The Dallas Mavericks are heading back to the NBA playoffs for the second consecutive season. Once there, they’ll face a familiar foe in the Los Angeles Clippers. The two teams met in the first round of the playoffs last season in a thrilling six-game series inside the NBA Bubble, which the Clippers won.
While the Mavericks would like to reverse that outcome this year, it won’t be easy. Dallas is the underdog even with budding superstar Luka Doncic on its roster. Yet, it’s going to take far more than Doncic to pull off an upset. Unfortunately, the Mavericks appear to be heading into the postseason with a lot of questions about their overall health.
Kristaps Porzingis’ injury woes this season—he missed a total of 29 games—began against the Clippers last year when he suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee in Game 1 of the playoffs. He was able to play through the injury for two more games before the team shut him down. He had surgery to repair the damage in the offseason. With his first taste of the playoffs cut short, leaving him “heartbroken,” Porzingis is itching to get back on the floor.
“I’m glad I got those three games in against them in the playoffs with that kind of intensity, with that kind of focus,” Porzingis said. “So, I’m excited for this season’s playoffs and to see how we can compete against them.”
His knee remains an issue, though. Soreness in that knee kept him out for 10 games as the season wound down. However, he was able to play the final three games of the regular season, something both he and Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle wanted to see before the playoffs began.
In those final three games, Porzingis played well offensively. He averaged 19.3 points on 51.2% shooting, including 60% from behind the three-point line. He also grabbed 6.3 rebounds. His offensive production, which the Mavericks will need against the Clippers, may be inching back to his season average, but his lateral movement on defense just isn’t what it once was.
Even if his knee still limits him, Porzingis’ return should be a boon for the Mavericks. He’s ostensibly the team’s second-best player and Dallas will need him if they want a shot at stealing Game 1 on the road. Yet, while Porzingis appears ready to go, the status of another key player isn’t as clear.
Maxi Kleber, like Porzingis, missed a number of games this season. Most recently, right Achilles soreness sidelined him for six of the Mavericks’ final eight games. Speaking with the media this week, Carlisle did not exude optimism about Kleber’s availability. He did note that Kleber was able to go through light contact in practice Wednesday morning.
“He’s obviously a big part of our team, whether he’s a starter or he’s a guy coming off the bench,” Carlisle said. “He’s one of the guys that creates a strength in numbers sort of moniker for our group. We’re hopeful, and that’s about all I can tell you at this point in time. We’re going to have to see how the next couple of days go.”
If Kleber misses any games, it could spell big trouble for the Mavericks. Last year, he was the team’s primary defender on the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs. He is also one of Dallas’ best defenders in general. When Kleber is on the court, the Mavericks have a defensive rating of 108.9 compared to 112.5 when he sits.
“He’s very important,” Carlisle said Tuesday. “He’s one of our top two or three defenders. We’re doing everything possible to get him ready here. We hope Mother Nature is as cooperative to the extent she can be. He’s been doing a lot of work with his rehab. [Director of Player Health and Performance] Casey [Smith] and [Head Athletic Trainer] Dionne [Calhoun] have been doing a lot of work with him as well. We’ll proceed and hope for the best.”
Another player whose availability is uncertain is JJ Redick. The Mavericks acquired the veteran sharpshooter in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this year, but Redick hasn’t been able to find his footing with the team—no pun intended.
Redick missed his first 10 games after joining Dallas as he recovered from a right heel injury. He was able to suit up for 13 games, however, and averaged 4.4 points on 35.8% shooting overall and 39.5% from deep. Unfortunately, his issues with his heel persist. After landing awkwardly during a play against the Memphis Grizzlies on May 11, Redick limped off the court, back to the locker room and did not return to the game. The Mavericks ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season with right heel soreness. His status moving forward is unknown.
Entering the playoffs hobbled isn’t ideal. However, the Mavericks were able to overcome injuries and Covid-19 during the regular season and fight their way into the playoffs. They’ll need to dig deep if they want to overcome the odds, take down an overwhelmingly favored opponent and win their first playoff series since the team hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2011. Even with injuries, Porzingis thinks they have a shot.
“We are a dangerous team. We truly believe that,” Porzingis said. “We have outside shooting. We have everything we need. We have the tools; we just don’t have the experience yet. It’s good that we had that first taste of defeat last season. We’re looking to take a step forward in this series with the Clippers and see how we can match up with them and compete with them.”
Game 1 tips off Saturday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. EST.
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