The Mavericks on Wednesday got back to work.
They returned from sunny beaches, exotic resorts or lush golf courses and were welcomed by the nasty wintry mix that gripped the Dallas area.
Luka Dončić would have felt like he was back in frosty Cleveland, but he was given an extra day to relax given that he was the only Maverick who had responsibilities at the All-Star Game on Sunday.
“With the All-Star Game, we talked about it and gave him today off and he’ll be with us here (Thursday) for practice and then we head to Utah,” coach Jason Kidd said.
Other than that, all the other healthy players went through a robust workout Wednesday afternoon.
And even without being there, Dončić dominated the interview session with Kidd.
That’s what happens when a superstar averages 33.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists in the last 11 games before the All-Star break, including four 40-point games in the last eight and three of 45 or more in the last four before the pause.
It’s a remarkable run, to say the least, and one that Kidd said the Mavericks are looking for Dončić to continue.
“Luka’s that type of player that can carry the load for not just four games but for most of the season,” Kidd said. “And you saw that here before the break. He’s playing at a very high level. And not just the points, but being able to find guys and set the table for other guys on the floor.
“He’s playing not just at an All-Star, but an MVP level right now and that’s what we need going into the second half.”
It may not be coincidence that in the four games after Kristaps Porzingis was traded, the Mavericks’ superstar point guard has averaged 41.5 points.
It’s been Luka’s job to keep the Mavericks going on the run they’ve been on since the calendar flipped. They’re 24-6 since New Year’s Eve.
“Obviously, his numbers were high,” said Dwight Powell. “But he’s shown he can do all those things on any given night. He’s doing some amazing things right now. And I’m sure he’ll continue to do that even more.”
Dončić has a clear vision of where the Mavericks stand in the Western Conference and where they want to get.
They will return to action Friday at Utah. That game will carry significant ramifications. The Jazz are two games ahead of the Mavericks in the loss column and already have a win over them on Christmas Day in Utah.
The Jazz are fourth in the West. The Mavericks are fifth. If these teams are on any sort of collision course for the playoffs, having home court would be a nice luxury.
The Jazz come to Dallas twice in March, so a win Friday would assure them no worse than a split of the season series and perhaps an advantage in any playoff-tiebreaker situation.
The Mavericks’ road trip to start the final 23-game sprint then goes to Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Mavericks would love to bottle the elixir that they had coursing through their veins before the break.
“We talked about it,” Kidd said. “The guys did a great job of finishing. We talked about character, culture. (Winning at) Miami was a big one, but New Orleans (too) and not going on break before (it was time). You got a great group of guys in that locker room.
“We’ll talk about the end of the season and what we’re playing for and how we’re going to achieve it. We talked a little bit about it today. How are we going to take the next step. Hopefully tomorrow they have an answer for me.”
Powell said that the Mavericks are going to try to approach the final 23 games after the break the same way they did the first 59.
Not every game is going to go smoothly. But the attention to defense and detail must be consistent.
“The first game after the break is always super-important,” Powell said. “We got to try to continue doing the things we’ve been doing good and improve on the things we’ve been trying to improve on since before the break.
“We’re going up against a great team (Utah) with a lot of weapons and a lot of defensive capabilities, so I think it’s a good way to come off the bat and have that challenge.”
And when Dončić returns, it’ll be time to get down to business.
“He knows it’s a marathon,” Kidd said of Luka. “He feels great physically and mentally. He’s having fun. Sometimes we want our star players to play like that every night, to come out in October ready to roll. And sometimes, (recognizing) that it’s 82 games plus the playoffs – that’s a lot of basketball. And this summer he had to participate for his country. He was on the big stage.
“I like where his game is right now going into the second half and the playoffs.”
Briefly: Powell wasn’t all that pleased when asked about the fact that he’s the only Maverick to play all 59 games this season. “Now officially you have (jinxed me),” he said. Turning serious, he said: “At the end of the day, I show up and try to be as professional as I can and first and foremost, taking care of my body and making sure I’m able to perform at the highest level possible. Being able to be available is something that’s extremely important for all of us. I spend a lot of time in the weight room to be able to play.” . . . All healthy Mavericks practiced on Wednesday. That did not include Tim Hardaway Jr., who is out while recovering from foot surgery, or Theo Pinson, who is recovering from a fractured finger.
Twitter: @ESefko
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