133, 121, 125, 138, 120 and the additional number, 137. Here are the points collected by the Mavericks over the last six matches. This is obviously huge and explains the current period, which is very negative with five defeats in two weeks.
“All the teams are having a bad time, except maybe one or two,” tent to reassure Jason Kidd. “We’re in trouble. We have the talent and the mindset, it’s just about being consistent. Teams fight for that, to be consistent. The group must stay united, come to work with positive energy. And have fun too because losing is not pleasant. »
The coach cannot, however, ignore a clear observation: Dallas does not defend. The visual impression is confirmed by the figures: over the last six matches, the Texans have the worst defense in the league with 127.3 points conceded over 100 possessions. Even with the eighth attack (116.9 points) in this same time, this ball and chain is too heavy.
“We have the team to defend”, assures Jason Kidd. “It's an excellent test for us, to be in the tough in March, because it's going to be even more complicated in April, May and June. So, do we stay on the ropes or do we continue to work? Everyone is positive and trying to do the right things. We must continue to fight. And take things because no one in the league is going to give us anything. »
“It’s impossible to win matches if the opponent scores more than 30 points per quarter”
The last match against the Pacers proved it: without a minimum of defense, Luka Doncic and his teammates cannot exist. It only took a few minutes of awkwardness in the third quarter for Indiana to take advantage, pull away and win with 137 points on the clock. Certainly, Tyrese Haliburton and his gang are among the best attacks in the league, but it was too easy (only eight lost balls, 54% shooting success, 46% at 3-pts).
“We know how to correct that,” nevertheless affirms the Slovenian, author of a triple-double with 39 points. “We have to do better on defense, that’s for sure. The coaches work hard every day. Defensively, we have to be better. This is not good at all. »
Jason Kidd adds that the Mavericks “are among the best attacks in the league so if we can have that energy on defense, it will give us a better chance of making stops”. This will be essential confirms PJ Washington, otherwise the defeats will continue to follow one another and the specter of the nightmare of 2023 will remain in people's minds.
“It will be impossible to win matches if the opponent scores more than 30 points per quarter, regardless of the team opposite,” warns the interior. “You can score 120 points every game and still lose. We must emphasize this. We have to look at the images and understand what is not working. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Luka Doncic | 53 | 37.5 | 49.6 | 38.0 | 78.4 | 0.8 | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 34.5 |
| Kyrie Irving | 39 | 34.3 | 49.2 | 42.2 | 89.3 | 0.7 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 25.7 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 58 | 29.1 | 41.0 | 35.9 | 87.5 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 16.4 |
| Pj Washington | 9 | 31.9 | 43.0 | 28.0 | 66.7 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 11.6 |
| Derrick Jones | 56 | 24.2 | 48.8 | 35.6 | 72.0 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 9.1 |
| Derek Lively II | 43 | 24.9 | 75.0 | 0.0 | 52.9 | 2.7 | 4.6 | 7.3 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 9.0 |
| Josh Green | 48 | 27.4 | 48.9 | 41.1 | 66.0 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 8.8 |
| Dante Exum | 35 | 19.2 | 56.2 | 47.8 | 72.0 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 8.7 |
| Daniel Gafford | 9 | 16.8 | 63.3 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 6.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 8.2 |
| Grant Williams | 47 | 26.4 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 74.5 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 8.1 |
| Jaden Hardy | 54 | 14.8 | 40.7 | 36.5 | 71.7 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 7.8 |
| Dexter Dennis | 4 | 7.5 | 52.6 | 12.5 | 33.3 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.5 |
| Maxi Kleber | 24 | 22.3 | 43.9 | 34.5 | 65.5 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
| Seth Curry | 36 | 12.7 | 37.2 | 36.3 | 89.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Dwight Powell | 50 | 14.7 | 70.5 | 50.0 | 72.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 3.9 |
| Aj Lawson | 28 | 8.3 | 47.1 | 32.5 | 63.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 3.8 |
| Richaun Holmes | 23 | 10.3 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| Olivier-maxence Prosper | 33 | 7.9 | 35.1 | 23.5 | 67.6 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Markieff Morris | 18 | 8.9 | 32.7 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
| Greg Brown III | 6 | 6.6 | 45.5 | 33.3 | 44.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
| Brandon Williams | 12 | 4.9 | 36.4 | 33.3 | 54.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.0 |
