Rick Carlisle calls out Mavericks for lack of effort

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is upset with his team because of what he calls a lack of effort.

Complex Sports reports that after a 98-92 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Carlisle called out the team for not playing up to its potential. Carlisle said that one of the team's biggest issues a lack of consistent effort on the court.

"We don't play hard all the time. And that's a problem," he said. "It's pretty clear that's where our inconsistency is, and we've got to get better. We've got to be a more together team."

While Dallas was considered a dark horse contender to reach the NBA Finals for much of the season, the Mavericks have been sliding since the All-Star Break, going 8-8 in their last 16 games. Carlisle added that he has some ideas as to why some of his players haven't been playing hard but decided against airing them out in public. The Mavericks are no strangers to being publicly criticized as Amar'e Stoudemire recently called out his teammates for lacking focus.

In spite of their struggles, the Mavericks are still in position to make the playoffs as they sit at the seventh seed with a record of 44-27.

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