Here's our second-day observations about the Mavericks' 105-95 loss to Portland, which dropped them to 0-5, the worst start to a season in franchise history.
The O is broke: Since the Mavericks scored 121 points in an overtime loss in the season opener, they have averaged just 91.5 points in the following four games. That's asking a lot out of your defense to scrape out a win with that low of an offensive output. It doesn't figure to get any easier, either, with Dirk Nowitzki set to miss at least the next three games.