Jason and Co. started out with the intensity coach Rick Carlisle has been looking for, beating up on the Bulls 24-5 in the first six minutes of last night’s game.
Then all of a sudden, the Mavericks’ defense evaporated. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Dallas had suffered a shocking 98-91 loss.
It was not the result that No. 2 or Coach Carlisle were looking for.
“It’s disappointing. We desperately need a win. I’m just surprised at our lack of fight. I don’t know how else to put it.”
Jason, who had 9 points, 8 rebounds and four assists has remained positive, but notices a disconnect. The Star-Telegram reports:
“It’s hard to say we’re fighting. It seems like déjà vu every time in the third quarter or fourth quarter. When we can’t score we just throw our hands up. We don’t stop anyone and we start fragmenting.”
“One of the things we learned from the Lakers game where we came out with the same intensity, but once we started making substitutions we felt the game was over. We just disappeared. With a young team like that, they kept playing and they won the game.”
No. 2 hopes to turn it around tonight at home against Orlando and knows what the team needs to work on. Jason talked to the Star-Telegram:
“We don’t play defense. When you give up 100 points and not scoring 100, you’re going to lose a lot games. We need to win. You don’t win without playing defense.”
NEXT UP
The Mavs’ will look to win won at home against the Orlando Magic (5-3) at 7:30pm tonight.
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Mavs grab an early lead, then let Bulls run wild (Star-Telegram, Nov. 14th, 2008)
http://www.star-telegram.com/305/story/1038715.html
Gordon scores 35, Bulls charge past Mavericks (NBA.com, Nov. 13th, 2008)
http://www.nba.com/games/20081113/DALCHI/recap.html