PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Luka Doncic #77 ... [+] of the Dallas Mavericks talk during the fourth quarter at Moda Center on January 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Dallas Mavericks completed a five-game road trip through the Western Conference, the first of three such trips this season. It didn’t start on a good note, as Dallas fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder and ended even worse, with the Mavericks getting blown out by the Portland Trail Blazers twice.
In all, the Mavericks went 1-4 on the trip with losses to the Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Blazers. Their only win came in a double-overtime thriller against LeBron James and the reeling Los Angeles Lakers. If the Mavericks were hoping to find some positives on the trip, they’re few and far between.
“We thought this was going to be a good road trip for us to be able to improve our road record,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said after falling to the Blazers Sunday night, 140-123. “Unfortunately, we ran into some teams that were playing well.”
Entering the road trip, there was hope that Dallas could get either Dorian Finney-Smith or Josh Green back into the rotation. For weeks, both have been sidelined with injuries—a right adductor strain for Finney-Smith and a right elbow sprain for Green. Neither played; however, Green may return to action this week.
Getting one or both of them back would be a boon for the Mavericks’ lowly defense. Dallas’ defense ranks twenty-fifth in the league, with a defensive rating of 114.7. During the five-game road trip, the team posted a defensive rating of 124.3, which ranks second to last over the last five games for every team.
“Just really bad defense, you know,” Luka Doncic said after dropping the first game to the Blazers, which the Mavericks lost 136-119. “We were just letting them pass by. It was a pretty bad defensive night.”
Doncic was undoubtedly a bright spot for the team during its road trip. He hit the game-winner in double-overtime against the Lakers while notching another 35-point triple-double. Doncic averaged 31 points, 10.3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1.3 steals in three games.
He didn’t play against the Thunder or in the second game against the Blazers. They were both on the second night of a back-to-back. He has sat out most of these games this season. Dallas has lost every game he’s sat.
Another bright spot, especially Sunday night, was rookie Jaden Hardy getting some playing time. He appeared in all five games and averaged 17.3 minutes per night to go along with 9.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Hardy had the best game of his short career in the second game against the Blazers. He scored 25 points, a new career-high, in 27 minutes off the bench.
“It felt good just to be out there and help contribute to the team,” Hardy said. “I just wanted to get out there, and once I heard my name called just bring energy and contribute any way I could. Whether that was scoring the ball, playmaking or playing defense, getting back and having energy.”
The Mavericks will need Hardy’s energy and Doncic’s brilliance as they return to Dallas for a four-game homestand. They’ll face the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Clippers and Washington Wizards in the span of a week.
Dallas is a much better home team than they are on the road. They are 16-6 at the American Airlines Center and 8-15 away from it. Getting key rotation players back and notching a few wins at home, especially if they can pull off upsets against the Heat and Clippers, could make the team’s poor road trip a distant memory.
Doyle Rader, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/doylerader/2023/01/16/dallas-mavericks-return-home-after-a-disappointing-5-game-roadtrip/
By: Doyle Rader, Contributor
Title: Dallas Mavericks Return Home After A Disappointing 5-Game Roadtrip
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/doylerader/2023/01/16/dallas-mavericks-return-home-after-a-disappointing-5-game-roadtrip/
Published Date: 01-17-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Which rivalry is the largest in the NBA basketball?
The NBA's greatest rivalry is between the Boston Celtics (the Boston Celtics) and Los Angeles Lakers (the Los Angeles Lakers).
With 12 meetings, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have been together the most of any NBA Finals teams. The Celtics have won nine of those meetings. They first met in 1959. Both teams excelled in the years following, especially in the 1960s, 1980s and 1990s when they would be facing each other six and three times respectively. They still met twice in that same year, despite the fact that 2000 was a new millennium.
Who invented basketball
Although the exact origins of basketball remain a mystery, it is widely believed that James Naismith, a teacher at Springfield College (now YMCA) Training School, in Springfield, Massachusetts, created the game in 1891. Naismith wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto an elevated track. He formed nine teams from his 18-member class and began to teach them the basics. The original version used a soccer ball, and two peach baskets tacked to either end of a gymnasium. Goaltending was not an option as players could only shoot at baskets from below. The game spread rapidly across America. In the early 1900s, professional basketball teams were playing in large arenas. It is today one of the most loved sports in the world.
What does waived mean in NBA?
In the NBA, "waived" means a team has officially released a player from their roster. This could be for salary cap reasons, personal reasons, or disciplinary actions. A player who is waived becomes an unrestricted agent and can sign for any team in the league. A player who was waived within the last three months of the previous season is not eligible to play for the playoffs.
Statistics
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
si.com
bleacherreport.com
- Which NBA Teams Will Join the Victor Wembanyama Tankathon?
- News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
sbnation.com
sports.yahoo.com
- Yahoo Mail, Weather, Search & Videos
- NBA Finals game 1 sees the lowest viewing in recorded ratings history
How To
How do you prepare to experience a NBA game?
The best way to prepare for an NBA game experience is to ensure you have the right tickets. You can either purchase tickets directly from the team's site or through a third party electronic ticket seller. Be sure to plan your trip and learn the arena rules so you don’t forget. You will want to arrive at the arena on time to do warm-ups and pregame activities. You can purchase team merchandise (e.g. a shirt or cap) if you'd like. Don't forget to pack your camera and binoculars to take pictures and get close views of the action on the court. You might also consider other entertainment options, such as a concert, or special event at halftime, if the action is too intense for you. Enjoy the game!
