An NBA training camp is like a laboratory, especially when you have several new players, perhaps three new starters and a pair of superstars who haven’t had a lot of time to get in sync.
The Mavericks have a little more than a week for Professor Jason Kidd and his willing students to figure out how this experiment is going to look on Oct. 25 in the season opener at San Antonio.
They know one thing for sure. Luka Dončić will not see any more game action in the preseason. Kidd on Monday ruled out the point guard for Friday’s exhibition finale against Detroit at American Airlines Center.
“He had an MRI when we got back home (from overseas),” Kidd said. “He has a mild strain to the left calf. He will miss Friday’s game but will be re-evaluated later this week.”
Dončić has been limited to time on the stationary bike and spot shooting since suffering the injury in a practice at Madrid, Spain last week.
The injury means Luka and Kyrie Irving will only play the six minutes together that they played in the preseason opener against Minnesota in Abu Dhabi. But the fact that they are seasoned veterans figures to help the process as they try to build chemistry together.
Irving, Luka and Grant Williams are certain to be starters on opening night, assuming good health for all.
But they have been limited when it comes to learning each other’s nuances on the court. In old football terms, they are figuring out when to zig and when to zag.
“Before we left on the trip, things were going really well for us – the camp, the energy and those three playing together was really good,” Kidd said. “We’ll get those three back together at some point when they’re healthy. But before we left, they were really good.”
The Mavericks had a strong practice session on Monday and Williams said that there are areas of need with the regular season fast approaching.
But those needs are fixable.
“There’s a couple points of emphasis,” said Williams, entering his fifth NBA season and first with the Mavericks. “We got to get better principle-wise in our defense, making sure we understand exactly what we’re trying to accomplishment.
“(And) we have to be better at our pace of play, understanding that when we advance the ball ahead and we get open shots and play aggressively, it makes it so much easier for us on the offensive end rather than (going to) isolation in the half court or trying to create something through a set.”
And, there is one more thing.
“Lastly, just understanding we have to continue to grow and understand one another because when we got out there (early in camp), you saw that we had potential and talent,” Williams said. “Now we got to mix that together. How do we figure out exactly what Tim (Hardaway) needs and help him be highly successful? How do we make Josh (Green) even more successful than he was?
“We know how Luka and Kyrie are going to be consistently and what they play like, but also how do we protect them on the defensive end? And do we understand what D-Jones (Derrick Jones Jr.) provides when he’s guarding the pick and roll? These are all different things that you learn. And being that it’s a new group, we have to do a better job of just understanding one another.”
That’s why the laboratory has to remain open for business, even if Luka isn’t able to do a lot of on-court work.
Irving, however, should be able to. Kidd said Irving’s sore left groin is improving and he was a full participant at practice on Monday.
And having three veterans to anchor the lineup will help, particularly when it comes to on-court decision making.
“If you saw me in one of those games against Minnesota, I came in and on the second play and got KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) into a screen late in the shot clock and Luka either made a three or got fouled,” Williams said. “I asked him if he was OK with me doing that, understanding the late shot clock with the isolation. He said that was a good opportunity, good play. So it’s just a matter of feel.
“You communicate in the game and you communicate off the floor. It’s the same way watching film and being vocal. Understanding each other personally is going to be big for us.”
BRIEFLY: The Mavericks are getting a kick out of the Texas Rangers’ run through the playoffs so far. They swept their first two playoff series and won the opener of the American League Championship Series 2-0 on Sunday. “What the Rangers have done is incredible,” Kidd said. “I don’t think they’ve lost a game, which is pretty cool and extremely hard to do. To start on the road and find a way to win Game 1 (against the Astros) . . . it’s great for the city to see Texas playing well, but it’s also great for the state to see one of these teams go to the World Series.” . . . Kidd on the benefit of the team’s 12-day trip to Abu Dhabi and Spain: “Yeah, it was a great bonding experience to be on the road for 12 days. I thought the guys did an incredible job on and off the floor. The bonding off the floor was incredible with the dinners and the different places we were able to see as a group. So I think it was a win both on and off the floor.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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