PORTLAND, OREGON – JANUARY 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Path Blazers and Luka Doncic #77 … [+]
The Dallas Mavericks accomplished a five-game highway journey by way of the Western Convention, the primary of three such journeys this season. It didn’t begin on a superb notice, as Dallas fell to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and ended even worse, with the Mavericks getting blown out by the Portland Path Blazers twice.
In all, the Mavericks went 1-4 on the journey with losses to the Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Blazers. Their solely win got here in a double-overtime thriller towards LeBron James and the reeling Los Angeles Lakers. If the Mavericks had been hoping to seek out some positives on the journey, they’re few and much between.
“We thought this was going to be a superb highway journey for us to have the ability to enhance our highway document,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd stated after falling to the Blazers Sunday night time, 140-123. “Sadly, we bumped into some groups that had been taking part in nicely.”
Getting into the highway journey, there was hope that Dallas may get both Dorian Finney-Smith or Josh Inexperienced again into the rotation. For weeks, each have been sidelined with accidents—a proper adductor pressure for Finney-Smith and a proper elbow sprain for Inexperienced. Neither performed; nevertheless, Inexperienced might return to motion this week.
Getting one or each of them again can be a boon for the Mavericks’ lowly protection. Dallas’ protection ranks twenty-fifth within the league, with a defensive ranking of 114.7. Throughout the five-game highway journey, the crew posted a defensive ranking of 124.3, which ranks second to final over the past 5 video games for each crew.
“Simply actually unhealthy protection, you realize,” Luka Doncic stated after dropping the primary sport to the Blazers, which the Mavericks misplaced 136-119. “We had been simply letting them move by. It was a reasonably unhealthy defensive night time.”
Doncic was undoubtedly a vibrant spot for the crew throughout its highway journey. He hit the game-winner in double-overtime towards the Lakers whereas notching one other 35-point triple-double. Doncic averaged 31 factors, 10.3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1.3 steals in three video games.
He didn’t play towards the Thunder or within the second sport towards the Blazers. They had been each on the second night time of a back-to-back. He has sat out most of those video games this season. Dallas has misplaced each sport he’s sat.
One other vibrant spot, particularly Sunday night time, was rookie Jaden Hardy getting some taking part in time. He appeared in all 5 video games and averaged 17.3 minutes per night time to go together with 9.2 factors, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Hardy had one of the best sport of his quick profession within the second sport towards the Blazers. He scored 25 factors, a brand new career-high, in 27 minutes off the bench.
“It felt good simply to be on the market and assist contribute to the crew,” Hardy stated. “I simply wished to get on the market, and as soon as I heard my title referred to as simply convey power and contribute any approach I may. Whether or not that was scoring the ball, playmaking or taking part in protection, getting again and having power.”
The Mavericks will want Hardy’s power and Doncic’s brilliance as they return to Dallas for a four-game homestand. They’ll face the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Warmth, Clippers and Washington Wizards within the span of per week.
Dallas is a a lot better residence crew than they’re on the highway. They’re 16-6 on the American Airways Middle and 8-15 away from it. Getting key rotation gamers again and notching a couple of wins at residence, particularly if they will pull off upsets towards the Warmth and Clippers, may make the crew’s poor highway journey a distant reminiscence.