BOSTON — The Dallas Mavericks have proven to be a dangerous team when facing a 0-1 deficit in a playoff series. They have a lot of practice.
The Mavs’ 107-89 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals marked the sixth time Dallas lost the opener in seven series under coach Jason Kidd.
Dallas has bounced back to win five of the previous six series despite falling behind, including the first two rounds of this postseason against the LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
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By contrast, the rest of the NBA is 9-30 in Game 2 after losing the series opener in the last three postseasons, according to KeynoteUSA Stats & Information.
“There’s no panic in this group,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said after practice Saturday on the eve of Game 2. “We didn’t play well in Game 1. You have to give Boston credit; they did. “But it’s a series. It’s not enough to watch or take advantage of a single game. We have lost Game 1 many times and responded in Game 2.”
The Mavs became the first team in NBA history to trail by at least 25 points in the first game of three series in the same postseason, according to KeynoteUSA Stats & Information. Dallas rebounded from double-digit losses in Game 1 against the Clippers and Thunder by tying the series with a road win in the next game.
The Celtics are well aware of their opponent’s history in responding to early series setbacks.
“They’re back in Game 2, so we’re going to have a tougher, more aggressive team on Sunday,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said, comments that were echoed by his co-star Jayson Tatum. “We have to be prepared, because they are really good after a loss, so we can’t be surprised. That’s what I’m preparing my team for.”
Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, in particular, has a tremendous track record in Game 2s and immediately following a playoff loss.
Doncic has averaged 33.9 points in games 2. It is the highest scoring average in games 2 in NBA history (minimum 5 games), six-tenths of a point more than Michael Jordan.
Doncic averaged 34.3 points per game immediately after a playoff series loss. This is the highest scoring average in NBA history in those situations (minimum 10 games), one point more than Michael Jordan.
Doncic finished Game 1 with 30 points on 12-of-26 shooting, but just one assist, a playoff career low. Kidd has encouraged Doncic to “make the layups” if the Celtics continue to prioritize preventing him from throwing alley-oops and passes to the corners of three-point shooters on their drives.
“I think we need to be a little more aggressive,” Doncic said. “I think we all came into the game low on energy. So I think we have to be better with our energy, especially early on.”
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