The Mavs were a half-game shy of fifth place, winning seven straight games, and seemed to have been rejuvenated by the two deadline moves just over a week prior.

After losing badly to the 76ers 120-116 at American Airlines Centre on Sunday, they have now dropped four out of five games and are once again in the running for a play-in spot.

Exactly how did this happen?

“When we score, we’re one of the best teams in the league,” Jason Kidd said.

“And when we don’t score, we’re one of the worst.”

The interesting thing is that Kidd didn’t actually say the Mavs needed to score more points, unless this is what you do for a job. Of sure, that would be lovely. Even a club like the Mavs, led by Kyrie Irving with 28 points and Luka Doncic with 38 points on Sunday, can always need more offensive production. They can employ a dependable third choice, to be more precise.

Perhaps Kidd wouldn’t have to be so cryptic if Nico Harrison had been able to get the player he truly desired at the trade deadline.

He was trying to say that the Mavs lose energy when they don’t get shots. And there is no defence if there is no energy.

If so, it is impossible to understand how they could let up an 11-0 lead against a squad that had dropped six of its previous 10 games and four of its previous six. The Sixers are still competitive even without Joel Embiid, but Tyrese Maxey of South Garland, who scored 24 points on Sunday in his homecoming to his hometown, generally has a lot to carry the load. The 76ers’ coach, Nick Nurse, would have warned you prior to the game that Maxey’s 15 shots would not come close to being sufficient.

When Maxey had lately taken 33 shots, he desired more.

He didn’t have to rule Sunday, though. When Maxey wasn’t dominating the Mavs, Kelly Oubre Jr. with 21 points or Tobias Harris with 28 points stepped in well.

The home team didn’t appear to realise what was going on until a 40-point fourth quarter in which the Mavs narrowed an 18-point deficit to three in the final seconds.

So was it physical or mental?

#MFFL

“I think it’s a little bit of both,” Luka said. “The energy has to be from the first minute, the first second of the game.”

Luka didn’t believe into the idea that they could just be worn out or that they were still in shock from the loss in Cleveland due to a sling and a prayer. All that is certain is that neither Irving nor Luka are the issue.

The rest of the group is essentially open for discussion.

Recall how the Mavs appeared to be a whole different team at the trade deadline following their acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington? Although some questioned the prudent use of so much draft capital, everyone agreed that they had improved. better defensively and deeper. A lineup with room to grow or shrink.

Especially Gafford was a revelation. In his opening two games, his scoring and rebounding totals matched his playing time. When combined with Dereck Lively II, the Mavericks had two centres that would quickly erase memories of the ridiculousness that was Christian Wood and JaVale McGee.

Gafford’s minutes are all over the place the next thing you know. He had played seven, twenty-five, and six minutes in his previous three games going into Sunday. Before the game, I asked Kidd if Gafford’s minutes were determined by matchups, and he didn’t back down.

“If you’re playing well,” he said, “you’re gonna play.”

For the record, Gafford’s performance on Sunday was subpar. Lively didn’t either. In thirty-one minutes, they each had seven rebounds. Lively was a minus-7 and Gafford a minus-11.

Gafford has had similar kinds of setbacks throughout his career. Lively is only starting out. Nevertheless, you would think Kidd could figure out a way for the Mavs to capitalise on a team that starts Mo Bamba in the middle rather than the MVP.

However, the overall sense you got on Sunday, one building at a time over this 1-4 run, is that the issue isn’t with the centres or defence, but rather with an old issue with a new set of players.

When Irving and Luka fail to score, who wins?

Not Tim Hardaway Jr., who continued a long-standing habit by making just one of eight shots against the Sixers.

“We all know Timmy’s not shooting the ball well,” Kidd said. “But we trust him and he’s gonna get out of it.”

The fact remains that, despite Hardaway’s recent struggles, Kidd is compelled to have faith in him as he is a proven scorer. P.J. Washington isn’t a scorer; despite his 13 points on Sunday, he went back to his old habits by making just 1 of 7 three-pointers. Josh Green, who added seven points, isn’t either. Who do you know is a scorer? Kuzma Kyle. The Mavs also believed they got him by the deadline. However, he declined the Wizards’ offer to have a say in the agreement in order to stay on a losing club.

To be honest, I’m not sure if the Mavs or Kuzma seem worse for that choice. However, Sunday’s events at the AAC didn’t seem favourable. It may not appear any better on Tuesday when the Pacers play, or on Thursday when the Heat play. Oh my goodness, where had February gone?