VIDEO: Porzingis On His Debut, Now On To Mavs Game 2
DALLAS - Kristaps Porzingis was good, again, and by now we shouldn't be surprised. As he said following Wednesday's season-opening 108-100 win over Washington, "It’s not a sprint – it’s a marathon – and I know what I’m capable of going forward.”
And what KP is capable of is ... well, sprinting. And jumping. And catching alley-oops. And dunking. And altering shots on the defensive end of the floor. And in his 29 minutes of playing time, racking up 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting (and 3-of-7 from the arc), with four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
Luka Doncic led the Mavs in scoring with 34 points and nine rebounds. He was the main event. But KP? That first training camp practice was a milestone. That first preseason appearance was a milestone. Almost 20 months away from the floor - 20 months of rehabbing the knee and rebuilding the body - means this obviously is a milestone, too.
“For almost a year and a half he was out, and he played amazing for (having) that much time off,” Doncic said of Porzingis. “I know he’s going to be even better.”
"Better'' would be a similar role in tonight's Game 2 visit to New Orleans. The media game notes suggest that KP will be in the starting lineup again (encouraging because that would mean the concept of "load management'' is a non-factor here).
(Sidebar: We're throwing a Mavs Watch Party at my place, The Maverick Bar, 1616 Hebron, and it's tonight. All the bloggers and the podcasters and lots of MFFL all in one place ... join us!)
But the notes also suggest that Courtney Lee will again be a starter against the Zion-less Pelicans, and we're not sure coach Rick Carlisle is committed to that at all. But roster members like Lee don't necessarily have to be nightly constants. KP playing at a high level - a level right alongside Luka - that needs to be a nightly constant.
Washington coach Scotty Brooks said the Mavs "are going to compete with all the great teams in the West. They need some time to play along with one another. But I think those two guys give you a chance every night.''
The next chance? Tonight in New Orleans.
