The weird stuff-o-meter continues to flick into the red these days.
Rick Carlisle has had to get used to ignoring the question: what else can happen? That’s because if you start thinking about it, something you hadn’t even considered will crop up.
Like a historic freeze and power-shortage crisis.
It’s enough to make a person wonder.
“To me, the important thing is to work through all of it – always hoping for the best, but being ready for more surprises,” Carlisle said Wednesday after a practice on a day that was supposed to include a game against Detroit.
“It sure seems like somebody’s out there pulling the strings on some surprising things right now.”
The Mavericks found out Tuesday that Wednesday’s game against the Pistons was postponed because of government-mandated power concerns at American Airlines Center.
On Wednesday, the facility was functional enough to allow for a practice, which was much-needed, Carlisle said, especially since the team’s Biosteel workout facility in the design district was not usable because of frequent power outages.
On top of that, the Mavericks don’t know if their Friday game in Houston will be played. The weather emergency has been just as bad there, if not worse. And, of course, COVID-19 protocols still must be followed.
So the Mavericks were in a holding pattern Wednesday.
“All this is happening for a reason,” Carlisle said. “I’m not sure what the exact reason is. I don’t like the public finger pointing that’s going on with regard to the energy situation. This should be about solutions and not blame. We all of the sudden have had two ultra-extraordinary situations with a worldwide pandemic and then an unexpected freeze.
“As a human species, we’re having to make adjustments. And so, one of the great things about the human spirit is, that in most cases, we do a good job of helping each other. And that’s what we got to do.”
The players spent the last few days trying to keep warm. They were like everybody else. Some had power for stretches, then lost it. Carlisle was in the same boat.
He talked about the challenging situations with a matter-of-fact outlook on things, particularly when it comes to the Houston game. The Rockets were scheduled to play in Philadelphia Wednesday night.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Carlisle said. “I don’t think we’ll hear anything until (Thursday) is what I’m guessing. But Houston’s in a very challenging situation. We’ll have to see what tomorrow brings.
“I know today a lot of people’s power has come back on more consistently. That’s happened at home with us. It (the power) would go on for two hours and off for seven or eight. It was very random, unpredictable and everyone is going through challenges right now.”
Jalen Brunson, who grew up near Philadelphia and spent time growing up in Chicago, knows all about the snow and cold weather.
But he also understands that it’s different in a place like Dallas that isn’t used to a blanket of snow.
“The last few days have been weird, to say the least,” he said. “But I guess it may be a blessing in disguise for us. We haven’t had a multiple-day break between games in a long time. So we’re trying to take advantage of that.”
Brunson said he’s been spending a lot of time with his dog and they’ve played in the snow some, which is nothing unusual for Brunson.
And with two full days on Monday and Tuesday without practice time, he said the players got creative.
“The organization’s been great,” Brunson said. “They’ve checked on us, not only players but staff. The guys obviously have been checking in with each other. The group chat has been very funny.”
Green to G-League bubble: The Mavericks on Wednesday flex-assigned rookie Josh Green to the G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars, the team that fellow Mavs’ rookie Tyler Bey plays on.
Green was the No. 18 overall draft pick in the past draft.
“He was playing when we had four of our best defenders out on COVID protocols,” Carlisle said. “But with those guys back, the rotation minutes have not been there.
“I talked to Mark (Cuban) after the Portland game and said if there’s a way to get Josh some playing time in the G-League bubble, I think it would be a good thing. I talked to him (Green) about it yesterday and he was appreciative. I think he realizes that being on the floor playing is something that’s important at this stage of his career.”
The 6-6 Green is considered a good defender, but playing time is going to be at a premium with all hands healthy at the moment. Green appeared in 17 games (five starts) for the Mavericks and averaged 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Following the move, all four Mavericks rookies (Tyrell Terry with Memphis, Nate Hinton with Santa Cruz, and Bey and Green with Salt Lake) are at the G-League bubble at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla.,
“He’s a hard worker. He does good things. He’s going to be a terrific player,” Carlisle said of Green. “But right now, Terry, Hinton and Bey are having good learning experiences and good playing experiences in the G-League. For me right now, this makes a lot of sense.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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