In the early part of this 82-game NBA marathon, the Dallas Mavericks have been seriously hit by the injury and illness bug. But because of their depth, they have been able to overcome those adversities.
They went 5-1 during a recent period when point guard Luka Dončić was sidelined for one game with a sprained right knee, and five others with a sprained right wrist.
“We’ve won some close games and we’ve lost some close games,” coach Jason Kidd said. “So, it’s just the character of that group in that locker room understanding that it’s a long season and it’s about learning and becoming a team on this journey, and that’s what we’re doing right now.”
Klay Thompson (left foot plantar fasciitis), Dereck Lively II (right knee hyperextension) and Kyrie Irving (right shoulder soreness) all missed Sunday’s 137-131 win at Portland. It was the fourth straight game Thompson missed before he returned to play in Tuesday’s exhilarating 121-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
“They are deep,” Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of the Mavs. “They are a high-octane offense. They can beat you in spurts playing fast. They can be methodical in the half court.
“They’ve got great spacing whether it’s isolations or pick-and-rolls, and those two guys (Dončić and Irving), obviously they are the primary creators. They do a great job scoring and playmaking.”
Without Dončić, the Mavs won games at Oklahoma City (121-119), Denver (123-120), Atlanta (129-119) and Utah (106-94), and at home against New York (129-114).
Meanwhile, just as his game was rounding into shape, forward Naji Marshall missed Tuesday’s contest with an illness. Kidd noted he’ll be excited when the day comes when he has a totally healthy roster.
“Once we get healthy, then we can see what we have,” Kidd said. “Right now Marshall’s out.
“There’s always someone out, but that gives an opportunity for the next man to step up, and guys have been doing that at a very high level.”
KID REPORTER SHINES: The Mavs’ Kid Reporter, Sarai Stokes-Mitchell, was the star of Tuesday’s pregame news conference with Kidd.
Stokes-Mitchell was the last media member to ask a question, asking Kidd how it feels coaching a team that he won a championship with as a player in 2011.
“One, it’s an honor to have this opportunity to coach the Mavs,” Kidd said. “As you brought up, I was lucky enough to be on that 2011 team to win the championship, and now as the head coach it’s my job to help find a way to win another championship.
“So, that’s what this season is all about — it’s to try to win the championship. Coming up short last year, we all felt we needed to get better and get ready to make another run. But that’s a great question. You should have started the whole press conference.”
Stokes-Mitchell is one of this season’s Kid Reporter program winners for the Mavs.
JENKINS APPLAUDS SMART: Jenkins had high praise for the way guard Marcus Smart has wrapped his arms around his team’s young players.
“I think Marcus has done an unbelievable job putting his arm around Jaylen (Wells), even with some of our other guys like Scotty (Pippen Jr.) for example, too,” Jenkins said. “The guy’s full of knowledge, full of experience, no better person to go to than Marcus Smart to get a feel for tendencies of guys, things that you need to be mindful of, things that you can do to maintain physicality. “
A 2012 graduate of Flower Mound Marcus High School, Smart is one of the veteran mainstays off the bench for the Grizzlies.
“When you talk about going against Marcus Smart, you know he’s going to be dialed in with his IQ, he’s going to know everyone’s move, everyone’s tendencies, and do it with a ferocity and a physicality that can be very disruptive,” Jenkins said. “And you’re starting to see that with Scottie and Jaylen.
“But you got to kind of know before you can do it, and I think it’s been awesome that he’s pulling those guys aside and just talking to them before the games, at morning walk-throughs and in the locker room. And those guys are seeking him out too, and understanding how much he has to offer, because then when he’s on the floor, he sets that tone as well.”
By the way, Pippen’s father – Chicago Bulls’ six-time world champion forward Scottie Pippen – attended Tuesday’s game.
X: @DwainPrice
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