Preview: Mavericks (5-4) at Pacers (3-6); Mavs could welcome back Marion in Indy
Earl K. Sneed reports from Indianapolis, where the Dallas Mavericks could welcome back forward Shawn Marion from a five-game absence against a struggling Pacers squad on Friday night.
Preview: Mavericks (5-4) at Pacers (3-6); Mavs could welcome back Marion in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS – Despite seeing their three-game losing skid ended on Wednesday night with a 107-101 victory at home over the winless Washington Wizards, the Dallas Mavericks admit they haven’t played their best basketball in the last four games.
That’s because after seeing as much as a 22-point lead dwindled down to just three in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks (5-4) realize they still have yet to play a complete 48 minutes of quality basketball, hoping to change that Friday night in Indianapolis against the struggling Pacers to begin a two-game road trip.
“We’ll take it right now. Being on that three-game schneid wasn’t too good, so we’ll take it and take it with us on the road,” guard O.J. Mayo said of the less-than-stellar win after scoring a team-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting. “It was a good win to snap the losing streak, but obviously we’ve gotta get better for the games ahead.”
"We've gotta be honest with ourselves about how we're playing. We're playing a brand of basketball that isn't where it needs to be," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle added. “We've gotta get better. ... We've got to be patient but persistent with the team."
Facing a Pacers squad that is trying to avoid its own three-game losing skid, however, the Mavs might have a chance to again capitalize off a wounded team, as Indiana (3-6) plays on without former All-Star Danny Granger, who is expected to miss three months due to an aching left knee. Meanwhile, in the returns of point guard Darren Collison and small forward Dahntay Jones to Indiana for the first time since the sign-and-trade deal that sent big man Ian Mahinmi to the Pacers in exchange for the duo this offseason, the Mavericks will try to bring a three-game road losing skid to an end before touching down in Cleveland on Saturday to conclude a back-to-back.
And with small forward and four-time All-Star Shawn Marion possibly set to return to action after missing the last five games due to a sprained left MCL, the Mavs could make ex-Pacers coach and now Dallas assistant Jim O’Brien’s return a successful one.
Continuing to play without 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki following his arthroscopic right knee surgery on Oct. 19, the Mavs would certainly get a much-needed boost if Marion is able to return to the lineup. Although the defensive specialist did travel with the team, his availability for Friday night is still up in the air until going through the squad’s morning shootaround.
With that said, if he comes out of the light walkthrough without any setbacks, Marion would give Carlisle the return of one of his leaders as the team tries to get back to its winning ways.
“If it feels like I can fight through some stuff (Friday), I’m gonna give it a shot,” Marion explained.
“I’ve been trying to be more of a leader now, especially with Dirk being out,” he added after admitting that the left knee still isn’t quite 100 percent. “Just trying to help get everybody going, and I think at times being a young team everybody thinks they’re gonna take it into their hands and try to do everything themselves. The one thing I’ve learned is you just try to make everybody around you better and try to help make the game easier for everybody. And I’ve been doing that.”
And if he’s able to give it a go, Marion could instantly make his team better as it journeys out on the road.
Note: The Mavs head back out on the road for a two-game road trip, touching down in Indiana for Friday night’s matchup against the Pacers. The game will air locally at 6 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest.
