There are less than 30 seconds left to play. The ball is in the hands of Jordan Clarkson, a rare Jazz capable of finding solutions in this fourth quarter completely in favor of Dallas.
Utah can take back control, or give the Mavericks the opportunity to save their match and end their bad series. What followed was an incredible oversight by the Dallas defense, and John Collins was left absolutely alone to dunk. An error from which the Mavs could not recover, beaten 115-113 on Thursday.
This possession says a lot about Dallas' difficulties at the end of games lately, with a fourth loss in a row by three points maximum. In matches where everything depends on a ball, this XXL failure hurts a lot. “ It was a misunderstanding » tried to explain Luka Doncic, the first offender, letting John Collins stand out without reacting. “ I thought I was going to go up for a screen, and Quentin Grimes thought so too… We misunderstood the bench. This one is for me. »
Luka Doncic's inattention
On the action, the Slovenian seems to anticipate having to change after a possible screen from John Collins. Problem, the screen never comes, Luka Doncic stays with his back to the game, Jordan Clarkson is smarter, and John Collins, well placed, can go up for the dunk. The Salt Lake City passer explained after the match that his management was not due to chance, but that he expected this defensive choice from the Mavericks.
“ It's a question of communication » said Dallas coach Jason Kidd. “ There was a moment of inattention, and that's what happened. They took full advantage of it. We have to be better than that. »
A story that repeats itself
The Mavs are starting to know this situation too well. This series of four matches lost by a cumulative total of eight points is starting to weigh on the minds and the balance sheet (5 victories – 7 defeats). The most frustrating? “ Lose » simply replied Luka Doncic, who did not yet have the words to explain the recent inability of his team to finish the matches. “ I don't know anything about it. If I knew, we wouldn't be here talking about it, right? »
Frustrated, the Mavericks star will also certainly see other equally problematic sequences on video in the setback in Salt Lake City. Like this third quarter without desire or intensity where he was terribly alone to fuel the score. Or when he himself was already passed totally through on a screen readingleaving Collin Sexton to go alone to take a mid-range shot in the heart of the fourth quarter when nothing seemed to go in for Utah.
“ I don't know, we're still trying to understand » seemed just as lost Naji Marshall, yet the best Maverick in the fourth quarter of this meeting. “ It's okay, shit like this can happen. Sorry for my language, that sort of thing. Obviously it didn't go our way but it can happen and all we can do is improve after that. »
One victory for six defeats in the clutch
The annoyance is real, but we refuse to talk about panic on the Mavericks side. The absence of Kyrie Irving on Thursday did not help, nor did the injury to PJ Washington recently, which further highlights the importance that could have Derrick Jones as the first defensive stopper on the wings before leaving for the Clippers.
“ Confidence and calm are very important, and we haven't gotten there yet » summed up Jason Kidd before the match. “ With this new group, this could be a problem at the start of the season, but there is no better way to get through this than by being able to play close games, learn from our mistakes and learn to win. . These are small details. If we can erase them, we will be in a better position. »
“ Later in the season, when we've made the right changes, we can look back and see where we came from » anticipates Naji Marshall.
It's not too late to get back on track. But the record of one victory for six defeats in the “clutch” (a match in which the difference is a maximum of five points five minutes from the end for the NBA) is currently the worst in the league. This, after being the second best team behind the Lakers last year (23 wins for 9 losses).
