MAVS NEWS:

[Scott41theMavs]

Lack of offense, for sure. The Mavs' defense, overwhelmed as it appeared to us relative to rounds 1-3, was still able to hold Boston under their usual offensive output. This is being chalked up, nationally, to "the Celtics didn't even have a good shooting game" but I'm inclined to give the Mavs a little of that credit, personally. I think they could've been more prepared to play better, defensively, especially a few of them, individually, but it's not why they lost the series at all. 

The Boston defense SMOTHERED the Mavs' offense. Murdered it. There were points during which their ball denial was so well executed that it took half the shot clock just to get the ball into the hands of the guy who was supposed to start the action. Then, too often the action yielded no advantage, whatsoever, so what they got was way too high a dose of Luka and Kyrie going 1-on-1 against good defenders without much time on the clock. The Mavs' offensive efficiency rating for the series was 101, which is like bottom of the league bad. I think their average during the regular season was something like 118. 

BUT, that doesn't mean they can afford to overreact and go too far in the other direction. The finals humiliation for the offense was only possible because of the defensive competence they gained during the last 20 games of the season or so. 

Honestly, they need to improve on BOTH ends. That's why this is all so tough to figure out.

Just want to say, I really appreciate your contributions to the board. Your basketball observations are consistently astute. Gold star post.