Tag: Tim Hardaway Jr.

3 shrewd decisions that helped the Mavericks make the 2024 NBA Finals

Here’s how the Mavericks’ boldness put them on the brink of an NBA championship.

The Dallas Mavericks weren’t supposed to be here.

I am not joking. They really were not supposed to be here, in the NBA Finals, on the brink of their second championship in franchise history.

On February 3, the Mavericks were just 26-23. They were a glorified play-in team praying for a favorable matchup in the first round of the playoffs. No one in their right mind saw this team playing June basketball. Then Luka Doncic started playing like an MVP-caliber superstar, the Mavericks made a whole host of ambitious moves at the annual NBA trade deadline, and they went 36-14 through the rest of the regular season and the entire Western Conference playoffs combined.

What a remarkable turnaround.

READ MORE: 3 smart decisions that got the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals.

As Doncic and Co. prepare to battle the Celtics in what should be an epic Finals series, let’s recount how these Mavericks paved a path to the NBA’s championship round.

1. Finding Luka Doncic a real running mate 

After Dallas gave up on Kristaps Porzingis, it was clear that Doncic still needed a real No. 2 partner. The Mavericks needed someone who could take some of the tremendous offensive burden off Doncic’s hands and make them a more balanced team overall. They decided it would be Kyrie Irving, the electric guard with a skeptical recent past when they traded for him at last year’s deadline.

Initially, the fit with Doncic and Irving didn’t make much sense. Both players looked too ball-dominant. It was almost as if they didn’t know how to play together and successfully mesh their games into a winning brand of basketball. Labeling the Irving deal as a lost cause of broken chemistry and a case of the Mavericks fitting a square peg into a round hole with their backcourt was easy.

In extreme hindsight, it’s quite amusing that anyone ever questioned this fit. In Irving’s first full season with the Mavericks, he and Doncic flourished, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs. Together, both dynamite talents have inspired discussion about them being the best offensive backcourt in NBA history.

Together, this duo has the Celtics already wracking their brains on the defensive end:

They are, by far, the biggest reason Dallas qualified for the 2024 Finals. Sometimes, blockbuster trades work out for the better. Who knew?

2. A tank job for the ages 

This time last year, the Mavericks did not turn their season around on a dime. In fact, as the 2023 regular season came to a close, Dallas was four games under .500 with a slight prayer of qualifying for the play-in tournament. But rather than try and sprint through the finish line only to potentially get demolished by a top-seeded juggernaut, the Mavericks waved the white flag.

Dallas sat multiple starters and rotational players in each of its last two regular-season games to ensure it wouldn’t qualify for the play-in. Why? The Mavericks wanted a draft lottery pick, someone who could actually make an immediate impact on the team in the ensuing season when they tried to compete again.

This move turned out to be a stroke of genius as said lottery pick turned into rookie center Dereck Lively II. You know, the Mavericks’ fourth or even third-best player this season? You know, the guy who helped unlock Doncic as a “winning” player?

Yeah, that dude.

It only happened because the Dallas brass saw the forest for the trees instead of aimlessly qualifying for spring basketball, where it never had a realistic chance.

3. Some buy-low trades and an important lineup decision

Remember how I said the Mavericks were still straddling the line of relevancy in early February? Well, they didn’t sit on their hands. When it came time to make more deals at this year’s trade deadline, they went out and acquired not one but two crucial rotational players from two of the worst teams in the league, the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets.

Enter center Daniel Gafford (ex-Wizard) and forward P.J. Washington (ex-Hornet).

Gafford has been a godsend to the Mavericks, giving them ample size that allowed them to flat-out bully the Western Conference playoff field. Meanwhile, Washington has been the kind of do-it-all-forward who takes the hardest perimeter defensive assignment every night and makes all the clutch corner 3-pointers.

Imagine acquiring two solid starters on a Finals team at one trade deadline. That’s what the Mavericks did.

When we go beyond these trades, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd made a critical lineup decision this postseason: he effectively benched Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway played nearly 27 minutes a game in the regular season, the equivalent of an entrenched sixth man. But in the playoffs, the guard was a matchup issue on both ends of the court — for his own team. Rather than see if Hardaway could play through it, Kidd made the executive decision to precipitously cut his minutes and hand out more playing time to younger, more effective role players like Jaden Hardy and Josh Green.

The Mavericks haven’t missed a beat ever since.

