By Mike Curtis
5:35 PM on Apr 12, 2024 CDT
Spirits are high among the Mavericks as they aim to close the regular season on a strong note.
The Mavericks concluded Friday’s shootaround with their routine half-court shooting contest. Jaden Hardy, Luka Doncic, Alex Fudge and A.J. Lawson all launched midcourt heaves and missed until Hardy tried again. “That’s a bucket!” a Mavericks assistant predicted shortly before the shot went through the basket.
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Hardy threw up one finger and took a victory lap toward the team’s locker room before Kyrie Irving called him back to the court for the breakaway huddle.
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“Come and get your prize,” Irving said.
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There’s a good reason the vibes are positive in Dallas. As the freshly minted Southwest Division champions, the Mavericks head into Friday’s game against the lowly Pistons as winners of 16 of their last 18 games.
The #Mavs just finished shootaround with their routine half-court shooting contest. Jaden Hardy had the first shot at it and missed, but he made up for it on his next attempt. pic.twitter.com/Vxcev28raU
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) April 12, 2024
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Josh Green noticed the high morale around the team while he was sidelined with a right ankle injury, which caused him to miss 12 games from March 17 until his return at Miami on Wednesday.
“It’s fun basketball,” Green told The Dallas Morning News. “When everyone’s having fun, it makes it better for everybody. I think that was the big thing I noticed being out. Seeing that, you get an itch to come back. It’s fun to be able to watch and it’s definitely fun to play.”
It’s not the first time Green had to watch his teammates play from the bench. Green missed 12 games in December due to a right elbow sprain. He suffered his latest injury in Dallas’ last visit to Oklahoma City on March 14. He had a rusty shooting night in his return to the lineup with just three points (1-of-5 from the field) with four rebounds and two assists in nearly 14 minutes of action.
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Green said he’s feeling a lot better and appreciates the opportunity to get a few games under his belt before the Mavericks begin their playoff run against the L.A. Clippers.
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“Obviously, you know, it sucked the way it happened, but I think it’s just one of those things where I’d rather come back with a couple of games left and try to just get ready for the playoffs and make sure I’m doing everything I can to be in rhythm for the playoffs.”
Green is averaging 8.4 points while shooting 40% from beyond the arc, which the Mavericks could use come playoff time when defenses throw multiple bodies at Doncic and Irving.
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One of the rare benefits for injured players who sit out for an extended period of time is the opportunity to observe the game from a different perspective. That theory may be true for some, but Markieff Morris — the Mavericks’ elder statesman — said it’s important for Green to get as much on-court experience as possible.
“At the age he is, it gives him time to get some rest but he needs to be playing at 23 (years old),” Morris told The News. “Even at that age, it’s not too much you’re gonna learn from being on the sideline. But Josh is a heady player. He knows the game well enough. He’s been playing since he stepped foot in the NBA. His role doesn’t change. Everybody knows their role. That’s the beauty of our team. Everybody knows exactly what they’re supposed to do when they get out there. It’s no underthinking or overthinking.”
Green was on the other side of the court while his teammates hoisted shots from the “Mavs” logo at center court.
“We’ve been doing the half-court shot for years,” Green said, “but we’re able to have fun. One of the biggest parts is to be able to have the whole group being able to mix. We have great veterans that have really looked out for our young guys ... I think that’s helped our team and our overall energy.”
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Of course, winning helps, too.
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Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.