Mavs Relying on JaVale McGee to Slow Down 76ers’ Joel Embiid: 'We Will Need Him'
PHILADELPHIA — After falling to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals last year, the Dallas Mavericks needed more size and length in the frontcourt. They prioritized JaVale McGee in free agency, and he was signed to a three-year, $17.2 million contract, using the taxpayer's mid-level exception to get it done.
It has been a disappointing season for not only the Mavs, but for McGee, in particular. He's only appeared in 38 games and is averaging a career-low 8.1 minutes per game when he does see the floor.
“I stay ready. I’m a pro," McGee said after Monday's game. "There’s a lot of basketball players in this league, but not a lot of pros.”
Early in the season, McGee was not making the necessary impact expected of a veteran that was guaranteed a starting role entering training camp. As a drop coverage big man, he doesn't fit the style of swarming around the half-court and running shooters off the line. Is he ready to turn it around?
While McGee has often been out of the Mavs' rotation this season, he was given 13 minutes against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. He hadn't played at least 10 minutes of action since the NBA All-Star break and had appeared in just one game during that stretch prior.
Against an undersized, rebuilding Pacers team, McGee finished with 10 points, two rebounds, and two blocks. For a Mavs team lacking size, he showed some of the ways that he could provide make an impact when focused.
“He was everywhere,” Mavs superstar Luka Doncic said. “He was defending. Great energy to have him out there, and he helped us a lot.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday's matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Mavs will need all of the frontcourt size they can get to handle a well-rested Joel Embiid. With the need to put some final stamps on his MVP resume, Dallas could be a target of Embiid's late-season push to win the award.
“We will need him,” Kidd said, referring to McGee. “We’re going to need his energy, we’re going to need his ability to make it tough, and then also to be able to rebound the ball.
“I thought McGee did a good job (Monday) and we’re going to need him to do that again on Wednesday.”
Given the Mavs' thin margin for error, McGee's best will be needed against the 76ers. Early this season, it was mentioned by general manager Nico Harrison that McGee will be someone that's needed "down the stretch" of the season.
"We're waiting for JaVale to be JaVale," Harrison said in early December. "He's been in the league a long time, so we're not trying to burn him out in the first part of the season. He's the guy that you're going to need down the stretch."
There hasn't been much success from the Mavs in slowing down Embiid during his career. In eight games against Dallas, he's averaged 29.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists. However, in his two most recent outings, he's shot a combined 15-36 (41.7 percent) from the floor with nine turnovers.
It's difficult to think of a greater situation for McGee to showcase his value than to help slow down the potential MVP in Embiid. While no player is going to single handily shutdown a talent of that caliber, McGee must make a difference.
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