In the final 35 seconds of Wednesday’s 107-106 win over Orlando, Maverick forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Tim Hardaway took charges on plays when Aaron Jordon was trying to make a play that could win the game for the Magic.
They were two of four charges taken by the Mavericks and they could not have come at more crucial times.
Those are the kind of moments that make coaching just a little bit more rewarding for Rick Carlisle. And maybe a tiny bit easier, too.
When a group of elite athletes sees the benefit of putting their bodies on the line and seeing a positive payoff, good things usually ensue.
“They’re huge momentum plays, straight across the board,” Carlisle said of the charges taken. “(Dwight) Powell took one in the first quarter when we were struggling, down six or eight. And it gave us some juice and some momentum and we fought back into it.
“The two at the end of the game were decisive in the outcome. Those are forced turnovers. Finney-Smith and Hardaway giving up their bodies and you can’t say enough about what that means to a team.”
And those plays don’t just save games. They also send a message to all players, Carlisle said.
“In my experience, that stuff is contagious,” he said. “Guys on the bench or guys on the floor, it gets them fired up. It’s a mammoth play. It’s bigger than a blocked shots in a lot of ways because you get control of the ball out of bounds.”
It’s also a quick way to get into the coach’s good graces.
Adding to the arsenal: Remember when Dirk Nowitzki was early in his career and he always seemed to come back each season with some new weapon?
It might be working on his rebounding. It might be improving his post-up game. Or even his defense, or at least his ability to strip the ball.
Luka Doncic may be adding things too, if we’re paying attention.
He converted an in-the-paint floater Wednesday against the Magic and it’s something that he may have to start using more often, given the way defenses are trying to cut off his drives and also limit his 3-point looks.
“He’s worked on it,” Carlisle said. “And the way the big guys are playing the pick and roll now, dropping, dropping and creating that big gap of space, the floater is really important.
“It’s been a shot that European players historically have mastered, the great ones. Luka’s no different. He’s a smart guy. If there’s some kind of opening, he’ll find a way to exploit it.”
Aches and pains: The Mavericks welcomed back Maxi Kleber (right knee contusion) on Wednesday against the Magic and he responded with 14 points in 20 minutes.
On Thursday, Carlisle said that everybody was available for practice, but that the Mavericks are fighting some aches and pains.
“Everybody participated,” he said. “We’re a little banged up with some small things, but nothing at this time that I feel is going to keep anybody from playing.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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