The Mavericks are embarrassed at home for the second straight year
The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, losing at home 132-109. Devin Booker defeated the Mavericks with 46 points. Luka Doncic led a Maverick scoring campaign with 34 points.
The Mavericks opened the game with a signing from Grant Williams, with the beleaguered forward hitting two three-pointers and a floater. Luka Doncic hit Dereck Lively twice early for stunning dunks and Dallas had a solid 17-9 lead after about seven minutes. But between free throws and three consecutive turnovers by Derrick Jones Jr., the Suns managed to quickly pull back to within two points. After the Suns called a timeout, the two teams exchanged several three-pointers. Sharp defense and Josh Green's shooting in the final minutes helped Dallas take a 34-25 lead after one half.
A few more three-pointers from Dallas early in the second quarter increased the Mavericks' lead to double digits early in the second quarter. The Dallas defense was nothing short of inspired, perhaps due to the fact that they didn't miss a single three-pointer. Jason Kidd provided what Mike Breen called “the perfect challenge” on a Jusif Nurkic flop, which led to a free throw from Doncic (which he missed, of course) just before the seven-minute mark. However, the Suns didn't give up and cut the lead to nine after a layup and free throw from Josh Okogie. Doncic fell in love with his own shot, took several bad three-pointers that he missed, and the Suns climbed back to within single digits. Then Doncic stopped fading and had two terrible turnovers in a row, and the Suns were within a point. Dallas went into halftime with a slight lead of 58-57.
Not being a serious team, the Mavericks allowed an 8-0 run (including the technical free throw Doncic gave the Suns after throwing a tantrum at halftime) that eventually forced a Jason Kidd timeout. Things remained tense between the two teams as Williams was sent off after making a defensive comment about a no-call. Jones Jr. also received a taunt tech after being knocked to the ground following a dunk. The Suns gained a double-digit lead through several made three-pointers. Dallas simply died in one of the most embarrassing quarters of the season. After three games, Dallas trailed 100-78.
However, the three-ball is the great equalizer in the NBA, and with Devin Booker and his 38-point lead, the Mavericks reduced their interim 28-point lead to 16, which forced a timeout for the Suns. However, Dallas couldn't maintain the momentum and the Mavericks simply didn't have enough. The Suns buried the Mavericks, 132-109. It's one of the worst defeats of the season and the atmosphere is terrible.
There's something fishy with these Dallas Mavericks right now
Overall, the Mavericks have a lot of built-in excuses. They suffered many injuries and key players missed games. This lack of continuity is a major challenge, there is no doubt about it.
And yet, once the ball is rolled out on the ground, a team must play with the players they have available. These last three losses have been so bad that it leaves a fan (and possibly a team) wondering what the hell we're even doing here. Depending on your personal bias, you will likely need to file a complaint about this loss and the reasons for it.
If you're a Luka Doncic hater, you have to ask yourself why on earth he kept forcing the issue to end the first half, as his poor shot selection and subsequent poor decision making made him personally in favor of a tough run against the Suns was responsible for passes and topped it all off with a ridiculous technical foul that, and this is important, whatever he whined about, it wasn't worth dealing with a technical foul. Later in the game, a Suns fan was ejected, one who had been taunting him all game, but the The final straw was a barb about me having to get on the treadmill. I'm ashamed of this call for Luka.
If you're tired of head coach Jason Kidd, openly question what he's doing. During the aforementioned first quarter run, he didn't take a timeout and walked around with his hands in his pockets. As the run continued in the third quarter and Grant Williams picked up his second tech, which resulted in an ejection, and Jones Jr. got a tech after being knocked down following a dunk, did he stand up for his players? Did he show any emotion? Did he lead? Or did he seem like an employee with a punch card, just waiting to get the day's work done?
If you're sick of Grant Williams like I am, you're probably wondering what he even brings to this team. He finally had a decent offensive performance, then got a stupid technical, stepped over Kevin Durant and disrespected him, picked up his third foul four minutes into the second, hurting the Dallas offense, and then was called out on the grounds that he was after If I tried not calling, the charge was thrown out. But keep posting memes on social media buddy, it will help. Instead of just playing better.
Of course, these are just three examples from one game. There is so much more and I need to finish this article already. I think being over .500 like the Mavericks is a good thing because there are tough times ahead. But honestly, I'm tired of feeling like I'm wasting my time watching a team that acts like basketball is a chore and not a joy. It's basketball. It's a game. It should be Fun.
Dallas had that joy for most of the first half, but hot shooting is not a sustainable path to success. All of these players, all of the coaches, heck even the front office and the team governor need to look in the mirror and ask themselves why they are even doing this. And if the answer doesn't have to do with showing pride and playing hard, meaningful basketball night after night, then maybe it's time to find another career.
I've claimed for years that expectations are the thief of joy because it's true. But I want better. I demand more from this team. It's time to put the Mavericks through their paces. I hope with all my heart that they respond.
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