Since a four-day break before beginning their final 12 games, the Dallas Mavericks are 1-2, not exactly the way to get out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
Nothing's really changed with this Dallas team, now 43-30. They came back from the layoff with a rousing home win against downtrodden Golden State only to lose two in a row to Denver and Cleveland, both teams with superior records. The Mavs got off to a flying start Sunday against the Cavaliers (35-1 at home), running up a 15-point lead in the second quarter, the largest deficit the Cavs have faced at home all season.
Yet another example that nothing's changed is that when the Mavs are shooting well, they get to the basket, they execute the pick-and-roll and they play defense.
But, as the Mavs watched the lead dwindle in the second quarter and then were rampaged in the third, they reverted to old habits -- jump shots, jump shots and more jump shots.
The good news is Dallas plays Tuesday at Minnesota, the kind of struggling team the Mavs have made a living off beating this season. The big problem for Dallas is that after the Minnesota game, only two of their final eight opponents have records below .500 -- the Wolves again and Memphis.
Unless New Orleans -- which plays the Mavs two more times, continues to struggle, Dallas will need some luck to get out of the final playoff spot.
CAVALIERS 102, MAVERICKS 74: Dallas led by 15 in the second quarter, but by just two at halftime and then a 21-5 burst by Cleveland to open the third quarter put the game out of reach quickly. Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points, but shot horribly at 7-of-23 from the field. Jason Terry also struggled mightily (4-of-13 for 10 points), while LeBron James rolled in the second half and finished with 24 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in just 31 minutes.
