Mavs vs. Magic Game Preview: The Jason Kidd, Jamahl Mosley Debate?
When the Dallas Mavericks and long-tenured head coach Rick Carlisle split ways in 2021, many believed assistant coach Jamahl Mosley had earned the right to be the next leader from the sidelines.
However, the Mavs decided to hire Jason Kidd instead, who had reshaped his image as a coach by being an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019-2021. Mosley ended up going to the Orlando Magic, and the Mavs’ decision to hire Kidd immediately looked like the correct decision after Dallas went to the Western Conference Finals during his first season (2021-22).
Since that point, things have been rocky for Kidd, as Jalen Brunson’s departure to the New York Knicks, several injuries to key players, and a few roster additions (Christian Wood, JaVale McGee) not working out have contributed to the Mavs having a 63-65 record since that WCF run.
USA TODAY Sports
The Magic, by comparison, have gone 80-130 in the Mosley head coaching era, with this year’s team showing promise with a 24-22 record coming into Monday night’s matchup against the Mavs at American Airlines Center. To be fair to Mosley, the Magic were in the early phases of a rebuild when he took over, but still … his track record in Orlando isn’t something that should make Mavs fans feel like they missed out on the lottery.
Mosley is a great guy, and he’s well-respected by Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, but there’s no guarantee he would’ve done any better than Kidd has over the last three years given Dallas’ roster shortcomings.
Kidd could be better than what he’s been these last two years, but it would be nice to see if the Mavs could recapture that 2021-22 magic by surrounding Doncic and Kyrie with an upgraded frontcourt before they consider making a coaching change. And if things still don’t change after that… well, we will have to start a much different dialogue.
With the trade deadline 10 days away, Kidd’s Mavs will look to bounce back into the win column against Mosley’s Magic after losing six of their last nine games. The Magic are playing on a second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, and the Mavs are coming off a loss to the Sacramento Kings where they nearly came back from a 23-point deficit.
After logging 90 minutes in back-to-back games over the weekend, Doncic became the first player in NBA history to average a 50-point triple-double over a two-game span. Although he was tired after dropping 73 points on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Doncic still found a way to post a triple-double on the following night with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists.
With Irving missing his fourth consecutive game due to a thumb sprain, will Doncic have anything left in the tank for the Mavs’ third game in four nights? Can Kidd pad his 3-2 coaching record against Mosley? The Mavs have a 13-2 all-time record on “Seats For Soliders” night, so we like Dallas’ chances.
Here’s everything else you need to know about the game tonight:
RECORDS: Mavs (25-21), Magic (24-22)
WHEN/WHERE: Monday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. CT – American Airlines Center
ODDS: Mavs are 4.5-point favorites over the Magic.
INJURY REPORTS: Mavs: Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr. and Dwight Powell are questionable. Kyrie Irving is OUT. Maxi Kleber is PROBABLE. Magic: Gary Harris is OUT. Markelle Fultz is QUESTIONABLE.
MAVS STEP BACK:
FINAL WORD: “When you look at what [Doncic has] done in the last 48 hours, he’s averaging a triple-double, averaging a million points, he’s doing everything we’re asking. We just got to find him some help and be consistent with the help,” Kidd said.
“We’re asking him to do everything. And he’s trying.”
