Why are the Mavs such a good road team? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Bookit · 03-12-2003, 06:11 PM

Contrary to some of the Mavs haters, Dallas doesn't play just like the Nuggets of the eighties. Those Nuggets teams played great at home and couldn't win on the road. The Mavs are different. They aren't great at home but they are great (relatively speaking) on the road.

Two years ago, the Mavs had one of the best road records in the league. Last year the Mavs followed that up with an even better road record. This year's team is even better still when playing away from home. So who makes this team click on the road? Other teams can't do it. Why can the Mavs? Is it Nash, Dirk, or Finley that makes it work? I tend to believe that Dirk and Nash have a unique killer instinct that is the same, home or away.

BrianJ · 03-12-2003, 06:23 PM

U would almost have to give road success to the coach. But beings it Nellie maybe it has more to do with the allignment of the stars. Perhaps the insane crowds are a little more mav friendly as well. The games I have listened to the announcers always comment on the applause the mavs get on the road. Back to the crackpipe I go.

dude1394 · 03-12-2003, 07:42 PM

It's because they only have a perimeter game. Very little low-post offense and they only play zone. They also don't close out games very well. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

But seriously folks...I think that really the reason they play well on the road is because they really enjoy playing. Especially in nellie's system as it's a lot of fun. They also have multiple weapons and it's just difficult for the other team to focus on one,two,three,four guys.

Hitman · 03-12-2003, 09:20 PM

Because mediocre teams simply cannot handle the Mavericks firepower.

When Dirk and Fin and Nash and everybody come out firing on the lesser 22 or 23 teams in the league, there is simply nothing these teams can do to counter it, at home or on the road.

Hitman

ariosto · 03-12-2003, 09:53 PM

I read once that foreign players are good on the road, because when your home is an ocean away, every game is basically on the road. Also, European audiences can be much more threatening than American audiences. Yugoslavian games are supposed to be insane-- people throw stuff that could seriously injure players. I don't know if this would affect Dirk's experience, because I think German audiences would be a lot tamer than those in far eastern Europe.

Bookit · 03-12-2003, 10:07 PM

<< Because mediocre teams simply cannot handle the Mavericks firepower.

When Dirk and Fin and Nash and everybody come out firing on the lesser 22 or 23 teams in the league, there is simply nothing these teams can do to counter it, at home or on the road.

Hitman >>

Yes, but the "firepower" is just as good on the road as at home. This is unusual for teams with a bunch of shooters. Usually, low post teams are good on the road but shooting teams struggle. It has been this way for decades. This team has something special and it is hard to figure out what it is.

Bookit · 03-12-2003, 10:08 PM

<< I read once that foreign players are good on the road, because when your home is an ocean away, every game is basically on the road. Also, European audiences can be much more threatening than American audiences. Yugoslavian games are supposed to be insane-- people throw stuff that could seriously injure players. I don't know if this would affect Dirk's experience, because I think German audiences would be a lot tamer than those in far eastern Europe. >>

Very interesting concept.

Ummmmm Ok · 03-13-2003, 09:03 AM

<< Contrary to some of the Mavs haters, Dallas doesn't play just like the Nuggets of the eighties. Those Nuggets teams played great at home and couldn't win on the road. The Mavs are different. They aren't great at home but they are great (relatively speaking) on the road.

Two years ago, the Mavs had one of the best road records in the league. Last year the Mavs followed that up with an even better road record. This year's team is even better still when playing away from home. So who makes this team click on the road? Other teams can't do it. Why can the Mavs? Is it Nash, Dirk, or Finley that makes it work? I tend to believe that Dirk and Nash have a unique killer instinct that is the same, home or away. >>

Well Contrary to what you might think, the Mavs actually play a Tad better at home than on the road.

Home: 27-6
Road: 21-9

But on to why they are good on the road, its simple. They don't change their gameplan if they are at home or away. They stay with their run and gun offense and they control the tempo of the game. By being consistent at doing this at home or away, their records at home and away are pretty consistent.

Bookit · 03-13-2003, 09:38 AM

Well Contrary to what you might think, the Mavs actually play a Tad better at home than on the road.

Home: 27-6
Road: 21-9

Yes, the Mavs play better at home but there are lots of teams with similar home records. But the Mavs play better than everybody away from home.

But on to why they are good on the road, its simple. They don't change their gameplan if they are at home or away. They stay with their run and gun offense and they control the tempo of the game. By being consistent at doing this at home or away, their records at home and away are pretty consistent.

