It’s a coach’s job to prop up his players when they need a hug.
And to remind them that they haven’t done a darn thing if they get a little too comfortable with themselves.
Jason Kidd is perfectly fine at doing both.
Going into Game 4, the Mavericks needed to hear the blunt truth.
“We haven’t accomplished anything,” Kidd said Saturday. “The series is still going on. We’ve only won two games and it’s a quick turn playing in the afternoon (on Sunday).”
And, of course, he’s right. Yes, the Mavericks have taken the home-court advantage against the Los Angeles Clippers with their Game 2 win in LA. And they protected their home in Game 3.
Now, they have to do it again as they try to go up 3-1 and put the Clippers on the brink of elimination Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center.
If the Mavericks lose, the series becomes a best-of-three with two games (if necessary) in LA.
Teams that go up 3-1 proceed to the next round 95.4 percent of the time (268-13).
So yes, it’s a big game.
But aren’t they all at this time of the year. About the only thing you can count on is that the level of intensity will not diminish. It will continue to rise and it was already high in Game 3, with ejections to Russell Westbrook and P.J. Washington spicing up things.
“These last two games have definitely set the tone in terms of physicality,” center Dereck Lively II said. “The officials aren’t really calling any calls and are just going to let us play.
“So it’s going to come down to whatever team comes out and throws the first punch and can take a punch and throw another back. (We’re) trying to be the aggressor all night.”
Here’s a few other things to watch for in Game 4:
- Health issues are going to be a factor. Tim Hardaway Jr. is dealing with a sprained ankle and missed Game 3. He was able to shoot some on Saturday and will be re-evaluated pregame. Kawhi Leonard hasn’t appeared to be himself yet in the series after missing Game 1 and averaging just 12 points in the two games he played. “Everyone’s banged up,” Kidd said. “Everybody’s stiff or sore right now just because of the way the series is being played. But everybody’s ready to go. Guys are going to be sore. Other guys are going to have to step up.”
- The Clippers have not gotten big production thus far from Paul George. He had 22 points in each of the first two games, but just seven on 3-of-11 shooting in Game 3. “You always think about Paul George going (off),” Kidd said. “Or Kawhi (Leonard) going. Or (James) Harden going. Or (Russell) Westbrook going. For us it’s to continue to try to make it as tough as possible. When they get going, it’s hard to stop them.”
- Foul issues usually are less of a concern in the playoffs, because fewer fouls are called. But there have been instances already in this series when the foul situation is cause for attention. Mainly, when a defender has two or more fouls in the first half. “We try to attack guys that are in foul trouble, for sure, because they’re not going to be that aggressive,” Luka Dončić said. “Especially if it’s a good defender, you’re going to go at him. They’re in foul trouble, they’re not going to be the same. They’re not be that aggressive, so you just got to go at them.” But it works both ways. The Mavericks have a player in Irving who never fouls out – and wants to keep it that way. “I would like to continue my streak of not fouling out of games,” he said. “I like to think of myself as a valuable asset out there. So I just got to play it smart and understand that they’re going to be targeting me a little.” Irving picked up three fouls in the first half on Friday and had to be cautious at times the rest of the way.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (1-2) at MAVERICKS (2-1)
- When/where: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
- TV: ABC (Channel 8).
- Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
X: @ESefko
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