Even as they have found a groove while having numerous key players out with injuries, the Mavericks remain hounded by rebounding issues.
During their seven-game winning streak, they were outrebounded five times, tied the board game once and won it by three rebounds in the other game.
They were a total of minus-47 on the glass in those seven games (minus 6.7 rebounds per game).
OK, yes, they have won all those games. And in the four contests before the winning streak, they outrebounded their opponents each time and went 1-3.
But by and large, rebounding is the one statistic that can make success a lot easier – or harder – for any team.
It’s a fact of NBA life the Mavericks found out about the hard way in the Western Conference finals last season when they were outrebounded by at least 10 in all five games against the Golden State Warriors, with a total differential of minus-72.
“It’s something we got to be better at,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We’re trying. We’re small. When you look at Reg, one of our wings, he had a career-high in rebounds the other night. Everyone’s going to have a career night at some point where they get seven or eight rebounds because we are playing small now and that’s the way the league is built.
“Your wings and guards have to come back and rebound and if you can do that, it puts you in a good position going the other way.”
Actually, Bullock’s eight rebounds at Houston on Monday were tied for the second-most he’s had in his career. He had nine last season against Atlanta.
But the point is well-taken.
When the Mavericks were outrebounded 15-8 in the first quarter Thursday night against the Celtics, it was no wonder they were trailing 29-20.
The final number was 52-42 in the Celtics’ favor, despite Christian Wood’s 12 boards and Luka Doncic getting nine. The rest of the Mavericks combined for the same number as those two did.
Kidd had said beforehand that offensive rebounding in particular was something the Mavericks have to eliminate for their opponents.
“We got to limit them to one tough shot,” he said. “We can’t give them opportunities on the glass offensively to come up with rebounds and give those guys second and third opportunities. They’ll make you pay for it.”
And pay the Mavericks did when the Celtics stampeded to a 124-95 victory.
Finney-Smith, Green improving: The Mavericks have been without Dorian Finney-Smith for the past eight games with a strained adductor.
They have been missing Josh Green (sprained right elbow) for the last 14 games.
Both players have ramped up their recovery efforts in recent days, Kidd said.
“Josh is doing light contact,” he said. “He’s going in the right direction. Doe is doing light court work so he’s moving in the right direction. Hopefully someone comes back on the road trip.”
Kidd said he did not have any indication on whether Finney-Smith or Green would be the first to return to game action but said both players will travel for the full five-game trip starting Sunday at Oklahoma City.
Celtics make a move: Before playing Thursday, the Celtics made a minor trade, sending Noah Vonleh to San Antonio a conditional second-round draft pick.
Vonleh, the No. 9 pick in the 2014 draft, had played in 12 of the Celtics’ first 14 games, but had fallen out of the rotation recently.
“The NBA season is really long and you have to rely on different guys at different times,” Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He did a great job helping us at the start with his physicality. That’s what I’ll remember about him. He’s a great guy, a great person and he helped us get off to a great start with his physicality and helped us win some games.”
The Spurs reportedly are waiving Gorgui Dieng to make room for Vonleh.
Coming back with a vengeance: The Celtics had one of those nights Tuesday at Oklahoma City when they were whipped 150-117.
They gave up that number of points with the Thunder playing without leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“It happens in this league,” Kidd said. “There’s going to be (games) where teams get going and continue to keep going. It happens. You move on to the next game. And Boston is playing us. That’s the next game. So we don’t see them giving up 150 again.”
Not even close. The Mavericks had only 50 with 7:44 left in the third quarter.
The Celtics made it to the NBA finals last season, losing to Golden State in six games. They believe they have a great chance to go at least that far again, but they had lost seven of 12 before Thursday, including the first two games of this trip (Denver, OKC).
Kidd won a title with the Mavericks in 2011 and that team had a six-game losing streak in January.
“It’s having a balance,” he said. “You’re not going undefeated. Just see how you handle different situations of losing two, losing three, losing four. The locker room, does it stay connected?
“Do they stay the course and believe they can turn it in the next game? The good ones never overreact and move on to the next game.”
That appears to be what the Celtics did after Tuesday’s debacle.
Twitter: @ESefko
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