleled moxie and a dangerous swagger.  Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson have elevated their game and infiltrated the hearts of the Mavericks with fear.  Jason Richardson picked the first Warrior home playoff game since May 4, 1994, to explode onto the scene and assert himself as a relentless scorer.  Don Nelson has masterminded the rotation and exploited every weakness in the big blue Maverick shield.

However, this motley group was assembled by often criticized General Manager Chris Mullin.  His off season tactics in his first three years have been viewed as short-sighted and excessively brash, but he has collected himself rather nicely to build this Warrior foundation with superior athletes and one of the greatest basketball minds in the business.  

After watching Golden State succeed using this system of small lineup basketball, many people find themselves asking ?Where did these guys come from??  While it seems like this team is as brand new as the Nissan Altima Coupe, it is interesting to look back at how this core was constructed.  

The most interesting fact about the makeup of this team is that they?ve been right here under nose of the Bay Area all along.  With two savvy moves by Mullin, he has resurrected the soul of the Warrior franchise and put his team back in the postseason.  This investigation will explain where each of the new-age Warriors came from, and at what minimal expense to the organization.  

The Starters

Baron Davis ? PG

Baron was acquired on February 24, 2005, from the New Orleans Hornets for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis.  At first glance, this deal looks like one of more lopsided trades in league history.  Baron Davis is an all-star caliber guard who has been playing the best basketball of his career this season.  However, this move was made by the Hornets primarily to clear themselves of his massive contract, which extends to 2008-09 at roughly $16M per season.  

Monta Ellis ? G

Ellis was selected as the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Warriors.  His development over the past year has been remarkable.  Only in his second year out of Lanier High School in Mississippi, he has already increased his scoring from 6.8 points per game his rookie year to 16.5 this year.  His creativity getting to the hoop and growth as a defensive nuisance have contributed to him being named the NBA?s Most Improved Player for 2006-07.

Jason Richardson ? G/F

Richardson was also drafted by the Warriors with the 5th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.  This two-time dunk champion has been among the team leaders in scoring since his rookie season.  He has often been mentioned in trade talks due to his superior skills and his immense contract.  However, Mullin has stuck with him through the years, and it has often paid off.  Richardson broke out with 30 points and 8 rebounds in Game 3.

Stephen Jackson ? G/F

Jackson has now been a member of five teams in his seven-year career, and has only missed the playoffs twice.  He was acquired from the Indiana Pacers on January 17, 2007, along with Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Josh Powell in exchange for Ike Diogu, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, and Keith McLeod.  This deal changed the face of both franchises.  The Pacers fell from the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, all the way out of the playoffs to tenth place.  Meanwhile, the Warriors surged into the playoff picture and captured the eighth and last seed on the final day of the season.  Jackson has been playing remarkable as of late and instead of focusing on scoring in this first round series, he has become a distributor and finished Game 3 with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Andris Biedrins ? F/C

Biedrins was selected by the Warriors with the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.  He has seen his numbers rise with the renewed confidence in his career supplied by new head coach Don Nelson.  Nelson has inserted the oft-benched Latvian into the starting lineup this season and watched as he contributed career highs of 9.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in 29 minutes per game.

The Key Rotation Guys

Al Harrington ? F

Harrington was another key asset acquired in the January trade with the Indiana Pacers.  He is often seen as a starter but began Game 3 on the bench for the Warriors.  His overall performance since being acquired has been befitting of the Nelson system and he averaged over 16 points per game since the trade.  However, he has struggled to find his touch in this first round series, and we can almost expect a breakout game from Harrington in Game 4 or 5.  

Matt Barnes ? F

Barnes has had a rough career thus far and has finally found a home.  He has been picked up and dropped by five teams since being drafted in the 2002 NBA Draft.  The Warriors signed him this season on October 2 and he has become a very valuable contributor this season.  When injuries hit the team earlier in the season, he stepped up and averaged nearly 14 points per game in January and February.  

Mickael Pietrus ? G/F

Pietrus was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.  He put up career numbers this season establishing career highs in minutes, field goal percentage, and scoring.  He has been an invaluable asset for Coach Nelson off the bench and is finally maturing into the player they hoped he would be when he was drafted.

Kelenna Azubuike ? G

This undrafted rookie was signed as a free agent on January 2, 2007, but has provided the tem with 7.1 points per game off the bench.

The Rest of the Squad

Sarunas Jasikevicius ? G

Jasikevicius was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in January, 2007, along with Jackson and Harrington.

Adonal Foyle ? C

Foyle was selected by the Warriors with the 8th overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and is the longest tenured Warrior on the squad.  He is currently the third-highest paid player on the team, collecting $8.125M this season for the 2.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks he averaged in 48 games this season.

Josh Powell ? PF

Powell was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in January, 2007, along with Jackson and Harrington.

Patrick O?Bryant ? C

O?Bryant was the ninth overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft and figures to be a big part of the Golden State future.

This Warrior team that has seemingly caught everyone by surprise this season has really been around for a couple of years.  With the team comprised of original Warrior draft picks, players from the two major trades (Baron Davis trade and Al Harrington/Stephen Jackson trade), and a pair of bargain gems that couldn?t find a home, Don Nelson has mold them into a fearless team fully capable of taking the Western Conference by storm.

As the Warriors look towards the second half of this opening round playoff series, they are fully confident they can extend their 5-1 win-loss record against the Mavs this season in the upcoming games.  How amazing, electric, fast-paced, and high scoring would a Warriors versus Suns Western Conference Finals match up be?  

Can the Warriors continue their dominance over the top-seeded Mavericks?  Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts.  He can be reached at [email protected] for comments or questions.