NEW YORK — Obviously, after warning in the playoff preview the Warriors were the worst imaginable matchup for the Mavericks I can't be vaguely surprised Golden State is providing such legit competition.

What's shocking is Dallas' utter emotional destabilization and failure to compete. Never has a team that's won so many games (67) surrendered so unconditionally (Game 3, for instance) and decomposed so rapidly from jump street. Somehow you'd expect a little bit more aplomb from players who endured the crucible of crisis in last June's Finals.

The Warriors should be brought up on charges of identity theft; the Mavs' minds are messed up. Heads are hanging. Stares are blank. Feet are frozen. Focus is adrift. They are folding to pressure on the free-throw line long before the shots become must makes.

Nobody scored a single point Friday that remotely mattered That's how quickly Dallas was out of it.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are running a full-court layup line. The Mav-wrecks are allowing opponents to beat them down court and off the dribble. Effortlessly! Off half-court sets, no less! How can you let your man blow by continually when you know your "Help!" isn't quick enough to react!?

Where's the Mavs' energy? Where's the rage? Where's the pride? Where's the basketball IQ? They say they hate losing. Prove it!

Dallas coach Avery Johnson had his players studying film early in the a.m. on Saturday before going to practice for three hours. You didn't have to be there to know the No. 1 topic of conversation was transition defense.

In order to regain their confidence and take control of the series it's imperative for the Mavs to retard the pace and slice the Warriors' fast break points roughly in half from an indefensible 40 in Game 3. (Dallas dropped Game 4, too, 103-99, and fell behind 3-1 in the series.)

So how is that done? Open up the middle and honor spacing. Attack off pick-and-rolls and pull up for simple springers instead of risking charges. Set gunite picks to free scorers and get to the welfare line like in Game 2.

I know, easy for me to write.

The Warriors are wealthy in matchup advantages. It bears repeating (slower this time so maybe even Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith can comprehend the extent of the problem) if the Mavs start either Erick Dampier or Desagana Diop, then Dirk Nowitzki must cover Jason Richardson or Stephon Jackson or Monta Ellis. If they start a center, Baron Davis can't be guarded or halfway trapped due to Dallas' bulkiness and sluggish feet.

Let's pause for a second and recognize greatness. Next to Jason Kidd and Steve Nash nobody delivers the ball better than the Baron of Basketball. And he has more viable targets than either of those two. Except for Andris Biedrins every deployed player by Don Nelson is capable of flushing a 3-point or making a play and completing it. And Biedrins, who catches everything, is excellent at finishing on the roll.

Yes, the Mavs can still prevail — but it's a real longshot now. Still, let's get a grip on reality; no NBA team has more firepower. Yet it can be neutralized. The Spurs have no trouble dealing with the Warriors. Why? Tim Duncan's inside presence.

The Mavs don't have a center that can even catch and score occasionally. That means Nowitzki must play out of position on the low post but that doesn't work, either.