DALLAS — If the disappointing 117-109 loss to the skeleton Charlotte Hornets wasn't enough, Luka Doncic, Dallas' star tasked to carry this underachieving roster to new heights, said the quiet observations of many out loud Friday night. 

After the cacophony of boos at the American Airlines Center, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd lamenting the "dogs—-" effort the Mavs played with, and the reality of a team possessing both Doncic and Kyrie Irving sitting 11th in the West, outside of the NBA's Play-in tournament, set in, Doncic took the podium with an appearance of disheveled apathy and exhaustion. He then went through the motions of what a star player is supposed to say when his team is underperforming. The repeated clichés of frustration and needing to play better boiled to the surface, but the undertone of the message was what Doncic let on after the fact, voluntarily. What he admitted — what all who have watched the Mavericks all season have readily observed — is that this group, different than last season's bunch, is both listless and joyless when suiting up to play the game that has earned them more than what most achieve in two lifetimes. And the Mavericks (36-38) are suffering for it. 

"It’s really frustrating," Doncic said after scoring 34 points in 37 minutes. "I think you can see it with me on the court. Sometimes, I don’t feel it’s me. I’m just being out there. I used to have fun smiling on the court, but it’s been so frustrating for a lot of reasons – not just basketball.”

He was probed about what could restore joy to the Mavericks. His answer was reductive and expected — win. 

“Win games," he said. "Simple.”

The Mavs have no other options. Currently, the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with relatively low preseason expectations, sits in 10th in the West. If both teams finish with an identical record, the Thunder owns the tiebreaker by way of winning the season series. And the Mavs, who pushed all their chips to the center of the table in trading for Irving, miss out on the postseason, not even a full calendar year removed from a run to the Western Conference finals. 

Out of the Warriors (sixth), Timberwolves (seventh), Lakers (eighth), and Jazz (12th), the Mavericks only own tiebreakers over the Lakers and the Jazz. 

To thank for the unfavorable standing is a season, led by Kidd, that undervalued meaningful regular season games, treating bouts in December as though they were preseason affairs, weekend matinees in January like offseason scrimmages, and February through early March matchups as practices.

Enough unexpected losses piled up quicker than Kidd, Doncic, or Irving could have dreamed. And the postseason that the Mavericks approached as a near-guarantee — Kidd spoke extensively about using the regular season as a time to give his players "answers to the test" — looks more distant now than at any other point in time during the Doncic era. 

"It was just … disappointing," Kidd said. "I understand that we’ve got eight games left, so we’re still in control of this, but our effort has to be a little bit better from the start.”

Effort shouldn't be a concern in the 74th game of the season. But for the Mavericks, it is because at the start of the season, when the team blew double-digit leads to the Phoenix Suns and other opponents, there was no accountability. And no accountability begets bad habits, bad habits beget underperformance, and underperformance begets missed opportunities. Store up enough missed opportunities, and you'll get Dallas' situation, eight games left in hand, and minimal control over the future and playoff hopes of the ball club. 

Joyless, listless, and lifeless. It's the three words that summarize the Mavericks' season. And much like the fall of Rome, it's not until the capital is burning that those in charge realize something is wrong. 

"Concern? There is a level of concern every time we step out there just because we want to execute at a very high level," Irving said. "I think we want to play well for each other and the fans. In terms of playing well for each other and for the coaches – just doing little things to get us wins is probably the focus and where we should put the majority of our energy. 

"In terms of concerns, we have to throw all of that out before we get on the court. I have been in positions before in the season when we have been under .500 and scratching and clawing to get into the playoffs. It’s not a position you want to be in, but it’s our reality and we have to face it. There is no time for excuses or pointing fingers – just move on to the next game and do all that we can to prepare in the best way."