DALLAS, TEXAS — The season series is split right down the middle between the Mavericks and the Clippers. In round one of the battle the Mavericks handed the Mavericks handed the Clippers their worst team loss in franchise history in their home arena and on Monday the Clippers returned the favor. Tonight we will see who wins the “rubber match” and who will take home bragging rights.
There were many firsts in the Mavericks loss on Monday. #1 It was the first time in the month of March the Mavericks lost by more than 10 points. #2 It was the first time since January the Mavericks scored less than 100 points in two games in one month, but one thing that has remained constant is the Mavericks first quarter numbers.
In their last 6 games the Mavericks have averaged just 25 points in the first quarter and have shot 43% from the field and just 29.1% from the three point line which is below average by all accounts for a team that is one year removed from having one of the most efficient seasons offensively in NBA history.
The Mavericks have been able to stay the course only losing two of their games so far this month and have played well offensively, but this team has been plagued by slow starts all season long and their numbers in the month of March prove that they still haven’t resolved their opening quarter issues.
Why are the Mavericks first quarter numbers so concerning?
Well for starters, the first quarter is where the tone is set and if a team struggles to set the tone, then the other team will set the tone for them. Not the position you want to be in on a night in night out basis. Secondly, for the Mavericks specifically, slow first quarter starts have led to losses, and not just a few but majority of the losses can be directly attributed to playing catch up and in a game of catch up you can’t have any mishaps. Mistake free basketball is a hard game to play when you play an aggressive/fast pace offensive style, but when the aggressiveness subsides what are you left with? Playing safe, playing behind, and the team loses its pace.
The second quarter and beyond has been money time for the Mavericks, but with lackluster numbers in the first quarter their second half performances become a wash.
It’s no longer a mystery where the Mavericks issues lie, and the issue isn’t too large to overcome and not small enough to ignore. Dallas has the talent and the depth but talent alone doesn’t win games. The Mavericks have to find a way to be efficient early, set the tone, and find their way back to the offensive power they were in the NBA last season.