Ok, buy what or who allows them to play the same way on the road. Why don't other teams play the same way on the road? Why haven't many teams over the last decade done as well as the Mavs are doing now? Do the Kings play the same style on the road as at home? Why do the Mavs play better than them?

Ummmmm Ok · 03-13-2003, 09:55 AM

<< Well Contrary to what you might think, the Mavs actually play a Tad better at home than on the road.

Home: 27-6
Road: 21-9

Yes, the Mavs play better at home but there are lots of teams with similar home records. But the Mavs play better than everybody away from home.

But on to why they are good on the road, its simple. They don't change their gameplan if they are at home or away. They stay with their run and gun offense and they control the tempo of the game. By being consistent at doing this at home or away, their records at home and away are pretty consistent.

Ok, buy what or who allows them to play the same way on the road. Why don't other teams play the same way on the road? Why haven't many teams over the last decade done as well as the Mavs are doing now? Do the Kings play the same style on the road as at home? Why do the Mavs play better than them? >>

Maybe cause most teams get pumped up when they come home as the Mavs don't really care. And its not like we are just blowing everybody away on the road record.

Dallas: 21-9
Portland: 20-12
San Anton: 21-13
Sacramento: 18-14

3 of 4 of those teams are consistent at home as well as on the road. Only team that isn't "that" good at home is Portland with a record of 22-10. Of the other (3) Dallas has the most losses @ home with 6. But I think what probably makes our road record a little better is that we "usually" don't play down to a lesser team. The only team that Dallas has lost to this season that will not be a playoff team is: Seattle. All of the other teams have played down to a lesser team and lost.

But I wouldn't get too pumped up about our road record just yet. Dallas still has to play Kings, Minny, Portland, Lakers, Phoenix and Spurs all on the road to finish out the season. But if they keep their consistency on the road, they should finish with the best road record.

Murphy3 · 03-13-2003, 11:58 AM

A big reason, dirk is better on the road. He shoots better, rebounds slightly better, scores more, more steals, more blocks..
that's a good start..when your best player steps up his game, you're in good shape

101 6 7 · 03-13-2003, 02:57 PM

Another actually has to do with the lack of respect the Mavericks get.

Mavericks are, in fact, one of the top 3 teams in the league (Lakers simply, are not right now)
Perception lags behind reality.

Other top teams face teams & fans who are absolutely juiced for the game (Lakers especially); individual players on crappy teams will have career nights, shoot lights out, rebound like madmen because they are so pumped for a certain game. When the Mavericks sucked, didn't they play alot harder when the Bulls came to town than when the Cavaliers were visiting? Mavericks have not been good enough long enough to build this fire inside of opponents bellies. I mean watch the Lakers play, look in the stands, the crowd is shrieking MUCH loader before the game than before Mavs games

Success = tougher road schedule

Murphy3 · 03-13-2003, 03:58 PM

<< Mavericks have not been good enough long enough to build this fire inside of opponents bellies >>

i don't buy that.
all you've heard all year long is how other teams are gearing up to beat the team with the best record in the NBA

101 6 7 · 03-13-2003, 04:32 PM

<<

<< Mavericks have not been good enough long enough to build this fire inside of opponents bellies >>

i don't buy that.
all you've heard all year long is how other teams are gearing up to beat the team with the best record in the NBA >>

Hearing it & actually seeing it are two different things. Bottom line, beating the Mavericks doesn't have the same appeal as spanking the Lakers, Kings, or Spurs

LRB · 03-13-2003, 04:45 PM

The Mavs success on the road may be one of the tangible assets of Nellie's underdog mentality that has rubbed off on the team. They are so used to being the underdog that they are very comfortable in that role. Combine that with a very talented team and the Mavs road record isn't too surprising.

Murphy3 · 03-13-2003, 05:19 PM

maybe not the lakers..but i would probably put the Mavs right up with the Kings and Spurs when it comes to other teams getting up for them.

even if they were slightly behind the other three, teams not gearing up for them is not an issue.
teams are up for them just about as much as possible

Bookit · 03-13-2003, 05:29 PM

<< The Mavs success on the road may be one of the tangible assets of Nellie's underdog mentality that has rubbed off on the team. They are so used to being the underdog that they are very comfortable in that role. Combine that with a very talented team and the Mavs road record isn't too surprising. >>

Good point. Why do I get the feeling that Nash and Dirk just love playing on the road. Maybe it is the fact that they aren't supposed to win. Dirk and Steve both hit huge shots, late in the game, on the road. Remember Nash's huge 3 pointers late in the road game against Utah? Those two guys take turns killing their road opponents.