Stephen Curry has suggested the tactics to use for Coach Steve Kerr if….

Stephen Curry has suggested the tactics to use for Coach Steve Kerr if….

Stephen Curry is not one to offer much in the way of pointed criticism about the Warriors or even opponents. His approach tends to be subtle, messages found between the lines.S

Not on Thursday night. After the Warriors took their seventh loss in nine games, 122-113 to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Curry floated a proposal to his coaching staff.

Though Golden State’s invigorated offense was good enough to give them a chance, the ongoing defensive deficiencies — particularly in the first half and again in the final six minutes — invited overall failure.

“Offensively, that’s not really the issue,” Curry said. “We’ve got to get more aligned on what we’re trying to do defensively. They were hunting isos. It seemed like they had the whole court with work with, as opposed to the other side.

Stephen Curry has suggested the tactics to use for Coach Steve Kerr if….

“Maybe taking a page out of the way they were defending us to counter that, especially since if [we’re] going pretty small and don’t have rim protection.”

This is Curry proposing that head coach Steve Kerr and assistant coach Mike Brown, who coordinates the defense, consider devoting the most threatening opponent the level of defensive intensity he sees as a matter of routine.

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With Luka as the primary ballhandler, the Mavericks opened the game using his craftiness to generate open shots, particularly from deep. Dallas in the first half shot 57.5 percent from the field, including 61.1 percent beyond the arc, while scoring 68 points in the first half. The Mavs relied on ball movement and subtle player movement, and shooters did what most NBA players do when given time and space.

Luka finished with 41 points and nine assists — and as many as a dozen “hockey assists,” passes leading directly to a teammate’s assist. While the Warriors never had a lead in the first half, Dallas was slicing away, ringing up 18 dimes.