For a decade, home has been a postseason disadvantage for Mavericks and Stars
Instinctively you know it’s bad, but when you see the numbers it’s depressing.
Since the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011, spring time is a barren fall at the American Airlines Center.
Entering Game 2 of the Mavericks first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, there has been no advantage for the home team at the AAC.
Between the Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks, for more than a decade a building that opened in the summer of 2001 has been a disaster for the home team in the spring.
Since 2012 neither the Mavs nor the Stars has a winning record at home in the playoffs. The two franchises have celebrated one playoff series-clinching win at home in that time.
(The Dallas Stars reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, but the games were played in a fan-less bubble. COVID bubble games were neutral site, and technically don’t register for the AAC.)
Since 2012, the Stars are 8-8 at home in the playoffs. The Mavs are a gaudy 3-10, a mark that does not include Monday night’s Game 2 against the Utah Jazz.
Maybe the Stars and Mavs should build a new building. (Don’t worry, the Arlington tax payers will cover the costs.)
DALLAS MAVERICKS PLAYOFFS AT HOME SINCE 2012
2012 — first round vs. Oklahoma City. The year after the Mavs won the NBA title, they ran into a Thunder team that had James Harden, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The Thunder lost in the NBA Finals that year to the Miami Heat.
Mavs home playoff record: 0-2. Lost series, 4-0.
2014 — first round vs. San Antonio. The eighth-seeded Mavs were the only team to give the Spurs a real push in the postseason. The Mavs won Game 3 at the American Airlines Center, 109-108, on Vince Carter’s fadeaway 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer. The Spurs went on to defeat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Mavs home playoff record: 2-1. Lost series, 4-3.
2015 — first round vs. Houston. This series got its 15 minutes of fame when Mavs guard Rajon Rondo quit on coach Rick Carlisle in Game 2. The Mavs’ win in Game 4 on April 26 is the last time they won at home in the playoffs.
Mavs home playoff record: 1-1. Lost series, 4-1.
2016 — first round vs. OKC. The Mavs won Game 2 by 1 point at OKC, but were over-matched against Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
Mavs home playoff record: 0-2. Lost series, 4-1.
(2020 — first round vs. L.A. Clippers. Remember the Orlando bubble? ... Just in case not, the Mavs were 1-2 in their “home” games, and lost the series 4-2.)
2021 — first round vs. L.A. Clippers. A weird series; after squandering a chance to close out the series on their home floor, the Mavs lose Game 7, 126-111, in L.A. in what was the only game in the series won by the home team.
Mavs home record: 0-3. Lost series, 4-3.
2022 — first round vs. Utah Jazz. With Luka Doncic on the bench with an injury, the pain continued for the home team in Saturday’s Game 1.
Mavs home record: 0-1.
Mavs’ home record since 2012: 3-10.
DALLAS STARS PLAYOFFS AT HOME SINCE 2012
2014 — first round vs. Anaheim. The Stars’ first playoff appearance after a five-year absence; the Stars tied the series with consecutive home wins in Games 3 and 4.
They led Game 6, at home, 4-2 in the third period, but lost in overtime.
Stars home record: 2-1. Lost series, 4-2.
2016 — first round vs. Minnesota. The Stars had a chance to close out the series at home, but blew that before winning it in Game 6 on the road. It was the first time since 2008 the Stars won a playoff series.
Stars home record: 2-1. Won series, 4-2.
2016 — second round vs. St. Louis. A fantastic, tight, series that featured a horrendously dull finish. The Stars hosted the Blues for Game 7, and lost 6-1. The Stars lost their last two home games of this series by the combined score of 10-2.
Stars home record: 1-3. Lost series, 4-3.
2019— first round vs. Nashville. The Stars were the lower seed but actually closed out the series at home.
Stars home record: 2-1. Won series, 4-2.
2019— second round vs. St. Louis. The Stars could have closed out the series in Game 6 but were blown out at home. They lost 2-1 in double overtime in Game 7.
Stars home record: 1-2. Lost series, 4-3.
(2020 — Reached Stanley Cup Final, however all games were played in Edmonton without fans.)
Stars’ home playoff record since 2012: 8-8.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 2:50 PM.
