Here's our second-chance points we'd like to make about the Mavericks' 96-91 loss at San Antonio Monday night, which dropped them to 2-11 with a six-game losing streak heading into Wednesday's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Call in the cavalry: If things go well for Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams at practice on Tuesday, there's a good chance both could play on Wednesday against the Clips. That won't instantly fix all the problems that come with a 2-11 start. But it will help restore some normalcy to the things that the Mavericks want to do with their system. Wesley Matthews and Harrison Barnes have learned how to be go-to guys in the last few games, all of which were close and required execution down the stretch. The Mavericks didn't win any of them. But to have a couple guys like that who gained experience as the main guys while Nowitzki and Williams were out, it has to pay some dividends when they return.

Being hard on himself: Matthews expects a lot from himself and when he missed two of three free throws in the fourth quarter, he said it was inexcusable. But Matthews had 20 points and the Mavericks were plus-two when he was on the court. In a close game, it should never be one shot or one play that is viewed as the reason a game was lost. Matthews is playing better during the last week or so and if he continues this level of performance - the effort is always there with him - the Mavericks will have a valuable weapon to take the pressure off Barnes, Nowitzki, Williams and others.

Words of wisdom: At times like this, we turn to great philosophers for inspiration and context. And so, we give you Andrew Bogut. He's got a way with putting things in perspective - in an unfiltered kind of way. So this is what the big man had to say about the Mavericks: "Dallas hasn't been in this position for a long time. It's not easy. There is 75 or 80 percent of the NBA that experiences this. Even teams that are at .500. It's not easy. Losing is very hard in this league. And winning is very hard in this league. It takes a toll on you either way. Winning obviously makes it much easier. But this is something the franchise here hasn't experienced in a long time."