The Dallas Mavericks are already looking for their first W of the season tonight, heading into Indianapolis to face the Indiana Pacers after dropping their opener to the Rockets on Wednesday. It’s a brutal start, too, with the Mavs staring down the barrel of the league’s second-strongest schedule in the first month. Talk about jumping straight into the deep end for new head coach Dusty May.
May’s Mad Scientist Act
Look, it’s mid-October, and you expect some kinks. But new head coach Dusty May was out there playing 10 dudes in the first quarter alone against the Rockets, trying all kinds of combinations. He’s clearly feeling out what works, which, okay, fine. But the vibe? It’s giving “mad scientist” with the lineups, and honestly, we’ve seen this movie before. Former coach Jason Kidd pulled that for the first two months, and it was a headache. Maybe this season has “low stakes” overall, but you still want some kind of plan, right? We gotta watch these rotations closely.
Bleeding Points and Live Ball Turnovers
Here’s the real gut punch from that Rockets game: the Mavericks got absolutely torched on fastbreak points, giving up 29 to Houston’s 17. And guess who they’re playing tonight? The Pacers, who just outran the Pelicans 27-10 on fastbreak points themselves. Dallas needs to lock in on getting back on defense, or Indiana is going to have a field day. How do you stop that? Ball security, my friends. The Mavs coughed it up 21 times against the Rockets, leading to a sickening 32 points allowed off those turnovers. You think the Pacers won’t punish live ball turnovers? Think again. This has to be the focus.
Shooting Struggles, Already?
And just to pile on a bit, everyone knew coming into the season that the Mavericks were gonna struggle with shooting. If they can’t take care of the ball AND they can’t hit shots, it’s gonna be a long first month.
So, tonight against the Pacers, Dallas isn’t just looking for their first win. They’re looking for a defensive identity, a solid rotation outline, and maybe, just maybe, some care for the basketball. Tyrese Haliburton is back home at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for his first non-exhibition game since last June, and you know he’s gonna be focused and ready to light it up. Dallas better be ready, or this early season “gauntlet” is gonna feel a whole lot longer.
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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