After a heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Mavericks are hoping they can avoid an emotional letdown when they face off against the Toronto Raptors tonight. The loss has the Mavericks 8th in the West at a time where every game feels critical. On one hand, the congestion in the standings makes every loss feel like a punch to the gut. On the other hand, it ensures that the quality of the basketball remains high at a time in the season when most teams are happy to simply play the season out. Living and dying with every possession, every shot, every win or loss is why we’re fans. The emotional lows of yesterday would typically linger for a few days. Thankfully, there’s another game tonight and another opportunity to feel the joy that comes with winning.
Now, during the game, keep an eye out for these three things:
We haven’t heard anything on who will or won’t play in tonight’s game as of 9:30 am CST. It was a hard-fought game last night. By the end, Luka seems worn out (maybe celebrating his 25th birthday after arriving in Toronto?). Maxi threw everything at it. Giving your team a night rest and making sure everyone is well enough for the last push would be ideal. But the West never gives up, so a three-game losing streak might have long-term effects. When tip-off draws near, we’ll see what decision Kidd makes.
Since PJ Washington moved to Dallas, Derrick Jones Jr. has become less and less visible. Their time together last night appeared to be going really well. Their combined length and quickness strengthen the defence. They aid in offering strong weakside rim protection and are incredibly switchable. This shouldn’t be an either/or scenario going ahead.
