Why the Mavs Can't Win

First, I would like to welcome you all back from the "life gets in the way of blogging sometimes" break.



The first day of the NBA playoffs is in the books. We saw some great action from Lebron's sick alley oop (http://youtube.com/watch?v=QZjqvqSiG-o), to Timmy's first three of the season to force double overtime (http://youtube.com/watch?v=5PDdb48g4_c). We also saw what has become an NBA playoff tradition, the Dallas Mavericks finding a way to lose in the most important time of the year.


This year's version of the Mavericks spent the better part of Saturday night letting another talented guard(Please also see D-Wade and Baron Davis) dominate them in every facet of the game and handing the team yet another playoff loss. Why does this continue to happen year end and year out? It is not talent, it is not even heart, it is mental.


The Mavericks have lost 7 straight road playoff games dating back to the collapse in Miami. Tonight, the Mavs jumped out to a 12 point lead, only to again fold in the second half and look especially bad doing it.

This team suffers from mentally from two things: 1) An epic hangover that Lindsey Lohan would be proud of and 2) The fatal mistake that teams have and or still fear them in some way. Both are evidenced by the Mavs performance in the third quarter. The Mavs come out complacent settling for jumpers and lacking intensity on defense. It is almost as if they said, "Ok we are up by 12, we have experience and New Orleans should go away now and understand that we are the Mavericks." Only Chris Paul decided that this would not be the case. When Dallas discovered this, the core of the team reverted back to panic mode and was again blown out in yet another playoff game.

For the record, this version of the Mavs are done. I expect this to go five, maybe 6 (I do have Game 3 tickets on sale if anyone is interested). As a friend of mine said earlier in the month, the window has closed. I now agree. This should not be laid at the feet of Dirk either. This collapse should be blamed on the complete cast of characters who have not had the mental fortitude to deal with the pressure that comes with being a legitimate NBA contender. It is also should be laid at the feet of the Little General, who has been on record saying he likes to take adversity head on. He may like it, but he has never been able to translate his lessons learned to his team.

This veteran group of players are just shell shocked and quarter of a step to slow. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson should be ready, willing and able to revisit every player on this roster and make deals is necessary to get a bit younger and a bit tougher across the board. They also should be willing get change the head coach, who voice in the locker room is becoming less relevant by each passing day.