Mavs-Pelicans takeaways: no defense for this loss

NEW ORLEANS – It was a lost opportunity, simple as that.

The Mavericks now have lost twice in three games and both times the outcome came down to the final moments.

The loss at Phoenix was forgivable. The Suns are a legitimate threat in the Western Conference.

New Orleans? When they are fully healthy, they are a solid team. But they weren’t anywhere close to fully healthy with three starters out – Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones.

This is a game the Mavericks will regret down the line.

But then, that happens every season. Remember, they were 16-18 at one point last season, although they started off 7-3 (thanks a lot, COVID-19).

There are games you lose that you shouldn’t. And games you win that you don’t expect. That’s just how the league works.

Hopefully, the Mavericks will have more of the latter and fewer of the former.

And so, here’s our takeaways from the 113-111 loss at New Orleans on Tuesday.

AND, THE DEFENSE RESTS: Spencer Dinwiddie couldn’t have said it any better. “We got beat in all phases of defense,” he said. “They were getting transition points, getting layups. Coach said they were 20 of 26 (points) on layups and that’s way too much to give up. You can’t do that and expect to win. In the first two games we did a pretty good defensive job. This is our first game with true defensive breakdowns. It’s three games in. There’s no reason to panic. Just learn and grow.” The Mavericks gave up a 40-spot in the first quarter and were lucky not to be down by more than nine points at that point. They were making shots, which bailed them out to some extent and kept them from being in a deeper hole. As it was, they were able to take a lead in the fourth quarter. But again, they lapsed on the defensive end. The Pelicans shot 57 percent in the final quarter (8-of-14) and the Mavericks needed 22 tries to make their eight shots. That disparity cost them. But it all went back to the first quarter. “We weren’t protecting the paint at all, especially in the first quarter,” Christian Wood said. “They had an absurd number finishing in the paint. The defense in general wasn’t there. There’d be a blow-by and there was nobody there to help. That’s not how we are.”

LEANING ON LUKA: While Luka Dončić was terrific with 37 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, the Mavericks had only three players in double figures. Dinwiddie had 24 and Wood had 23. The Pelicans used a more balanced attack with eight players in double figures. For one night, the Mavericks were not the deeper team. Without three of their best players, the Pelicans got everybody involved equally and the Mavericks gave up 58-percent shooting. And then it came down to Luka in the final seconds trying to make a near-30-foot 3-pointer. Let’s face it, when it comes down to that sort of shot, you’re going to end up disappointed more than you’re going to dance off the floor. Everybody from Michael Jordan to Larry Bird to Kobe Bryant to LeBron James knows that. This game script begged for the Mavericks to be disappointed. And that’s the way it worked out. You don’t let a depleted team get rolling, but the Mavericks did.

WHERE ARE THE FORWARDS: Dorian Finney-Smith has not been involved on the offensive end yet this season. And Reggie Bullock hasn’t had much more of a role, either. Granted, these are two guys that are relied upon for their defense. But they can be an asset at the other end, too. But they combined for just seven points in a combined 70 minutes of action against New Orleans. They shot 3-of-13. In the first three games, only once has either of them reached 10 points (Bullock, with 10, in the opener). You have to figure both will hit a streak of more effective play on offense, but right now, the opponents are ganging up on Luka (and Dinwiddie, to a certain extent) and leaving others. The strategy must be to get those guys involved and opponents pay for over-aggressive double-teams.

Twitter: @ESefko