DALLAS – It hasn’t taken Tim Hardaway Jr. very long to become accustomed to playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
In just nine games with the Mavs since coming over in that Jan. 31 blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks, Hardaway is averaging 16.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. That includes scoring 20 or more points in five of the last seven games, including the past three.
In essence, for Hardaway the transition from the Knicks to the Mavs has been as smooth as lacing up a pair of sneakers.
“I’m feeling a lot comfortable now,” Hardaway said. “I still have to slow down on some plays, read the defense.
“But at the same time I’m going to continue to be aggressive and continue to go out there and make plays.”
The Mavs (27-34) aren’t sure if Hardaway will be able to make any plays for them when they entertain the Memphis Grizzlies (24-39) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center. That’s because Hardaway skipped Friday’s practice session with an illness.
Still, the Mavs have apparently had their eyes on Hardaway for a while.
“Tim’s a guy we’ve liked for a long time,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s a good shooter, he’s getting more comfortable in our system and how we play and finding where his sweet spots are on the floor.
“He’s a real solid guy as a two-way player. I like the way he defends, and I like his intensity. He brings a lot of positive things to our team.”
A 6-6, 205-pound guard/forward, Hardaway has not only been a positive influence for the Mavs on the court. But that influence has also been felt in the locker room.
“He’s been great,” center Dwight Powell said. “To have a guy that can space the floor like that and can attack off the dribble. . .
“He’s athletic, he can guard guys and get out in transition. He’s been great in the locker room as well, so it’s been a pleasure to have him.”
In the 29.9 minutes he’s averaging since the trade, Hardaway has consistently shown that he’s not afraid to pull up from way beyond the 3-point line and fire up a shot. That, he said, is part of his DNA.
“I’m not trying to be passive out there,” Hardaway said. “I’m just trying to go out there and do what I do best, and that’s play with energy and play with passion and do whatever I can to get this team some wins.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives me. I know there’s going to be some times when I’m a little bit too aggressive, but at the same time I think we need that.”
Since joining the Mavs, Hardaway is shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range and has been their second-leading scorer behind rookie Luka Doncic, who won the Western Conference Rookie of the month on Friday for the fourth straight month after averaging 24.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists in February.
“He’s doing a nice job,” Carlisle said. “He’s been very solid in our defensive system.
“His competitiveness is something that we knew was a big plus. We knew he could make shots, and guys are starting to really understand where he likes the ball and he’s doing a good job of being aggressive in positive situations.”
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