New-Look Mavs Building Chemistry Ahead of Playoff Push: ‘Not Used to Being Healthy!’
The ability to peak and be at your best when it matters often separates good teams from the best of the best.
While the Dallas Mavericks' biggest games of the season are still ahead of them, they've seemingly turned a corner with their six-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break. Mavs (32-23) head coach Jason Kidd credited the team's recent run to the team getting healthier and noted that with the team nearly at full strength, it'll increase their ability to push the pace and play better defensively.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
"We’re coming together; we’re starting to get healthy, that’s going to be a little bit of a change — because we’re not used to being healthy," Kidd said. "So, minutes won’t be as high, so guys have to make that adjustment, but our depth should be one of our weapons. Also, our pace, being able to play fast, that’s something that we talked about in the beginning of the year. We’ve been limited due to bodies but now that we’re getting healthy, I think we can play fast, and I think that will help our defense. It should be an exciting second half."
The one common denominator to Dallas' recent run has been the return of Kyrie Irving. In the six games since his return from a sprained right thumb, Irving has averaged 26.67 points, 6.3 assists and 5.67 rebounds per game.
Acquiring Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington has also produced immediate results, as they've won by an average of 22 points per game in the three games they've played. Five of the Mavs' six wins during their streak have been by double-digits.
"Proud of our guys that we’re making incremental progress," Irving said. "It’s about us and everyone that’s in that locker room and continuing to get that work in on off days, and doing the little things to be prepared to play whatever amount of minutes that coach asks you to. I think once we matured in that sense of being able to lock into our roles, you’re seeing some highly successful basketball being played.”
Few teams are more dangerous than one who is peaking at the right time. If the Mavs are healthy and firing on all cylinders, they can be one of the more dangerous teams in the playoffs if they make it.
