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Dallas Mavericks: 5 New Year’s resolutions for 2019

By Adam Tayabali

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 30: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on with Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 30, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 30: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on with Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 30, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images.
Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images. /

5. Win winnable games

As mentioned before, the Dallas Mavericks have a terrible habit of playing down to weaker competition. This can be attributed to multiple reasons. They have gotten to slow starts in such games and on the season as a whole, losing many winnable contests early in the season.

Apart from the Mavericks, there are 13 other teams with the losing record in the NBA. Among that group, Dallas has yet to play against the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The remaining 10 teams includes the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orlean Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards.

Dallas has played in 17 games against those remaining 10 teams, and is a subpar 9-8. In the remaining games against tougher competition, Dallas went 8-11.

Even if the Mavericks were only three games better in those matchups against losing teams (going 12-5), their record would be 20-16. That would tie them with the San Antonio Spurs for eighth place in the ultra competitive Western Conference.

Instead, the Mavericks sit at 17-19, in 12th place. If they don’t capitalize and win games against weaker competition, then it will hurt their playoff chance late in the season.

One way Dallas might need to close out these tight, winnable games is by putting it in the hands of their two best players, Luka Doncic and Harrison Barnes. They both have shown they can hit clutch shots and game-winners in the closing seconds.

Mavs Moneyball’s Nick Angstadt speculated that head coach Rick Carlisle used Doncic as a decoy at the end of the game on Dec. 28, when they lost to the New Orleans Pelicans. Both him and Barnes stood outside the 3-point arc as Dennis Smith Jr. held the ball and ultimately ran out the clock, releasing his shot too late. This happened even though Doncic had scored a career-high 34 points and was red-hot.

Although the Pelicans’ Jrue Holiday, an elite defender, was guarding Doncic, Carlisle and company should have still put the ball in his hands and let him make the game’s final play.

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