MAVERICKS 75, NUGGETS 106

[Dahlsim]

MAVS HAMMERED IN MILE-HIGH CITY

The Nuggets kicked the Mavericks’ collective butts in no uncertain terms. Maybe we can ascribe it to Dallas’ being on the second night of a back-to-back, a mile in the air, with KP on the bench with back tightness. 

A proven combination for NBA blowouts there, back-to-back in mile-high with a significant team Injury. 

FIRST QUARTER

... Mavs shooting 27%, Denver 67%. 

SECOND QUARTER

...

Mavs shooting 15-45. Ouch. Luka (4-12) leads with 11 points. Dallas out-rebounded 19-28, out-assisted 9-15. A 16-34 disadvantage in points in the paint. ....

THIRD QUARTER

... Mavs just can’t stop anything at the rim. DFS just called for his fourth foul. Still hasn’t scored. 56-87 after three. These boys are getting their hind ends kicked into next week. 

FOURTH QUARTER

... It’s all third-stringers out there now, on both teams. 

It’s all Denver now. 75-106. Yuck.


ANALYSIS

The score was within seven points early in the third quarter, but the Mavs underwent a spectacular collapse from that point on. Dallas was outplayed in every aspect of the game. Shooting 29%, to Denver’s 52%. 8-37 from three (22%). ... 

OBSERVATIONS

... the night. I hope that was most or all of the problem. I was not surprised to see the Mavs have trouble guarding the paint, but it continues to confound me that they have so much trouble scoring. Credit Denver’s D, but Dallas did get quite a few good looks that they just bricked. They were SO outmatched. What has happened to our Mavs??!!


NEXT. The boys will face Harrison Barnes and the Kings on Sunday afternoon. No rest for the weary.

Mama said there would be days like this.   

Going forward though, the Kidd Mavs post Carlisle-era, have to develop an offensive identity and chemistry that works for the personnel.    That's a work in progress, still early, definitely the thing to watch for.  

Will KP find his offensive advantages again as post-injury Unicorn KP?  
They may never work the same as they did for New York KP, so chasing that could be the problem. 
The 3 point game is fine and needed, but how about a go to move in the paint and close to the basket? 
 
A consistent hook shot or a baby hook shot with his length would be completely unguardable. 
He wouldn't even need a 2nd move.  Just ask a guy by the name of Kareem.