The Mavericks are No. 1 in the NBA at drawing offensive fouls and that’s probably their best asset on the defensive side of the court.
They aren’t a big steals team (29th in the NBA at 6.2 per game). They are 25th in defensive rebounding percentage.
So putting their bodies on the line is their best way to offset other shortcomings. And they are doing it very well, led by Tim Hardaway Jr., who has been running neck and neck with former Maverick Jalen Brunson for taking the most charges in the league.
“It probably starts with Timmy,” coach Jason Kidd said. “When you look at Tim’s background, it goes back to the University of Michigan and who he was coached by (John Beilein). Just understanding for our smalls, a lot of them aren’t going to block shots or change shots.
“So the next step is to get in the way and take a charge. If we can’t get steals or deflections, we got to get in the way of the driver, and that’s what the group is doing.”
And it’s sort of a thankless job, at least when it comes to fans and outsiders.
People in the locker room, on the coaching staff and around the league, however, are keenly aware of the importance of taking a charge.
“We would always like more, since we can’t get steals,” Kidd said. “But putting your body on the line taking a charge, that takes a toll. But that’s the way we can stops. So we have to promote that, and that’s what we’re doing in that locker room now.”
And it’s one area that doesn’t require size for a player to be effective.
Former Maverick and current assistant to Kidd Darrell Armstrong was one of the best in the league when he was playing, particularly during his years at Orlando.
“DA was probably one of the best to sacrifice,” Kidd said. “It’s a big, big thing to be able to sacrifice and take that hit. And DA was one of those guys who did it. When he played, DA did a lot of things. He picked up full court. He loved to play defense. It’s a sign of sacrifice.”
And for a lot of players, making that defensive effort can take away from their energy and production on the offensive end.
Not so for Hardaway.
“I have to lay my body on the line for my team,” he said. “Those charges (give) us extra possessions.
“It doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but it does show up on the hustle plays when we watch film. That’s all that matters.”
And for a team that’s trying to gain some traction on the defensive end, it’s a critical asset.
“A lot of times, people look at it as just a charge,” Kidd said. “But you’re taking a hit and it does hurt, especially for someone like Timmy that we’re asking not just to do that but also we need him to shoot and on the floor. Availability is a big thing for us right now.
“So we don’t get a lot of steals, so we got to figure out how to get stops and that’s just another way to get a stop.”
Briefly: The Mavericks once again were without Kyrie Irving (right heel), Dereck Lively II (left ankle), Josh Green (right elbow) and Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) . . . There was a time when the Clippers were 8-10 and then December began and they won their first eight games of the month. Caoch Tyronn Lue said he never lost confidence, but knew that when they traded for James Harden it would take some time. “I always felt good about our team,” Lue said. “Even when we lost those six in a row. We just (needed) to pick some things up.” They did so by making a conscious effort to attack the rim. “When we do that, we’re a different team,” Lue said. “We don’t want to just settle for threes.” . . . The Mavericks have a rather busy upcoming holiday schedule upcoming. They have back-to-back games Friday in Houston and Saturday at home against San Antonio. Then it’s a Christmas night game in Phoenix, return home for one game and head out for three more over the New Year’s holiday.
Twitter: @ESefko
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