Mavericks: Dallas Skid Continues After OT Loss To Magic

104. 79. Final. 110. 38

The Dallas Mavericks came out of the All-Star break the same way they entered, with another loss that has fans wondering if they’ll even make the playoffs.

So much for getting rested and recharged for an urgent run down the home-stretch of the 2015-16 NBA schedule. The Dallas Mavericks were in rather desperate need for a win that would have kept pressure on the Memphis Grizzlies for the all-important fifth seed in the Western Conference.

Instead, the Mavericks opened with a 13-point first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amyway Center and ended up losing to a team that came in with a 23-29 record. Normally a tough out in an overtime contest, the Mavericks fell 110-104.

A franchise record 19 3-point shots more than overcame that lousy first period, but a late meltdown was the main reason that the better team wasn’t able to hold on to another game that it could have won – the Mavericks led 81-67 late in the third quarter.

Six Mavericks reached double figures in scoring, yet it was meaningless when all was said and done.

What’s crystal clear is that these Mavericks really can’t stop anybody from scoring. While there’s always Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams and Chandler Parsons to look to for points, there’s just no sign of anybody steeping up to get stops.

Head coach Rick Carlisle offered the following to Eddie Sefko of Dallas Morning News after the game.

"With our team, the ball’s got to move. Frankly, that group [the starting five] is not doing a good job finishing games. And I’ve got to look at it. We just have not done a good job. I told the team yesterday, there’s nobody in indelible marker as a closer on this team, with the exception of Dirk and D-Will. Those guys are going to be in there. The rest of it has to be earned."

So, what are the realistic prospects for this team with only 26 games remaining on the regular season schedule?

Well, some have pointed out that the fifth seed in the Western Conference is the only way the Mavericks can push deep into the postseason – but how deep?

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If things go the way they look right now, the fifth seed for Dallas would mean a first-round meeting with the Los Angeles Clippers, who at 36-18 would be a lot for the Mavs to handle. Even if Dallas did make it beyond the Clips, three teams would likely be waiting above the Mavericks. Those would be the top-seeded Golden State Warriors, the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs and the third-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Mavericks have exactly one win against those top-three teams in a combined nine tries this season.

It sure doesn’t seem like earning that fifth seed is that important. Nothing, but nothing, says marginal playoff team like the record Dallas has accumulated against the top teams in the Western Conference. It’s not like the Mavericks end up just coming short in games against teams like the Spurs and Warriors – these Mavs aren’t even competitive unless Stephen Curry isn’t playing.

At this point, the Mavericks need to be giving as much in the way of minutes to young players that will likely be a part of the future as possible, like Justin Anderson and Dwight Powell. I would also include Salah Mejri in the mix of players that appear poised for the future.

This team will be attractive to nobody in terms of big-name free agents ready to cash in via the expanded salary cap come this summer. The Mavericks need a nucleus of young talent to go with the players just mentioned above and also Wesley Matthews, and possibly Chandler Parsons, who might opt out of his contract for greener pastures next year.

The way for the Mavericks to re-arm is the draft – or at least this has to play part of the role, and the higher the pick the better, although that’s not likely to help Dallas this season thanks to the still-wreaking Rajon Rondo trade, which at least brought Powell to town.

Next: Mavericks: Keeping Justin Anderson Was Right Call

It looks less and less like the Mavericks will compete for another championship while Nowitzki is still on the roster. Unless things go unexpectedly well in free agency this summer, Dallas really needs to consider blowing things up and starting over.

Published on 02/20/2016 at 16:43 PM
Last updated at 02/20/2016 at 16:43 PM

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