Mavericks swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. continues to recover from the surgically repaired fractured left foot that caused him to miss nearly half of the 2021/22 regular season and all of Dallas’ first-round 4-2 defeat of the Jazz. It certainly doesn’t sound like Hardaway will return in time for these playoffs — he has yet to be cleared to run, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
“He’s shooting the ball, but from my eye, he hasn’t done any running or anything yet,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said in discussing Hardaway’s progress. “So that’s more of a medical question, but right now he’s out.”
Dallas has officially announced (Twitter link) that Hardaway will miss the first game of the Mavericks’ second-round matchup against the Suns. Across 42 healthy contests for the Dallas, the 6’5″ shooting guard out of Michigan averaged 14.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 2.2 APG this season, on .394/.336/.757 shooting splits.
There’s more out of the Southwest:
- A left calf strain to Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic allowed his starting backcourt mate Jalen Brunson to step up his own offensive game, per Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Brunson has earned rave reviews from his former Villanova teammate Mikal Bridges, whose Suns will face off against Brunson’s Mavericks in their upcoming second-round matchup starting Monday. “He’s been hooping all year,” Bridges enthused. “When Luka went out and he had to step up, he was ready for it. “I’m watching games and I could . . . just tell. I know what shots he’s going to make. I just know. I know how talented he is and how hard he works and how much of a dog he is.” While with Villanova, Bridges and Brunson won two NCAA titles.
- Pelicans team president David Griffin acknowledged that forthcoming contract extension discussions with 2021 All-Star forward Zion Williamson may not be easy, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. The Pelicans will have the ability to offer Williamson a maximum extension worth up to 25% of the salary cap, with 8% yearly raises. “Obviously, that conversation is going to be one that will be a challenge,” Griffin said. “When it’s time to have that, we’ll have it. And right now what we’re focused on is him being healthy, and (being in) kind of elite condition to play basketball and we’ll start there.” Williamson recently indicated he hoped to remain with the Pelicans and get a deal done. Injuries have limited Williamson to just 85 healthy games across his three seasons of NBA action. The No. 1 overall pick out of Duke in 2019 has been quite productive when available, with career averages of 25.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.2 APG and 0.9 APG.
- The Grizzlies, currently in the midst of their first playoff game against the Warriors in a 2-3 second-round matchup, might have a “death lineup” of their own, writes Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian. All-Star point guard Ja Morant, breakout second-year shooting guard Desmond Bane, swingman Dillon Brooks, forward Brandon Clarke, and big man Jaren Jackson Jr. could give the Warriors’ ultra-small, shooting-heavy lineups plenty of trouble in their first-round matchup.
Love Ja. But he needs to get under control. You don’t have to make a spectacular play every time to beat your opponent. You don’t have to beat him one on one either. You got 4 other guys you have to trust. Stop wasting energy and just beat him. An assist is just as good as a bucket. This is youth on display. He should watch CP3 and learn how to close out gms. Cause right now he is more talented than him. Okay to win. Not to impress.
That’s Play to win, not to impress……
Should of won today.
With Brunson playing well. And if he steps up against CP3. Mavs will have to sign him. Then we can stop this Brunson to NY nonsense. Much rather have Dinwiddie. And if they do sign Brunson. Moving Dinwiddie is a real possibility imo. Randle is from Dallas. So let’s do this.
Randle for Dinwiddie? Where do the Mavs sign? Why in the world would you rather have Dinwiddie over Brunson? You haven’t watched many Mavs games.
I think the Mavs are more interested in Robinson than Randle but I personally think Randle or Robinson would play well in the pick n roll with Luka.
MEM and their young HC justifiably get a lot of accolades. BUT they’ve got to do better at the end of games; at a minimum, know the rules and game situation, and play to them. They should have had at least an additional 10 seconds to run their last play. Just by doing the mechanical things that any disciplined high school or college team would do. Of course, the broadcasters also apparently didn’t understand that when you have a foul to give, it doesn’t matter who you foul.
Well said
The difference between the Phx/GSW tier and Dallas/Mem can probably all be found in the last 3 mins of regulation. Ja had no intentions of looking for a hot JJJr or getting Bane (their best player this postseason so far) a good look down the stretch
I had some doubts on the Chris Paul contract ext pre-season, they were foolish and probably not properly thought out. He was the story of Rd 1 for me, just brilliant
Might want to check out team clutch stats. Mavs are near the top. Ja missed a layup or your comment never happens. They just dodged a bullet.
Gotta clean the glass Mem-
Saw a couple of instances Mem players coulda hit the floor for a tap/deflection {possible} board but didn’t
That’s what it’ll take, but they don’t know that yet and are too young too take it all in
GSW easily in 5
Looks good for GSW that they were able to pull out a game with Dray out and JJJ in rare form for these playoffs.
Clarke has always had good numbers. Unfortunately his team drafted JJJ, not Bamba or Wendell Carter, so they developed JJJ as the 3pt-shooting big. That could have been Clarke’s role, but he has shifted to a smallball 5 and cannot dominate the paint. He’s best going forward and covering ground not tracking the ball in a small area.
The Griz boss has money but he might get valued more elsewhere.
Think it should read “Bridges enthused”
That quote would make a lot more sense if it was Bridges!
It’s surprising that, with 2 non-consecutive college titles, both players were not drafted higher.