The Dallas Mavericks, sitting at 7-6, are stumbling into Massachusetts this Sunday evening, hitting the court for the second night of a back-to-back against the dominant Boston Celtics, who are cruising at 10-2.
When Defense Just Vanishes
Man, the Mavericks are in a rough spot. Saturday evening, they barely bothered to play defense against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that was practically resting their whole rotation, and still got run up and down the court. This isn’t a new problem either, because after a three-game homestand where their defense actually showed up and was “active,” the past two road games against the Timberwolves and Cavaliers have been “nothing short of awful.” We’re talking down by 15+ points in the first half of losses, a number they’re getting way too familiar with. Their transition defense and rebounding? So bad it’d make a coach pull his hair out. Add to that an offense that’s “looked inept” recently, with turnovers flying and shots not dropping, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. They need an “outlier performance” from a bunch of guys just to score. And if Kyrie Irving, who’s only played one back-to-back this season, decides to sit out, things get “bleak” real fast for Dallas.
The Celtics Are Red Hot, and Stingy
Boston, on the other hand, comes into this one completely refreshed, having not played since Wednesday. They just wrapped up a four-game road stretch by holding off the Toronto Raptors. This team is absolutely “red hot,” riding a five-game winning streak and with only two losses all season. Their defense is no joke either, allowing the fewest points per game in the league at just 103. While their schedule might have been “pretty weak to date,” they’re still “pummeling the teams in front of them on the defensive end.” The Mavericks are going up against a Celtics squad that’s middle of the pack in scoring, but they’re a top 6 team in efficiency. Dallas needs to be “locked in like we haven’t seen since the Utah Jazz win” if they want any chance here. Because right now, their defensive effort has looked “lethargic” and “awful to watch,” and you just can’t play like that against a team this good.
A Short Turnaround That’s Not Fair
Seriously, what’s the NBA league office thinking with this schedule? Dallas is on a brutal road back-to-back, playing one night at 6:30 pm CST, hopping on a plane, and then hitting the court again at 5:00 pm CST the very next night. Look, these guys get paid a lot of money, no excuses there. But this kind of scheduling “is not fair to the players or the fans.” It compounds every single struggle the Mavs are currently facing, and makes this already tough matchup even harder.
The Mavericks desperately need some “defensive pride” and a serious burst of energy on Sunday night. Facing a well-rested, dominant Celtics team on the second half of a brutal back-to-back means every ounce of effort and scheme will matter. They’ve got a massive challenge ahead, and turning around their “awful to watch” defense has to be the immediate goal.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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