Dallas is not completely covered in darkness, at least for now
The last two-week stretch before the All-Star break has seen Dallas garner an impressive 4-3 record, bringing their season tally to 30-26. They are in eighth place in the Western Conference, 1.5 games ahead of ninth and two games back of sixth. The three losses came in Cleveland (140-101), Philadelphia (118-116), and at home in overtime to Sacramento (129-128). The four wins were on the road in Boston (127-120) and at home against Houston (116-105), Golden State (111-107), and Miami (118-113). The injury list is long; Daniel Gafford (knee), Anthony Davis (adductor), Dereck Lively (foot), Dwight Powell (hip), and Caleb Martin (hip) will all be out for the foreseeable future. Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, Klay Thompson, and P.J. Washington all missed games recently but should be back after the break.
Grade: B+
In this dark and shocking timeline, a B+ may seem like an indication that I am out of touch with reality. However, the huge dip in the graph above is an F, and that grade encompasses the day Luka Doncic was traded and the game against Cleveland the day after. Those 2-3 days were absolutely miserable, and not only did I feel things I had not felt in some time, but the entire city seemed to be grieving. I got my feelings out at the time, but it seemed unfair to allow the emotions to affect a score for this team after that. They have played as hard as they’ve played all year, and deserve a lot of credit.
Not only has this team been shorthanded for some time, but the player they traded for only made it 2.5 quarters before going down with a considerable injury. It would have been easy for this team to mope and sleepwalk into the All-Star break. Instead, they have won four of their last five games, including two signature wins over Boston and Houston. The results speak for themselves, but if you watch the tape, you will find a reason to love this team.
They play hard every night, they have smooth ball movement, and they don’t seem to care who is in or out of the lineup. It is inspiring to root for, and although the existential dread of a bleak future creeps in once in a while, the joy the current team incites is overwhelming. Over the last five games, they have the eighth-best offense (120.7 rating), ninth-best net rating (4.3), have been the number one three-point shooting team (42.4 percent), and have blocked the third-most shots (35). The brand of basketball they play is enjoyable to watch and they’re doing this all with no healthy centers on an NBA contract. There will be a time in the future when the reality of the state of the franchise will settle in, but that day is not today. The Dallas Mavericks are a fun team until further notice.
Straight A’s: Max Christie
The current state of the Mavericks necessitates the search for silver linings, and Dallas may have found one in Max Christie. Christie has been a bright light in an extended period of darkness. At just 22 years old, Christie already plays like a seasoned veteran. He sets the tone on the glass by boxing out, makes smart plays with the ball in his hand, and does not let missed shots deter him from being aggressive. He has scored 15 points or more in all six games he has played with Dallas, which is the fourth most to start a career with the Mavericks. He is averaging 17 points in Dallas on 45.5 percent from three and nearly two stocks (steals plus blocks) per game.
Defensively, he is a very active and long contributor. He allows players to get a step on him a little too often, but that will shake itself out when he continues to grow and put on muscle. His instincts on both ends are phenomenal and Christie is best described as a margins guy. He does all the little things already, and when his offensive game is refined a little more, he could be a third or fourth piece on a contending team. Losing Luka Doncic is devastating, but Christie has been able to soften the blow in some capacity, even if it is by a fraction of a percent.
Currently Failing: Health
In a season ravaged by injuries across the league, the Mavericks have been hit as hard as anyone. They currently have no big men available other than Kylor Kelley, who is on a two-way contract. Caleb Martin is out for at least another few weeks, and they have Kyrie Irving play 40 minutes a night at 32 years old. Their ability to play NBA players is waning. It is going to be a tough task to balance some of the older guys’ minutes with the urgency of Dallas needing to win. Players not named Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson are going to have to step up if the Mavericks want to get healthy by the time the playoffs begin. The last thing the team and the fanbase need is another major injury that would tank any chance this team has of being interesting in April and May.
Extra Credit: Jason Kidd
Outside of the huge loss to Cleveland the day after Luka Doncic was traded, this team has not blinked in the last two weeks. It’s difficult to hold that game against them, they and every fan in Dallas looked and felt like they had just returned from a deployment overseas. In the six games since, Dallas has played really inspiring basketball. The guys that have been here look like they want to win the city back, and the new additions have played hard and fit in well with the team (although Anthony Davis’ time was short).
Kyrie Irving has played seven consecutive games over 37 minutes, and five in a row over 40. Klay Thompson has been putting the ball on the deck and making threes in key spots. Guys like Dante Exum, Kessler Edwards, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper have given Dallas quality minutes recently and sometimes those minutes have come in spots they’re not used to playing. The players have stepped up to the plate, but it’s the coaching that has given them the confidence to get on base. It is nothing short of a spectacular coaching job, and Kidd deserves credit for keeping this team together.