The Mavericks and their fans have seen how the other half lives.
And no thanks. Let’s not make a habit out of playing games without the superstars on the court.
The second of two games against Memphis without Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving could not have provided more clarity that the Mavericks are built to have their two All-Stars leading them. Any other scenario becomes increasingly problematic as the time without Dončić and Irving lingers.
The Mavericks have good players beyond their stars. And they can hold the fort together for a time.
But the bottom line is that the Mavericks need a jolt of good health to show up in a hurry.
Jason Kidd knows better than anybody that the final 13 games of the regular season will come with no guarantees. The Mavericks fell to 34-35 with the 104-88 loss Monday to the Grizzlies.
With luck, Luka and Kyrie will return and the Mavericks will be a stronger team heading down the stretch than the one that has gone 3-6 since the All-Star break.
“When two of the best players are not on the court, you definitely feel that,” said Josh Green. “But it’s up to us and we shouldn’t have to rely on them. We should be giving them the energy to show that we have their back (so that) when they’re back out there, they can trust us and we can do stuff.”
It’s good advice. It’s hard advice. But the Mavericks have reached the point that they need to all heed it.
With that, here’s a few other takeaways from the Monday loss to Memphis.
PAINT BY NUMBERS: With or without Dončić and Irving, the Mavericks have to be aggressive when it comes to getting into the paint. That doesn’t mean they can’t shoot a high number of three-pointers. They had more than half of their shots (46 of 90) come from beyond the arc Monday. But getting them after the ball has touched the paint usually produces a better look. “We took a lot of threes, only got eight free throws against one of the best defenses in the league,” Kidd said. “The ball has to touch the paint and we just weren’t consistent with that. When we did, we got wide-open looks. Make or miss, make the right play and we just weren’t consistent with that tonight.”
HOT RODDY: The Mavericks were aware of Memphis rookie David Roddy, the No. 23 overall pick in 2022 who was averaging six points and shooting 28 percent from three-point land before these back-to-back meetings. So the 6-6, 255-pound Roddy naturally went off for 43 points and 7-of-12 three-point shooting in the two meetings, including 19 points Monday. “He’s at 28 percent or whatever he’s shooting – it’s just been that way,” Kidd said. “We talked about it before, there’s someone on the opposing team we want the ball to find, and they’re making them. That’s just basketball. Maybe we have to do a better job of understanding they’re hot.” That would be advisable. But sometimes, you just run into a stretch where the opponents are on a heater and there’s not much you can do about it.
BANE OF THEIR EXISTENCE: The Mavericks took Josh Green No. 18 in the 2020 draft, passing on Tyrese Maxey, Saddiq Bey and Memphis’ Desmond Bane, who went 30th (and last) in the first round that year. Green has become a solid contributor, so it’s hard to fault the Mavericks’ pick. But Bane has emerged as a terrific scorer and he’s doing a lot of other things well, too, as his 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Monday suggest. “It started with summer league two summers ago, kind of just getting him the sample size to be an elite guard out there,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “(It’s) involving not just ballhandling, but decision-making. This summer was definitely to challenge himself to grow outside his comfort zone. And emphasizing his left hand a little more. Obviously, not being just a three-point shooter off the catch or the bounce, but being a downhill finisher. You see him finishing a lot more, but also getting five, six assists when needed. I think it’s paying dividends.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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