This playoff series against the Rockets is the 36th in Mavericks’ franchise history. If they lose Game 2 Tuesday night in Houston they’ll be forced to do something they’ve accomplished only twice before.
Rally from an 0-2 deficit.
In Dallas’ previous 35 series, 11 times they’ve lost the first two games of a series. On nine occasions they lost the series, while staging a comeback to win only two times. The Mavs won three straight to beat the Jazz in Utah in 2001, winning Game 5 on Calvin Booth’s dramatic game-winning layup.
And the last time it happened? Against these same Rockets in 2005 when they lost the first two games at home but won a 40-point blowout in Game 7 behind Jason Terry’s 31 points.
How dangerous is it, however, to fall behind 0-2? NBA teams taking a 2-0 in the first round win the series 95.2 percent of the time. Yeah, yikes.
After a lifeless Game 1 in which they fell behind 12 early and never really threatened Houston, the Mavs’ high hopes are already on life-support. Chandler Parsons (knee) and Devin Harris (toe) are questionable Tuesday. Dallas’ ace-in-the-hole zone defense surrendered 10 3-pointers. And its confidence has to be flimsy at best.
Since winning Game 6 of the 2011 Finals in Miami, the Mavs haven’t won a playoff series and are just 3-9 in post-season games. A loss Tuesday would greatly increase the chances of continuing those two ugly trends.
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A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
