For the first time in six days, the Mavericks returned from All-Star break Tuesday afternoon looking rested, healthy and, in coach Jason Kidd's case, a little tanned.
Well, there were two exceptions. Luka Doncic was given time off after participating in All-Star Weekend festivities in Indianapolis. Doncic and Dante Exum (right knee bursitis) are scheduled to return to practice Wednesday, but in Exum's case it will be non-contact.
The Mavericks (32-23) are nearly back to full health. Just in time for what Kidd calls a “sprint” of the final 27 games of the regular season.
“I’m really happy with what we’re doing on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “We're getting healthier and deeper. Now we don't have to play 43 minutes with guys.
“Right now it's just about winning. No matter who scores, that's the W column we're trying to build right now.”
The sprint begins with a gauntlet that looks difficult even for a Mavericks team that is on a six-game winning streak.
Thursday night's home game against Phoenix, 33-22, is the start of eight straight games for Dallas, with seven of its opponents finishing five or more games above .500.
The combined record of these seven opponents, including Indiana State twice, is 236 wins, 148 losses (0.615).
After hosting the Suns, Dallas will play four games on Saturday, including games against the Pacers (31-25), Cleveland (36-17) and Boston, where they finished with an NBA-best 43-12. set off. Toronto is the only opponent Dallas faces over the next 16 days with an edge (19-36).
“I think it’s a good thing,” rookie center Derek Lively II said. He competed in Friday's Panini Rising Stars Challenge and was one of the first Mavericks to enter the training facility Tuesday, despite staying in Indianapolis until Sunday.
“It's a good way to challenge ourselves. It's a good way to get better. This is a good way to learn what we need to do going forward.”
Dallas is 3-0 so far after acquiring P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline. Assimilation into the Mavericks' offensive and defensive systems will need to accelerate against high-level competition.
This is the third time under Kidd that Dallas has made at least one significant trade before the deadline.
The Mavericks skyrocketed by the 2022 deadline, adding Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans and subtracting Kristaps Porzingis. After acquiring Kyrie Irving last February, the team struggled with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses when Irving and Doncic played together.
“You always try to keep it simple,” Kidd said of the rookie job. “I’ve always talked about getting them off their feet.
“And Gafford, as you can see, I think his feet are calm. [about] Adjust PJ's legs. I think PJ, who has family and friends here, will help with that. Then be aggressive. PJ needs to be proactive and not just wait for Kai or Luka. We need him to play his game too. ”
As strange as it may seem, there is a psychological danger in Dallas placing too much emphasis on Thursday's game against the Suns. The Suns are tied for fifth place in the West with New Orleans and one game behind Dallas.
Last season, when the Mavericks hosted the Suns in a key game on March 5, Dallas had previously trailed Phoenix by two games. The 130-126 loss appeared to hasten the spiral of losing eight of 11 games for the Mavericks.
As Kidd points out, if the Mavericks lose to the Suns again, they have no time to feel sorry for themselves and can't loosen up their schedule.
“Right out of the gate, Phoenix is a team we're chasing,” Kidd said. “They're very talented. … Then they go to Indiana, where he scores 200 points a night. Then they go to Cleveland. They win 18 of 19 games.”
In fact, the Cavaliers have won 18 of their last 20 games, but they have taken points.
“Then let's go to Toronto and celebrate my birthday,” Kidd added with a smile, alluding to Doncic's 25th birthday. “A national holiday. And March begins in Boston. It's not easy.”
No, it's not easy. There's also the fact that 15 of Dallas' last 27 games have been on the road.
However, general manager Nico Harrison acquired Gafford and Washington to give the Mavericks more talent and depth and position them for this growth.
It's a stretch that could define Dallas' season.
Read more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
