Mavericks Breakdown: How Dallas Can Win an NBA Title

Dallas' 100-94 victory over the Rockets was an impressive one.

The game was memorable not because the Mavericks beat Houston but rather because of how they did it: by making big plays late.

The Mavs trailed 91-86 with 1:40 to play. Here’s how things played out down the stretch:

- Yao Ming posted up in the right box and drew a double team. Despite excellent Houston passing along the perimeter, the Mavericks closed out the Rocket guards. Yao flashed just inside the free-throw line for a pass (a tactic that worked earlier in the game), but Dirk Nowitzki’s hands-up defense forced a missed jumper. Dirk then corralled the defensive rebound.

- Devin Harris was able to drive into the middle of the paint before finding Jerry Stackhouse for a critical corner three.

- Tracy McGrady tried to drive into the lane, but Nowitzki and Josh Howard stripped him in the paint.

- After a switched Nowitzki/Harris screen-and-roll, Harris was able to blow by Yao, hit a layup, and draw a foul. Harris made the ensuing free throw.

- McGrady utilized a Yao high-screen to shoot a pull-up jumper going left. Howard contested the shot and forced a miss.

- Jerry Stackhouse collected three rebounds and converted all six of his free-throw attempts.

Not only did the Mavericks outscore Houston 14-5 over the final 1:40—they scored 38 points in the fourth quarter to erase a 12-point deficit.

Considering the win came on the road...in the second game of a back-to-back...after a 24-point Dallas comeback the previous night...it was an especially important one for the Mavs.

Coming back against improbable odds, executing textbook defensive rotations, getting clutch play from Devin Harris and outstanding defense from Dirk Nowitzki—these are all elements that have been absent in Dallas' playoff defeats over the past few seasons.

If the Mavericks can play like this during the last two minutes of every game, '07-'08 could be the season they take the final step to a championship.

The rest of the game served to highlight a handful of certain truths about the Mavericks:

- Dallas likes to run at nearly every opportunity.

With Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard, and Devin Harris, the Mavs have a deep stock of hyper-athletic players. On nearly every steal, block, or long defensive rebound, Dallas made sure to get their wings out and running, and put the ball in either Terry’s or Harris’ hands.

- Dallas' fast break is most effective when Devin Harris runs it.

On one break, Jason Terry settled for an off-target midrange jumper, and on another Josh Howard did exactly the same thing.

- Devin Harris may be the quickest point guard in the NBA not playing for San Antonio.

Harris tortured the Rockets with his zip on the break, and carved up the Rockets' defense in the half court. Harris doesn’t even need a screen to end up at the basket.

- Dallas’ defense overreacts to opponents' ball penetration, sagging in too deep.

As a result, Tracy McGrady was able to play off screens before finding shooters or cutters. He finished with 12 assists.

- DeSagana Diop has no desire at all to contest his man's perimeter shooting.

Many of Yao's 30 points came from uncontested elbow jumpers.

- Diop is outstanding when forced to switch onto smaller defenders.

When Diop was switched onto McGrady, the results were a blocked shot, a McGrady missed runner, and an airball on a McGrady jumper.

- The Mavs don't play with complete trust when things aren't going their way.

When Houston came out aggressively in the third quarter, Dallas wilted.

Early in the third, Howard, Harris, Stackhouse, and Brandon Bass all forced ill-advised shots. These and other miscues led to numerous Houston fast breaks, and Dallas started the period shooting 2-15.

- Dirk shows only glimpses of toughness.

The good:

On one possession early in the third quarter, Dirk overwhelmed McGrady on a drive into the paint for an and-one.

Midway through the fourth, Dirk posted up Chuck Hayes, spun to the middle, and hit a strong layup for another and-one.

Also in the fourth, Dirk made a nifty spin move on the baseline, used his elbows to create space, and uncorked a nifty banked layup while falling out of bounds.

The bad:

Dirk was frequently crowded and muscled around by Hayes and Shane Battier, and the No-Man went a miserable 2-5 from the line.

- Bass is incredibly athletic, and drives and shoots like a guard.

- The Mavericks are prone to long stretches of lost focus, and need Avery Johnson’s tutelage on the sidelines to get their heads back into the game.

- If Johnson can get his team to buckle down, the Mavs will never be out of any ballgame.

With wins over Houston and San Antonio to their credit, the Mavs feel that they can be the best team in Texas.

That may be true now—but will it be true come playoff time?

Dallas has already proven to be a tremendous regular-season team. Only if the Mavs focus, develop trust, and stop relying on their coach to bail them out will they be ready for the rigors of the postseason.

If they can master that, Dallas won't just be the best team in Texas.

They’ll be the best team in the NBA.