But…How? After four wins in a row on their court, the last against Kevin Durant and the Nets, the Mavs have signed a total loss in an in theory docile back to back at home After an ugly loss in Orlando, they added another even worse in Washington (113-105). Now they’re back in Dallas, at least, but their next opponent is the Portland Trail Blazers, one of the toughest (and best) teams to start the season. The Texans are 6-5, little, nothing impressive. But they are 1-4 out with this resume: defeat against the Suns in a game they won by 22, defeat against the Pelicans without three starters, defeat against the Magic without Paolo Banchero… and defeat against the Wizards (who were in the negative: now 6-6) without his two stars, Bradley Beal and a Kristaps Porzingis who did not play against his ex.
Bad outlook. It was back to back, and it has been a mess of organization and travel due to the obligation to avoid Hurricane Nicole. But there is not much more excuse, not after the notice that the Mavs brought from Orlando, and not against a team that in itself is not a big deal and that was missing its two pillars. Nothing: one of the criticisms that is usually made of these Mavericks is that they tend to relax and play worse as soon as the rival’s level drops, and that has caused them to lose (already last season) many games in which they started as favorites. Another, and this is crucial, has to do with the minutes (this time almost 40) and (above all) with the responsibility that Doncic has to assume, his handling of the ball and creation in all the team’s plays, his battery of shots and constant passes. Since the line of three exists in the NBA (1979), the Slovenian has the third usage (offensive load on his team, basically) higher. In those more than 40 years.
The system works when Doncic is at his (usual) gorgeous level, but It fails as soon as the piston goes down and, above all, it wears you out. It is not (apparently) sustainable. Doncic’s percentage goes from 53% shooting and 35% from three in the first half (he is the top scorer in the League in the first quarters: 12.4 points) to 48 and 28% in the third and partial… and 36 and 17 in the last. He spoke about it after the second loss in a row and two games in which he has fallen below 30 points and has signed a total of 17/50 shots: “I don’t look at statistics like that because today there are statistics for everything. That someone drinks a coffee before playing and scores 5 points? It sure is some kind of record”. But, yes, he acknowledged that he is exhausted: “EI’m more tired, but I don’t want it to be an excuse”. and Jason Kidd has made it clear that he sees the problem, now it remains to be seen if he thinks there are solutions that they do not go through worsening the competitiveness of the team: “They say that Luka is 23 years old… but he is human. I’m worried. But the problem with these defeats has not been him, it has been the team. Now we are not well and this happens”.
Doncic ended up in Washington with 22 points on 21 shots (8/21), with an awful 3/9 free throw shooting and 5 turnovers for 6 assists (also 9 rebounds). His Mavs, against a rival a priori mortally wounded by casualties, started well when they worked well on the outside (7/13 on triples in the first quarter) and amassed a 14-point lead (8-22) that promised anything but a disadvantage of another 14 (100-86) after a lousy start to the last quarter in which for more than five minutes they lived off three points from Doncic. Spencer Dinwiddie has played both games very well in this catastrophic back to back (this time 33 points, 6 assists, 7/12 triples) but Christian Wood’s loss due to knee problems has become a crucial issue, more so given Powell’s well-known limitations, Kleber’s poor form and the null impact of McGee. Nothing inside, with a bleed in the area (52-36 inside scoring for the Wizards)… and very little outside. Bullock and Finney-Smith, two of the heroes of the team’s magnificent journey in recent playoffs, are unknown, especially the first. This time, eleven points between the two with only four shots to baskets beyond the correct first quarter (28-34).
As soon as Doncic loses touch and runs out of gas, these Mavs become vulnerable, a far cry from their defensive effectiveness last season.. This time they failed to control Kyle Kuzma, enlightened. The former Lakers player pulled stripes, without Beal or Porzingis, and finished with 36 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 5/11 triples. The bench was key: 23+8 from Hachimura, 14 from Barton, 11+10 from Gafford and dirty work from Jordan Goodwin. After beating the Nets, the Mavs made a trip with the possibility of triggering optimism. Instead they go home headdresses and with an open discussion about the sustainability and effectiveness of your plan. Bad thing.