Can Dallas get it done without Luka and Kyrie?
The Dallas Mavericks are heading to Memphis to take on a strong Grizzlies team that’s currently sitting on a 20-13 record, good for third place in an already (expectedly) tight Western Conference race. Dallas is coming off four losses in a row at the beginning of what everyone knew would be a tough stretch of games to be played without star Luka Doncic participating due to a left calf strain that occurred during the Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That injury is expected to sideline Doncic for at least a month, but many speculate that his return timeline could extend well beyond that duration. Add to this the fact that Dallas suffered key losses to the starting lineup and bench when both P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall faced suspensions for their involvement in a December 27th scuffle with Sun’s center Jusuf Nurkic at the Footprint Center in Phoenix after the latter senselessly took a swing at Marshall. Player availability is becoming a key calculation for Jason Kidd’s lineup deployment only days into 2025. With Doncic out, the defense will have to step up. When key components of the defense are sidelined, God help us…
Marshall, however, is set to return to the lineup on Monday’s matchup after missing the last four games (all losses). Washington, too, is healthy and available. Who isn’t available? Doncic and Kyrie Irving. No big deal, just the team’s two superstars. Fortunately, the season is still young enough that a few losses in their absence can be overcome, and even justified if some young roll players step up and solidify their productivity as a result of available minutes. Unfortunately, the western conference is once again very tight, and these losses will most definitely be included and accounted for in their overall record at the end of the regular season when playoff seeding is sorted out.
Fielding a squad that doesn’t include Doncic isn’t fun, but Coach Kidd has still found ways to win when Luka isn’t on the court, thanks to the Maverick’s considerably deep roster talent this season. Playing without both Doncic and Irving will not be a long-term option. With all of that said, here are three things to consider as Dallas heads to Memphis to face Ja and the Grizzlies.
Will Naji pick up where he left off?
Naji Marshall has been very productive for the Mavs this season, so far averaging 10.9 points in just over 23 minutes of game play. His productivity on the defensive side of the ball, however, is where Dallas has felt (and appreciated) his presence the most. Coach Kidd has played around with several rotations this season – as he’s wont to do – in an effort to see which guys play well together in different situations.
Staggering Marshall alongside P.J. and Gafford is something I wanted to see early on this season from a defensive-minded standpoint (adding Grimes to that group is even more exciting, and helpful offensively). With Marshall back, Dallas’s strongest defensive personnel are now considered healthy and available. It will be interesting to see if a highly capable defensive unit can keep the team afloat while the offensive firepower recovers from injuries. It should be noted that Kyrie Irving’s defense on the perimiter is also very valuable and will be missed as he recovers from an illness this week.
Will Quentin Grimes continue his impressive offensive production?
As noted above, with Doncic sidelined for at least a month, several roll guys are going to see extended minutes. Whoever makes the most of those minutes is going to find favor with the coach, the team, and the fanbase. It seems as if Grimes was very prepared for this opportunity. Lately, he’s been displaying a fearlessness with the ball in his hands on offense. He’s been considered to be a fairly strong scorer from deep all season, but lately he’s been showcasing his speed and finesse by putting the ball on the floor and finishing at the rim, often in the face of strong defensive pursuit.
He’s scored in double digits in 8 of his last 10 games, capping it off with a 26-point performance in Friday’s loss to a (currently) 1st place eastern conference Cav’s squad. This is most certainly the type of production the Mavericks will have to rely on with Luka and Kyrie out of the lineup. Can he continue his hot streak? If he can push the needle back up on his 3-point percentage, that will at least make life easier for Coach Kidd. If he continues to look like an alpha in the paint, that could very well change the overall rotation moving forward.
Can Klay stay warm from deep?
Klay Thompson’s productivity this season has been about as expected. He’s averaging 38.5% from deep in almost 27 minutes of play. Many in the Dallas fanbase are losing patience with him, likely due to the fact that they expected a return prime-Klay form, even when they predicted that to be an impossibility in the preseason. Sigh. Klay is averaging 14.2 points/game so far this season. With Luka and Kai out, it would be very comforting to see his productivity go up as we fight to produce enough offense to pull off some wins. Ultimately, if his percentage from deep can climb up to around 40% for the remainder of the season, that could go a long way into ensuring Dallas doesn’t miss the playoffs. I wouldn’t mind at all if he’d continue shooting well on Monday night. He’s been shooting 45% from deep in his last two outings.
How to Watch
This game will be on MavsTV and will be broadcast on Channel 29