OK, so we've gotten some flak about picking the Warriors to take down the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the opening round of the NBA's western Conference playoffs. We'll be the first to admit it's a homer pick, because, well, we do really want the Warriors to win, and we'll be the first to admit it.

But our pie in the sky has an empirical basis. Here's five reasons why the Warriors will beat the Mavs in this playoff series.

It's been building for the past month, but fans of the historically woebegone Golden State Warriors, awoke this morning with a dazed sense of disbelief to screaming headlines announcing: THE STREAK IS OVER -- THE WARRIORS HAVE MADE THE PLAYOFFS!

It's been so long since the Dubs got an extended play on their basketball season that neither they nor the fans really know what to do with themselves now that the dream has become a reality.