Anthony Davis played again for the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, contributing 12 points to their 120-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite a 28-minute limit, Davis appeared largely like his usual self against the Nets, marking his first game since his debut for Dallas on February 8th. He started with a strong dunk, showed good defensive movement, and generally sparked some optimism for a team that has largely lacked it since he joined.
However, this is the post-Luka Dončić Mavericks, so optimism is always tempered. While the win against Brooklyn and Davis`s return to relative health helped Dallas climb back to the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference Play-In race, it raises questions about whether pursuing that spot is even beneficial for a struggling Mavericks team. They are still missing key players Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Caleb Martin, Dante Exum, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and Kyrie Irving, who is out for the season and a significant portion of next season due to a torn ACL.
Simply reaching the postseason will be a difficult task. Their rival Phoenix is healthier and has won four of their last five games. The Suns hold the tiebreaker, meaning they would retake the No. 10 spot with a win on Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Securing the No. 10 seed involves playing two road games – likely one in Sacramento and another against either Minnesota or the Los Angeles Clippers – just to reach the playoffs. Waiting for them there would be the Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA`s top team, eager to avenge their second-round loss to Dallas last season. The chances of a deep playoff run are clearly very low.
Davis isn`t considering those odds. He sees an opportunity to make the postseason and is playing to achieve it.
`I saw that we were short-handed for a long time, sometimes playing with seven or six, eight guys, and if I felt I was 100% ready to play, I was going to do it, and I emphasized that to my team and the organization tonight. We felt I was capable of playing, and that`s what I wanted to do,` Davis said after the game. `I`m not one to give up and sit out.`
It`s an admirable attitude, especially from a player with Davis`s injury history. He feels he has a responsibility, and there`s unspoken pressure that comes with it. Despite jokes about his durability, he`s not just trying to lead his team to the playoffs but also prove himself to a fanbase currently in open revolt. Davis isn`t Dončić, and some fans may never forgive him for that. However, those who remain will see a new star giving his all to help the team compete. It`s a good way to gain favor in a new city.
However, this approach might not be ideal for the Mavericks` long-term championship aspirations.
There are clear advantages to missing the postseason from a draft perspective. Dallas understands the importance of draft positioning. In 2023, they strategically lost games to draft Lively. Finishing one spot lower would have sent that pick to the Knicks. Dallas isn`t in danger of losing this year`s pick, but they need to maximize its value because their first-round picks from 2027 to 2030 are gone due to past trades. A few draft slots can make a significant difference, especially with the NBA`s flatter lottery odds introduced in 2019.
While draft slots are important, Davis`s health is even more crucial. This is a player who aggravated a previous injury in his very first game as a Maverick. The `street clothes` nickname, while not entirely fair, comes from a real concern. Davis is prone to injury. The stakes this season are low for the Mavericks in the grand scheme of things. What if Davis, like Irving, suffers an injury that extends into next season while pushing for a play-in spot that the Mavericks probably shouldn`t even want? What if the adductor strain that sidelined him for a significant part of this season continues into next year?
That risk might be worthwhile if Irving were healthy and Dallas had a real chance to contend this season. But given the team`s current state, there`s little to gain by putting Davis back on the court.
Davis`s effort is commendable, especially in a league where tanking is prevalent. However, it creates considerable risk for the Mavericks with minimal potential reward.
Jasper Hawthorne