Pacers Find Success Against Fading Mavericks (Dallas Mavericks 2012-2013)

Nov. 16, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Chris Kaman (35) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) during the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-US PRESSWIRE

It almost seems as if the Dallas Mavericks are running out of gas but the engine doesn’t stop; it just keeps sputtering.   Another first half lead fell apart Friday night and once again turned off the motor after the break, turning a one point halftime lead (which had already eroded from a four point advantage) into a 103-83 blowout at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

Indiana, playing without Danny Granger, still managed six players in double figures.

The Good:

Not much to go on here.  If we could have stopped after the first half, perhaps.  Unfortunately life doesn’t work that way.

Bernard James played only 15 minutes but 9 points and 7 rebounds.  If the Mavs continue to struggle on the boards I can’t see Sarge not getting more time.   He is also shooting well from the floor and the line.

The Meh:

Well, it’s sad when you have to celebrate that the Mavs weren’t outrebounded by much.   Clearly this is not an area of strength for Brandan Wright but Kaman, Brand, Marion, Murphy and Sarge are all superior rebounders and Carter and Mayo are above average for their position.  Why the Mavs continue to lose the battle of the boards every night is hard to fathom and in fairness, Kaman had 10, Marion had 7 and of course James had 7.   That might have been good enough if anyone had consistently found the basket.

O. J. Mayo didn’t have a terrible night offensively (6-of-13 for 19 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds) but seemed to be absent for long stretches as if he was out of the flow.  Considering he and Kaman have pretty much been the bread-and-butter so far this season, I would think keeping him integrated would be key.

The Ugly:

The Mavericks allowed 103 points by Indiana, who has been averaging just over 87 ppg.  Meanwhile the Mavs shot 37% from the field and 15.7% from downtown.

We could go down a list of who shot poorly and basically, it was pretty much everyone including the normally accurate Chris Kaman.   There are certainly specific observations to be made about this game and some disturbing patterns, and Kirk Henderson of The Two Man game covers many of them in his recap.

But the bottom line is the Mavs keep finding ways to lose instead of ways to win.  Most nights it’s being outrebounded to begin with; on others it may be turning the ball over or terrible shooting.  Some times the defense is lax.  These are all prescriptions for failure.

For most of the team, the season has been up and down.  Everyone is entitled to a bad night and for the most part Kaman, Mayo and Sarge have been the most consistent contributors.  Then you have players such as Elton Brand and Roddy who simply can’t get up to speed.  With Brand, 14 years in the league would suggest he can do better since the main thing he’s failing to do is find his shot.  For Roddy, it past the time when it seems the experiment may have failed.  Then you have Darren Collison who seems to enjoy feast or famine.   The Mavs have enough talent to be able to survive any one individual’s bad night but if it’s most of the team, your chances go from little to none.

Next Up:

The Mavs do another back-to-back against the Cleveland Cavaliers and hope to get their first road win since upsetting the Lakers.   Preview coming up on The Smoking Cuban.