For those Dallas Mavericks’ fans patiently waiting for Reggie Bullock to start heating up from three-point range, analytics
show that the 10-year veteran forward doesn’t really start heating up from downtown until after Christmas.
In the 27 games he played last season before Christmas, Bullock was only 32-of-117 from beyond the three-point arc for 27.4 percent. And he shot 50 percent or better from downtown in just two of those games where he attempted at least four three-pointers.
During the next 27 games, Bullock made at least 50 percent of his three-pointers – with a minimum of four attempts — in 10 games. And in his final 14 regular season games with at least four attempted three-pointers, he converted at least 50 percent of them on five occasions.
Also, in the Mavs 18 playoff games last season, Bullock was 52-of-131 from three-point territory for 40 percent.
So, when the Mavs coaches hear chatter from fans complaining about Bullock’s shooting woes, their retort is to stay tuned.
“We saw this last year,” coach Jason Kidd said. “No one’s panicking. It’s about continuing to trust the process.
“He’s put in the work. We believe the next shot’s going in.”
So far this year, Bullock is shooting just 29.3 percent from behind the three-point stripe. That’s the lowest shooting percentage from 
downtown in his career. His previous lowest occurred during his rookie campaign in the 2013-14 season with the Los Angeles Clippers when he only made 30.1 percent of his three-pointers.
Then again, Bullock is quick to point out that the low-water three-point mark with the Clippers was over the course of an entire season. He’s only 16 games into this season with plenty of time to pad his three-point numbers.
“It’s still early,” Bullock said. “I probably wouldn’t be having this conversation right now if I would have hit all of them that I’ve been taking.
“There’s still a chance out there for me to be able to continue to take the shots and make them.”
Bullock has made at least 50 percent of his three-pointers —with at least four attempts – in just four games this season. And there are five games where he was a combined 0-of-20 from downtown.
However, Bullock isn’t lacking in confidence or in his ability to stick the three-pointer when needed.
“I still believe in my shot,” he said. “If you look back at the beginning of last season, I didn’t shoot the ball extremely well. I continued to stay with it and I just started clicking and started finding my groove.
“I’m not super locked in on my misses. I just come back in and prepare and get ready for the next game and get my reps in and believe in my shots and just go out and just continue to take the same ones. But my teammates have believed in me, and the organization and staff has continued to believe in me in what I bring to the table.”
Kidd concurred, adding that he wants Bullock to just keep on shooting his way out of his slump.
“His teammates trust him, so that’s something that every player goes through,” Kidd said, referring to Bullock’s shooting issues. “Sometimes it’s in the beginning, sometimes it’s in the middle, and you never want to struggle at the end.
“It’s just something that he kind of goes through.”
Analytically speaking, Bullock knows his three-pointers will start falling in due time. He also knows Christmas is just around the corner.
“Who came up with analytics, anyway?,” Bullock asked. “I know I don’t usually start the season off shooting the ball extremely well, but that’s all analytical. I’m not an analytical guy.
“I believe that I am a great shooter and it’s just all about confidence and continuing to keep shooting the ball. I’m good, man. I don’t care what my percentage is as long as we get a W.”
TATUM/BROWN A DYNAMIC DUO: There’s no question the Mavs will see a lot of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown when then battle the Boston Celtics on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Tatum is sixth in the NBA in scoring at 30.2 points per game, and also averages 7.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists and is shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three-point land. Brown, meanwhile, is 15th in the league in scoring at 25.3 points, and also averages 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from downtown.
“Yeah, they’re balling,” coach Jason Kidd said. “They’ve been one of the best teams in the league — best duo in the league.
“It puts a lot of pressure on our defense, so this is a good test for us on the defensive end.”
Forward Reggie Bullock said the Mavs collectively have to figure out a way to contain Tatum and Brown. And that’s not all he said.
“They’ve got to figure out ways to slow us down, too,” Bullock said. “They’ve got to prepare for us (and) we’ve got to prepare for them.
“But it’s going to be a team effort on the defensive end to slow down their two superstars.”
BRIEFLY: As they start a three-game trip Wednesday in Boston that continues Saturday in Toronto and Sunday in Milwaukee, the Mavs may want to borrow a playbook from the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Chicago Bulls on how to defeat the Celtics. Why? The Celtics (13-4) are 0-2 against the Cavs and 1-2 against the Bulls this season, but a perfect 12-0 against the rest of the NBA. The Bulls snapped the Celtics’ nine-game winning streak with a 121-107 victory over Boston on Monday. The Bulls led that game at the half, 63-50. The only other time the Celtics have trailed at the half this season was also against the Bulls – 65-54 during a 120-102 loss to Chicago on Oct. 24. . .Coach Jason Kidd would love to give rookie guard Jaden Hardy playing time. But the reality of the situation is: “There a lot of people in front of him, so he’s got to be patient,” Kidd said. “When you talk about the likes of Josh (Green) and the journey he’s taken, I would look at something close to that. I’m not saying that’s in stone, but look at Josh’s journey. He didn’t play the first year (two years ago). You see the growth here in the three years. It’s about growing. We’ll see if (Hardy) gets minutes, but right now there’s just too many people in front of him.” A second-round pick this past summer from the G League Ignite, Hardy has played a total of just 10 minutes in three games for the Mavs and has yet to score this season. The bulk of the combo guard’s playing time has come with the G League’s Texas Legends. On Monday, Hardy tallied 25 points and helped the Legends to a 141-133 win over the Lakeland Magic. In six games with the Legends, Hardy is averaging 26.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.5 apg, and shooting a red-hot 54.2 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from behind the three-point stripe.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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