The Dallas Mavericks are hoping backup center Dereck Lively II will be back on the court in time before the playoffs start, but
he will likely be out at least two weeks, according to coach Jason Kidd.
Lively, 20, hasn’t played since suffering a sprained right knee during this past Sunday’s game in Houston. And for now he’s getting around on crutches.
Asked when can he expect Lively to be back on the floor, Kidd said: “That one is two weeks away. We can only hope that age is a factor and that he heals quickly.
“But as of right now I think he’s on crutches, so hopefully he does have the opportunity to play before the season is over. If not, if we can secure (playoff seed) number six or better, that gives us time for him to be able to get some work on the floor. But I don’t know if he’s going to be able to come back before the season is over.”
In the meantime, Lively’s minutes will be split up between Dwight Powell, Maxi Keber and P.J. Washington.
“Well, it’s next man up and DP is that guy,” Kidd said. “So, looking at DP and having him play those minutes early, and then we’ll go from there and see if we have to go small or if we can continue to stay with DP.
“We’ll make that decision after halftime. But as of right now we’re going to DP to play those minutes, and then we have the opportunity to go with Maxi and P.J. if we have to go small at the (center position).”
Meanwhile, the Mavs are also trying to get guard Josh Green back on the court. Green hasn’t played since playing four minutes and suffering a sprained right ankle in the March 24 game at Oklahoma City.
Green has missed the past nine games, and Kidd isn’t sure when he’ll be available to play again.
“A week or so,” Kidd said. “Less than two weeks, I guess. He’s improving. He’s doing a lot better with his rehab.
“Everything that we’ve asked to do he’s doing it. He’s doing great. He’s trending in the right direction.”
Green was a key figure in the Mavs’ rotation prior to his injury. In the meantime, the Mavs are hopeful he can return by the time they play Tuesday or Wednesday either in Charlotte or Miami, respectively.
“Everyone would like to have him participate in one or two games (before the playoffs start),” Kidd said. “And hopefully next week is that target where we can get him on the floor and participate in a game, and then see how he feels after that game so he can continue to play in the next game.
“So, hopefully somewhere on that road trip.”
GAFFORD STAYING BELOW 30 MINUTES: Coach Jason Kidd said he has no inclination to run center Daniel Gafford’s minutes up into the
30’s.
The question derived in wake of the injury to Dereck Lively II, who had been sharing the lion’s share of the minutes in the center position with Gafford. Lively sat out Tuesday’s game at the Golden State Warriors – and Thursday’s home game against Atlanta – after he sprained his right knee during this past Sunday’s road game against the Houston Rockets.
“If the pace is high, I don’t know if we can push into the mid-30s with Gaff,” Kidd said. “But we can also find out if we have to. But to have the luxury of (Dwight Powell) and Maxi (Kleber) and P.J. (Washington) behind (Gafford), this is a part of the season where you’re just thinking about the moment.
“Understanding we don’t want to run Maxi’s minutes up. We want a fresh Gafford because of what we’re asking him to do to rim run, and to also protect the paint. That’s hard to do if you’re going to run him up 32-35 minutes a night.”
Since the Mavs acquired Gafford in a Feb. 8 trade with the Washington Wizards, the most minutes he’s played is 27. That occurred in two games against Utah on March 21 and March 25, and again this past Tuesday against the Warriors.
And since Gafford is a high energy player, the Mavs have to be extra mindful of his minutes.
“We love the intensity — we need that,” Kidd said. “I think sometimes he can pick up a cheap foul once he gets tired, so we just have to monitor that to make sure.
“When we look at the Golden State game, that pace, that physicality, I think the physicality of where the game is today is a lot harder, because there is a lot of contact taking place and we’re asking him to do a lot. We’ve got to be conscious of his minutes. But again, he wants to play and he plays at a high level and we need him to play at a high level.”
BRIEFLY: He may not play a whole lot of minutes, but Dwight Powell is still having an impact with the Mavs. And coach Jason Kidd wouldn’t expect anything less from the longest tenured Mavs’ veteran. “He’s a pro,” Kidd said. “If we have any reference, there’s the Minnesota game. He hadn’t been playing before the trade deadline. He got a couple of games under his belt, and that helped us on that road trip.” In the Dec. 28 contest against Minnesota, Powell collected 12 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and two steals in 30 minutes. “When you don’t have minutes under your belt or you’re not in the rotation, it takes a second to get into the flow of things,” Kidd said. “But I thought DP’s (nine) minutes in Golden State helped us. It kept Maxi’s minutes down, and it also kept Gafford’s minutes down. Just to be able to have depth there helps.” Powell played eight minutes during Thursday’s 109-95 win over Atlanta and finished with two points and three rebounds. Powell is in his 10th season with the Mavs. . .Atlanta coach Quin Snyder was asked before the game about the Mavs franchise record 73 points Luka Dončić scored on the Hawks back on Jan. 26. “You don’t put it aside,” Snyder said. “You watch the film after the game. Different guys have scouts and different points get focused on early. Anytime, whether you lose a game or a player goes off or we do something well, you go back and look at it and do something different, try to do the same thing again figure out how to adjust.” Dončić got two quick fouls on Thursday and was scoreless in the first quarter for just the second time this season. But he quickly regrouped and finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
X: @DwainPrice
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