Mavs-Pacers preview: Two teams desperate to get back into win column

The Mavericks know what the problems are after losing four of five games.

Fixing them? That’s the tough part.

As coach Jason Kidd said on Monday, since the All-Star break, the Mavericks are fifth in offensive production.

They are 30^th in defense. That’s better known as last.

“So we have room for improvement,” he said.

And it won’t be easy to improve when one of the best offensive teams in the NBA comes to town Tuesday. The Indiana Pacers, coached by former Mavericks’ leader Rick Carlisle, are No. 2 in the league in offensive rating. Like the Mavericks, they struggle defensively.

But at some point, a line must be drawn and a team has to either embrace the idea of stopping the other side or make so many shots that defensive shortcomings are covered up.

Or else, it’ll be a short stay in the postseason.

The end of Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, when the Mavericks almost erased an 18-point deficit in the final seven minutes, was an example.

“You look at the last five minutes of the game, being able to execute the defensive schemes at a high level,” Kidd said. “It’s just being consistent for 48 minutes and that’s what a lot of teams are trying to do. There’s probably one that’s playing at a very, very high level and that’s Boston. But when you look at the rest of the league, everyone is fighting to be consistent on both ends.”

Most assuredly, the Mavericks are not alone when it comes to erratic play at either end of the floor.

The most important thing for them will be sticking together through this rough stretch. You don’t want to let four losses in five games turn into eight losses in 10 games.

And it will require a ton of work, particularly on defense.

“When we score the ball, we’re one of the best defensive teams,” Kidd said. “When we don’t score the ball, we can be one of the worst defensive teams. So we have to be consistent where when we’re not scoring we still compete on the defensive end.”

Here’s what else to look for Tuesday against the Pacers.

• The Mavericks need to get Tim Hardaway Jr. going. He’s a good shooter and he’ll come around. But he’s in a rough slump. “It’s about work, but it’s about being able to talk to Timmy to see what he’s thinking,” said Kidd, who has had those conversations. “A lot of times we just look at the X’s and O’s. But they’re human. We’ve all been in a slump shooting the ball. We’re trying to help him.”
• The Mavericks’ other big issue is giving up easy three-pointers, particularly easy three-pointers from the corner. “It’s a combination,” Kidd said. “Guys are making open shots, but also our defense, we have to be better. We’re giving up way too many open threes in the corner, something we’ve always taken pride in. It’s just right now our rotations are a little late.”
• The Pacers made a major trade in January to get Pascal Siakam. He has averaged 20.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists as the Pacers have gone 10-11 since he began playing for them.
• Indiana is coming off a 117-105 loss at San Antonio on Sunday when the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama victimized them with 31 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and six blocks. The Pacers have dropped the first two games on this road trip, including Friday’s 27-point loss at New Orleans.
• The Pacers are led by Tyrese Haliburton, who has not been the same player since returning from injury in early February, averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 assists. For the season, he’s averaging 20.8 points and 11.3 assists.
• Jason Kidd on the Pacers: “They had a tough one last night at San Antonio. Offensively, they’re one of the best. (Our) transition defense will be tested. And offense will be tested. We have to be prepared for Rick to double-team Luka (Dončić) and Kyrie (Irving), and other guys are going to have to step up and make shots.”

INDIANA PACERS (35-26) at MAVERICKS (34-27)

• When/where: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
• TV: Bally Sports Southwest.
• Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).

X: @ESefko