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Mock trade has Nets trading Royce O’Neale for Tim Hardaway Jr. and second-round picks

In this mock trade suggested by Tyler Watts of The Smoking Cuban, the Brooklyn Nets would be trading Royce O’Neale for Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Brooklyn Nets have done what they could in the 2023 NBA Draft and in free-agency to improve the team as much as they could to make a possible playoff run next season. At this point in the offseason, it’s fair to wonder if a trade could be made to make Brooklyn even better.

While the Nets have to wait for the Damian Lillard trade to happen in order for them to potentially get Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, something that could take months to happen, there are other trades to ponder in the meantime. Throughout the summer, Brooklyn reportedly is open to trading Royce O’Neale and/or Dorian Finney-Smith in order to address other positions.

While the Nets addressed their guard spot considerably with the additions of Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV, it stands to reason that they could continue to bolster the guards on the roster, especially for the playoffs. In this mock trade suggested by Tyler Watts of The Smoking Cuban, Brooklyn trades for a guard who can light up the scoreboard off the bench:

Tim Hardaway Jr. dismisses his father’s harsh criticism of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving

Tim Hardaway Jr. on his dad’s comments: “I disagree with it 1000 percent.”

It hasn’t been an easy month or so for the Dallas Mavericks.

While they got a much-needed win against the Kings on Wednesday, they’ve fallen so far down the standings that there were rumors that the organization was considering shutting down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the rest of the season.

This would have given Dallas a chance to keep their top-10 protected pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Otherwise, it is owed to the New York Knicks as part of the trade to acquire former Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis.

One person who shared his thoughts on why everything has gone wrong for Dallas of late is five-time NBA All-Star guard Tim Hardaway. His son, Tim Hardaway Jr., plays for the Mavericks.

Here is what the elder Hardaway said (via The Carton Show):

“It’s not Kyrie’s fault. Everybody wants to put it on Kyrie Irving. It’s not Kyrie’s fault. Kyrie came to a situation where they thought he was going to be the savior or take them to the promised land or to the next level and he hasn’t … They’re missing a leader out there. Luka is not a leader. Kyrie isn’t a leader. Jalen Brunson was a leader.”

Hardaway Sr. said that a leader instills confidence in your team and makes sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing.

He added that leaders play defense and always stick to their word, noting that both Irving and Doncic are “great scorers” but not leaders.

Hardaway Jr., however, spoke to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Dallas Morning News reporter Callie Caplan about the comments from his father. Here is what he said:

“I didn’t wake up this morning thinking that I had to focus in on this topic, but it is my dad. I love him dearly. He’s been in the league for so many years now, so just for him to say that, I disagree with it 1000%. I’ve come out numerous times and told you all how much leadership Luka has shown throughought my whole entire time here in Dallas. He shows it on and off the floor, and a lot of the situations that we’ve been in as a team, we wouldn’t be in without him. So let’s just set that straight.”

Doncic has evolved as a leader during his time in the NBA, but Hardaway Jr. also added that Irving is a leader in the locker room for Dallas as well.

“Kyrie has been nothing [other] than a leader since he’s been here — making sure that everybody’s good on and off the floor, texting everybody in our group in the player-only just to make sure everybody’s good, everybody’s holding together, staying strong. Nothing but leadership there … I love those guys. I love my teammates.”

Dallas rookie Jaden Hardy shared similar thoughts about Irving earlier this month (via SI.com):

“[He wants] to know everybody and he tells everyone to speak up. When we are together as a team, like in the locker room, and things are not going well, he tends to speak up and let it be known how he’s feeling. So, I mean, a lot of guys respect that, you know what I’m saying? I feel like he’s done a great job ever since he’s been here, just like being a leader.”

The 31-year-old Dallas wing said it was “disappointing” that he had to come out and say this, but he acknowledged that his dad made a mistake.

He emphasized that what we heard was his father’s opinion and not his and he reminded us that they’re different human beings.

This is a nice reminder that just because a relative spoke about something related to the team does not mean it reflects the views of the individual who actually plays for the organization.

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Wolverines as pros: How former Michigan basketball stars are doing in the NBA

They are doing some good things in the NBA this season! #GoBlue

Going back to the John Beilein days at Michigan, the Wolverines have produced some good NBA talent.

Currently, the maize and blue have nine players in the NBA and most of them see significant playing time. There are a couple players that have a difficult time seeing the floor, but most of the former Michigan stars have an important role for their respective teams.

Former players like Zaiver Simpson, Chaundee Brown Jr., and DJ Wilson are still trying to claw their way back into the NBA and are currently in the G-League.

