If Maxi Kleber doesn’t play Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers, then his return from more than two months out after hamstring surgery isn’t far off.
And a welcomed return it will be.
But the 6-10 center/forward isn’t going to cure all the ills that the Mavericks have, particularly on defense. He will help, for sure. But expecting too much too soon is not something Kidd is interested in.
“We got to work slowly with Maxi,” Kidd said Monday after a lengthy film session followed by a robust practice with a long five-on-five scrimmage in which Kleber was a full participant. “We can’t expect him to come back and be the one that holds the defense together, it’s going to take him some time.”
That said, Monday was an excellent step for Kleber. He has been upgraded to questionable for the clash with the Pacers, according to the Mavericks’ injury report.
“He’s doing great,” Kidd said. “So we’ll see how he feels (Tuesday). To be able to play the minutes he played today (in the scrimmage), we’ll see how he feels tomorrow for shootaround and then we’ll make a decision.
“It’s just a matter of how he feels. He did a lot today and we’ll see how he feels and hopefully make that decision sometime tomorrow.”
Kleber has missed 25 games and coming back from that long of an absence won’t be easy. He’s the Mavericks’ best defender among big men and one of their best three-point shooters.
He also paired well with Christian Wood early in the season, a duo that Kidd plans to continue to put together when Kleber returns.
“The numbers will say they were good together,” he said. “When we do get Maxi back, hopefully those numbers hold up. But with the time that Maxi has missed, it’s going to take him some time to get a rhythm. So if those numbers don’t hold up, that doesn’t mean that we go away from it.”
Kleber has said he’s itching to get back into action. He has had full-force scrimmaging at least twice in the past week and has not had any setbacks.
Getting Kleber’s work ethic and his camaraderie as a team-first guy will instantly help the Mavericks.
“He’s in a great place,” Kidd said. “And I think he’s going to give the guys a shot in the arm in the sense of the energy and what he means to the team on the floor.”
Birthday time: Luka Dončić will turn 24 on Tuesday, which means he’s entering his second decade as a professional basketball player.
Still, as Kidd said, he’s “a young 24.”
Maybe, but as the saying goes, you’re never too old to learn and the Mavericks had an extended video session Monday after blowing the 27-point lead on Sunday to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Not all of it was negative, Kidd said. And while plays like the final inbound pass that got away from Dončić, Kidd wanted to make sure that the Mavericks realized the game didn’t hinge on that play.
“Film never lies,” he said. “Just understanding where we can be better on both sides of the ball, not just the defensive side, but offensive too. We felt like we wasted a lot of possessions there in that second quarter and also to start the third, we gave away some possessions where, if we’re going to be an offensive team, we have to do better.”
Kidd said he has had terrific communication with Dončić, both in terms of strategizing and critiquing.
Whether it’s on plane flights, during games or in meetings on the road, they are always trying to improve.
“It’s just being honest,” Kidd said. “Seeing where he can be better and talking to him about different things he wants to see or try while the game is going on. The line of communication is always open.
“I’m trying to help him, one, be accountable, and two, be a leader. He’ll be 24 tomorrow. He’s a young 24. It’s just trying to help him navigate that leadership role and help him be better.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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