OKLAHOMA CITY – After that annoying gum on their shoe known as Game 82 was removed, the Mavericks could address the more important issue.
What about the Los Angeles Clippers?
The Mavericks will have nearly a week to prepare for their opponent in the best-of-seven first round of the NBA playoffs. They will be facing a familiar foe. They also went against the Clippers twice early in the Luka Dončić era, in 2020 and ’21.
But those were different Mavericks’ teams.
This one comes into the playoffs having won 16 of 18 games to clinch their playoff fate before resting their heavy lifters in the final two regular-season games, including Sunday’s 135-86 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“We feel great,” coach Jason Kidd said about the state of the Mavericks. “Take the last two games, giveaway, however you want to look at it.
“Our group, since the All-Star break has been playing at a high level at both ends, and we’re going to need that from here on out against a very talented and well-coached Clippers’ team. Our defense is going to be tested when you look at the future hall of famers they have over there. They put a lot of pressure on your defense.”
The Clippers are built around Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden, but also have Russell Westbrook, typically coming off the bench, to bolster their offensive punch.
The Clippers were No. 4 in the NBA in total offensive rating.
The Clippers also finished the season with a 51-31 record, a game better than the Mavericks. And, like the Mavs, they also were rolling late in the season, winning seven of eight before dropping their last three games that weren’t particularly meaningful to the Clippers because they already had clinched a playoff berth.
One of the keys for the Mavericks will be rebounding against the Clippers, who were a strong glass team most of the season and have five players averaging at least five rebounds per game: Westbrook, Leonard, George, Harden and Ivica Zubac.
“We got to be able to rebound the ball,” Kidd said. “They’re big. But the way we’re playing, if we can continue to keep playing that way, hopefully that puts us in a position to win.”
Dwight Powell is the longest-tenured Mavericks player and has been a part of both of the previous playoff series against the Clippers.
He said more relies on how the Mavericks handle their business than anything else.
“They’re a very good team and it’s the playoffs,” Powell said. “So we’ll spend the week preparing and studying and be ready. It’s a whole other level of focus.
“I feel good, feel excited. We found a lot of things that worked (since the All-Star break). And we’re working on things we need to shore up. But we found a lot of things that have been very effective and going into the playoffs, we have some momentum.”
The postseason is always the goal for any NBA team. The Mavericks have made that goal a reality.
And for some, it will be a new experience.
P.J. Washington is in his fifth season, but after the first 4½ with Charlotte, he now will be dipping into the postseason for the first time.
And, of course, for Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, it’s old hat. But they will be going into the playoffs with a nice respite, having been able to sit the final two regular season games.
“They have had a couple days off,” Kidd said. “To be able to put yourself in position to give those guys time to catch a breath, regroup and get ready for the playoffs was a big thing, especially with all the minutes those two have been playing.”
X: @ESefko
Share and comment