There have been 156 teams that have been down 3-0 in an NBA playoff series, and all of them have won that series. It is clear that the Dallas Mavericks face a tough task, but in situations like this, it is important to do what head coach Jason Kidd stated during Dallas' pregame media availability before Game 4:
“You just take it one possession at a time, control what you can control and win the minutes you're in,” Kidd said. The Mavericks did just that in Game 4, blowing a 48-point lead — their largest in the NBA Finals in the last 50 seasons — and going on to win the series, 122-84.
Now, the series returns to Boston, where Dallas will try to fight possession by possession to force a Game 6 on Thursday, and will try to do so by continuing its Game 5 advantage in this year's playoffs.
The Dallas Mavericks have played three Game 5s in these playoffs, all on the road against higher-seeded teams, and all three times Dallas has won by double digits. In the first round, Dallas dominated the Los Angeles Clippers, 123-93, to take a 3-2 series lead. In the WCSF, the Mavericks won Game 5 in Oklahoma City, 104-92. And of course, we'll never forget their 124-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to their first NBA Finals in 13 years.
There are a few constants in these games, but most importantly, Luka Doncic has been sensational in these games. Here's how he performed in these three postseason Game 5 games this season:
May 1: DAL vs LAC: 35 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists. +28.
May 15: DAL vs OKC: 31 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists. +13.
May 30: DAL vs MIN: 36 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists. +22.
He's also been a scoring powerhouse in those games, shooting over 50 percent from the field in all three games. Doncic will be called upon to do so again as the Mavericks look to make history with a second win on Monday against the championship-favorite Celtics.
The Mavericks got stronger and stronger as this playoff series went on. Dallas went 5-0 in Games 5 and 6, proving they could make the adjustments that overwhelmed other teams. They did it with solid defense and a dominant offense (see Game 6 against the Clippers and Game 5 against the Timberwolves). But they also proved they could hold their own in close games. Game 6 against the Thunder was a close one, but Dallas held their own, winning 117-116 to close out the series and end OKC's season.
On Monday, the tables are turned. Dallas is in trouble, and they know one loss would end this amazing season they've been building. They've already improved their odds to win the series. Bookmakers had the Mavericks at +2200 before Game 4, but Dallas is now at +1400. Plus, there's one team that's ever come back from 3-1 down in the NBA Finals, and that team has Kyrie Irving.
It's a tough task, and while it remains likely Boston will raise the No. 18 flag, Doncic isn't ready to wave the white flag just yet.
“We're up four points and we're going to keep believing until the end,” Doncic said after Game 4. “So we just have to keep going. I really believe this team can do it, so we just have to keep believing.”
