Jason Kidd Downplays Mavs' Losing Streak: 'Rome Wasn't Built in a Day'

The Dallas Mavericks are trending toward another disappointing end to the season this year after losing five of their last six games.

The mark of a great team isn't just in their ability to win, but their ability to weather the storm and be at their best when it matters most. 

Since beating the Phoenix Suns in their first game after the All-Star break to extend their winning streak to seven games, the bottom has fallen out since then, as the Dallas Mavericks have lost five of their last six games. The storm didn't show any signs of letting up on Tuesday, as Dallas got ran out of its building by the Indiana Pacers in a 137-120 loss at the American Airlines Center. 

While a fifth loss in six games would be enough for most to panic when you're trying to keep pace in a loaded Western Conference, head coach Jason Kidd is still trying to preach patience, even with 20 games left in the season. 

"Rome wasn't built in a day," Kidd said. "2011 wasn't built in a day, right? There's only a few of us in that locker room who have won at the highest level. It's for us to help these young men get through this tough time."

Mar 5, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum (0) and guard Luka Doncic (77) walk back up the court during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at the American Airlines Center / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The same problems that have plagued Dallas since the Pacers snapped its seven-game winning streak on Feb. 25 reared its ugly head again. To put it mildly, the Mavs couldn't stop a traffic cone on defense. 

Whether it was getting the shot they wanted or second-chance points, Indiana faced little to no resistance from the Dallas defense. The Pacers dropped 74 points in the first half and may have been able to run up their total to 150 had they not let their foot off the gas toward the end of the game. 

It wasn't just one player who torched Dallas, either. It was a collective effort by an electric offense that leads the league in points per game and points off the bench per game. Of the 10 players who played at least 17 minutes, nine scored at least 10 points. 

"Overall effort and communications," Daniel Gafford said of the Mavs' problems on defense. "At the end of the day, it's an overall trust factor with the team that has the level up."

The Pacers' ability to get contributions from everyone under former Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle illustrates another pressing issue for Dallas. The Mavs are far too reliant on Luka Doncic's heroics just to have a chance against anyone on a given night. He's had four-straight games with 30-point triple-doubles, and Dallas has gone 1-3 in that stretch. 

Doncic got some help with Kyrie Irving scoring 23 points and P.J. Washington adding in 20, and Gafford had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but it's hard to win when the defense allows 137 points.

During their last six games, Dallas has allowed an average of 129 points per game.

Mavs' Defense Reaches Further Low in Double-Figure Loss vs. Pacers

"Being able to do all of the little stuff," Washington said of how the Mavs can fix their defense. "Being able to talk on both ends of the floor. It's just will and want to on that end. It's going to be impossible to win games if they're scoring over 30 points in every quarter."  

The defensive struggles are just part of the issues plaguing the Mavs as they slide down the Western Conference Standings. The bigger concern is they haven't shown any signs of turning their struggles around. That isn't just a player issue, it's also a coaching problem. 

Kidd can say Rome or the 2011 season wasn't built in a day, but time is winding down for him and his team to figure things out. Dallas had a collapse of epic proportions last season, and things appear to be trending in that direction for a second straight year. 

Even if Dallas makes the play-in, a quick exit should be viewed as a disappointment. And with the way the Mavs have played since the All-Star, an early exit, even if they make the play-in, appears to be a formality.