The Dallas Mavericks’ 0–2 start hasn’t rattled Anthony Davis — but it has sharpened his focus. After Friday night’s 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards, the veteran forward didn’t point to effort, fatigue, or unfamiliarity as the team’s biggest problem. For him, the issue is clear: communication and defense.

“We’ve got to be better defensively,” Davis said. “Playing that big lineup, we’ve got to communicate better. Their guards ran a lot of actions that confused us a bit. When we get stops, we can run, but defensively, that’s where our biggest problems are.”

Davis led Dallas with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists, anchoring the team’s offense while shouldering heavy defensive responsibilities. Yet Washington’s ball movement and tempo repeatedly punished late rotations and mismatches — the same issues that surfaced in the Mavericks’ season-opening loss to San Antonio.

“Communication and switching, especially with the big lineup,” Davis said. “There were a few miscommunications on guard pick-and-rolls. It’s all correctable. We’re beating ourselves, and that’s something we can fix.”

Jason Kidd: “We Can’t Keep Fouling Shooters”

Head coach Jason Kidd echoed Davis’ concerns, emphasizing that the team’s defensive breakdowns are fixable but rooted in poor timing and focus rather than effort.

“We can’t keep fouling shooters — we fouled three-point shooters two or three times tonight,” Kidd said. “That’s been a bad habit. We also have to guard the ball better and keep it in front of us. Right now, we’re not doing that.”

Transition defense remains a central theme for Kidd, who pointed to upcoming opponents as further tests.

“Teams are going to run, and it doesn’t get easier,” Kidd said. “Toronto’s going to run and press. Oklahoma City’s going to run. Indiana’s going to run. It’s a good week to work on transition defense.”

The Mavericks’ lapses proved costly against a Wizards team that shot 45.6% from the field and 41.7% from deep. Second-year guard Kyshawn George torched Dallas for 34 points, hitting seven of nine from three-point range, while rookie Tre Johnson added 17 points off the bench.

Washington also turned 21 Dallas turnovers into 31 fast-break points, neutralizing what had been a promising early surge from the Mavericks, who led by as many as 14 in the first quarter.

“Twenty turnovers make it tough to win,” Davis said. “A lot were unforced. Teams know we’re bigger, so they’re swiping at the ball and trying to get deflections. We’ve got to be smarter. Me, PJ, and Coop — if we’re the primary ball handlers, we’ve got to protect it better and handle full-court pressure.”

Cooper Flagg Credits Anthony Davis’ Leadership Amid Early Adversity

While the start hasn’t gone as planned, Cooper Flagg said Davis’ approach has been essential to keeping the group steady. The 18-year-old forward finished with 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds against Washington, showing improved poise in his second career game.

“He’s been great — vocal, keeping everyone accountable,” Flagg said. “He’s telling us to talk more on defense and trust the system. We’re still figuring it out, but he’s been helping everyone stay locked in.”

Flagg also said the team is learning how to play through mistakes together. “We took a step forward offensively,” he said. “We just have to carry that same energy on defense and sustain it for the full game.”

Building Trust Through Accountability

For Davis, the Mavericks’ defensive growth will come through trust and repetition — not panic. Despite the frustration of back-to-back losses, he views this early stretch as a learning period for a retooled roster that features multiple new faces in key roles.

“It just takes a win,” Davis said. “Our trust and effort were better tonight than Wednesday. We let George get too comfortable, and that’s on us. We’ve got to play with defensive aggression for all 48 minutes. I’d rather this happen now so we can correct it early.”

Kidd agreed, noting that the team’s chemistry is still developing but the foundation of effort and accountability remains strong.

“We’re getting there,” Kidd said. “The communication has to improve, and the trust has to come with time. We’ve shown flashes of the team we can be — now we just have to sustain it.”

The Mavericks will look to bounce back Sunday night when they host the Toronto Raptors (1–1) at 6:30 p.m. CST, continuing their five-game homestand and hoping that a renewed focus on defense leads to their first win of the season.

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