Maybe 2022 really is going to be the Mavericks’ year.
At the very least, it’s been good for their shooting eyes.
The gang that, by their coach’s own admission, couldn’t shoot the ball straight for the longest time, has been the hottest 3-point making team in the NBA for nearly a month.
In their last 10 games before Thursday, they had been nailing 40.4 percent of their 3-pointers.
Then came the torrid display on Bourbon Street Thursday night.
The Mavericks made 19-of-40 triples. Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson combined for 17-of-28 shooting from beyond the arc.
So what has clicked to make the Mavericks such a better shooting team lately? Coach Jason Kidd has a theory.
“Early on, we had great looks and they just weren’t dropping,” he said. “It’s a make-miss league and we were missing early. But what I liked about the group was they competed and didn’t make any excuses.
“And, with a new coaching staff, and we were asking them to play defense – and they have.”
That renewed emphasis on defense didn’t diminish the need to execute offensively. But the shooting may have been put on the back burner to simmer while they tried to crank up the heat on defense.
Up until New Year’s Eve, the Mavericks were shooting 32.5 percent from 3-point range.
Since then, it’s 37.1 percent.
“That may have had something to do with it,” said Jalen Brunson. “Guys were so tied in on the defensive end at the beginning of the year, I guess you didn’t really worry about offense in training camp because we knew we had guys that were capable of scoring a lot of points.
“But we got use to it. We got our shooting slump out of the way and we’re making plays for each other, everybody trusts each other, everybody has confidence in each other. So it may have had an effect, but I’m glad the way it’s going now.”
Kidd passes on MVP talk: It clearly was one of the furthest things from Kidd’s mind, but he had an interesting response when asked Thursday whether the time has come to get Dončić back on the MVP radar.
Given the Mavericks’ success since Jan. 1, plus the remarkable run that their superstar point guard has been on since then, it seemed like a natural question leading into the All-Star break.
Said Kidd: “Yes, if that’s what you guys (media members) want to do. If you guys don’t have anything else to write about, half the league is up for MVP, so we should put him on there too.”
Since Jan. 1, Dončić has averaged 28.4 points, 10 rebounds and 9.5 assists. That sizzling streak has elevated his season averages to 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
And, naturally, he put on an MVP-caliber performance in the final game before his All-Star responsibilities with 49 points against New Orleans.
Streak-busters: Nobody can accuse the Mavericks of not getting motivated when they play against a streaking opponent.
When they stopped Miami’s five-game winning streak on Tuesday, it marked the fifth time this season they have halted an opponent’s winning streak of five games or longer.
That’s more streak-busting than any other team can claim.
They stopped a nine-game Chicago streak on Jan. 9 and Memphis’ 11-game string on Jan. 14. They also snapped a five-game run by Denver on Nov. 15 and another five-game streak by Memphis on Dec. 8.
And, by the way, the Mavericks’ average margin of victory in those sizzle-ending games has been 13.4 points.
Much-needed break: While the Mavericks are playing so well that they’d probably just rather keep the games coming, the All-Star break actually is coming at a very opportune time.
They had six players sit out Thursday’s game with various injuries.
Marquese Chriss (right knee), Trey Burke (left shoulder), Frank Ntilikina (left ankle) and Reggie Bullock (left hip) all were out against the Pelicans.
“Hopefully,” Kidd said, “they’re ready to go when we get back from All-Star break.”
In addition, Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot surgery) and Theo Pinson (finger fracture) remain out indefinitely.
Cameo appearance: Speaking of the All-Star weekend, Kidd will have some responsibilities as a member of the 75th anniversary top-75 players group that will be honored at halftime of Sunday’s game.
Kidd said he didn’t think there was much in the way of requirements for him and Dirk Nowitzki, who also is on the top-75 team and is acting as an ambassador for the league, as well.
“I think we’re statues at halftime,” Kidd said. “They roll us out and have us stand there. That’s all I know. I’m just coming for the game, and to stand there at halftime, say hi to Luka and then go back on vacation.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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