NBA Playoffs must-follow storylines: LA Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks
Will the Mavericks be more efficient in the clutch or at least defend more?
The Dallas Mavericks didn’t have a good offense or even a great offense; this would be an understatement. They did have a historic offensive season, but that is only when you just look at their offensive rating. According to that, they do have the best offensive rating, but that is not the issue.
Their most efficient offense in NBA history is not-so-efficient in the clutch and that is hurting them. According to NBA stats, the Mavericks had 41 games that count as a clutch situation, a total of 163 minutes. And in those minutes, they have a net rating of minus 10.4, which is the reason why they are only 17-24 in those games.
That is mainly on Doncic and his inability to be effective on the offensive side in crunch time. He simply struggles shooting late in the stretch.
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However, if they can’t fix their efficiency in the clutch, they should try to defend more.
They are ranked 18th in defensive rating with 111.7. Per BBall-Index, they are in the 9th percentile in perimeter defense. They only have three players that are in the 64th, 67th, and 72nd percentile in perimeter defense.
Their interior defense is considerably better, being in the 80th percentile, but the LA Clippers will do damage on the perimeter. The Clippers are in the 87th percentile in perimeter shooting and so far, both George and Leonard have been lights out from deep.
To make this series competitive, the Mavericks must improve their game in the clutch or start defending.