The Dallas Mavericks need to fix these 3 things before the playoffs

1. Close out games

Mavs’ have struggled the most in this particular area all season long, but it has become more noticeable and concerning while in the bubble. Most notably in Dallas’ first game of the restart where they blew a seven-point lead with 45 seconds left in regulation against the Rockets.

Dallas has been a stellar first half team all season and even began that way in the bubble with consecutive 70+ point first-half performances in their first two games. Although, both of those games resulted in losses because of lackluster second halves and mediocre clutch time performances.

This is concerning because this trend has continued to happen even with a four-month layoff. And secondly, because the playoffs begin Aug 17.

Can you blame it on Dallas’ youth? Yes, you could, but that doesn’t mean you should.

The Mavs are 2-1 in overtime games in the bubble and prior were just 1-3 in such games, so they’ve improved in this department.

Dallas has shown its flashes of incredible clutch performances in the bubble, both on offense and defense. Most notably in their last victory against the best team in the league, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mavs swept the Bucks in the season series 2-0.

In the final minutes of regulation, Dallas locked down on defense and held the Bucks scoreless in the final 2:25 minutes left and went on a 7-0 run on offense to force OT. Mavs continued that play in OT with a 9-0 run and kept the Bucks from scoring for an additional 2:05 minutes into OT.

Doncic was extremely clutch throughout the game and even made this highlight assist with the game on the line for his career-high 19th assist:

If Dallas can have more of these types of clutch time performances in these last few bubble games and fix these few things, no matter their youth, they can make a run in the playoffs.