Here are the nine former Michigan basketball players in the NBA and their stats from the 2022-23 season.

Trades that make a lot of sense: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers and more

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

Trades that make a lot of sense: Kyrie Irving to the Lakers and more

With free agency just three days away, HoopsHype’s salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan came up with several trades he’d like to share.

In blowout home loss to Dallas, Rockets allow 130 or more points for fourth time in 10 games

Houston is 1-9 in its last 10 games, and defense continues to be the main reason. Including Friday’s blowout home loss to Dallas, they’ve allowed 130 or more points in four of those games.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a team-high 19 points and hit 5-of-10 (50.0%) on 3-pointers, leading a balanced Dallas effort on Friday night as the short-handed Mavericks cruised to a 130-106 win (box score) at Houston.

The Mavericks (21-18) won their fifth straight game with ease, even with big names like Luka Doncic (right ankle sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (health and safety protocols) sidelined. Dallas had six players score in double figures and had a combined 67 points from its reserves.

The Rockets (11-29) had five players score in double figures and were led Friday by Christian Wood’s 20 points (61.5% FG) in 24 minutes, but Houston allowed a whopping 80 points in the first half and appeared completely uncompetitive on the defensive end. They were also crushed by Dallas in the rebounding battle by a 67-46 margin.

The Rockets have now given up 130 or more points in six games during the 2021-22 season, and four of those have come within the last 10 games. Not coincidentally, they are 1-9 in that period.

On offense, Jae’Sean Tate and Garrison Mathews scored 15 points apiece, while young guards Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, with each shooting 4-of-8 from the field (50.0%).

The Rockets will continue their three-game homestand with a visit from Minnesota on Sunday, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CST. Until then, scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction from Friday, with particular attention paid to Houston’s ongoing struggles on defense.

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Free Agency Stock Watch: Tim Hardaway Jr, Justise Winslow, Montrezl Harrell

HoopsHype analyzes which impending free agent’s stock are up and which are down approaching 2021 NBA free agency.

We are now in the home stretch of the season, meaning the campaigns of various fine NBA players, including impending 2021 free agents, are about to be over until 2021-22.

For some players, that’s just fine, as their impressive play in 2020-21 has them positioned to earn a nice payday this upcoming offseason.

However, for others, poor recent play could leave a bad taste in potentially interested teams’ mouths and cost them money in free agency.

For some of the lucky ones in the latter predicament, however, the playoffs will serve as a great opportunity for them to improve their stock ahead of free agency.

Below, check out the latest edition of our free agency stock watch, where we determine whose stock is up and whose is down ahead of a very important offseason.

Free agency stock watch: Jarrett Allen, Derrick Rose, Norman Powell and more

We are getting closer to the 2021 NBA trade deadline, which means teams will soon have to make decisions about the future of their rosters. That kind of critical thinking surrounding roster construction impacts players around the league. So as front …

We are getting closer to the 2021 NBA trade deadline, which means teams will soon have to make decisions about the future of their rosters.

That kind of critical thinking surrounding roster construction impacts players around the league. So as front offices continue to look inward and examine if they will be buyers or sellers when the trade market heats up, executives are also thinking about who they plan to re-sign or let walk during the offseason.

As part of our ongoing series at HoopsHype, we are looking at whose free agency stock has gone up – and down – over the last several games.

Mavs outshoot James Harden, Rockets behind Tim Hardaway Jr., Luka Doncic

“We played hard, we just didn’t make any shots,” said James Harden, who shot 29.4% from the field. “We didn’t get the shots we wanted.”

As Rockets superstar James Harden saw it, there was a simple explanation for Houston’s 113-100 loss (box score) to the rival Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at Toyota Center. “We played hard, we just didn’t make any shots,” Harden said postgame.

It’s hard to argue. Harden did post a solid line of 21 points and 10 assists, but he shot just 5-of-17 (29.4%) from the field, and his plus/minus figure of -24 in 38 minutes was worst on the team. By comparison, the Rockets were +11 in the nine-plus minutes that Harden did not play.

Meanwhile, backcourt mate John Wall shot just 4-of-10 from the field (40%), with 14 points in 33 minutes. Big man Christian Wood did lead Houston with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting (53.3%), but he was pulled midway through the fourth quarter after struggling on defense. He also missed all five of his 3-point attempts, and the Rockets (2-3) shot just 11-of-40 (27.5%) as a team from behind the 3-point arc on Monday night.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks (3-4) finally got hot after a sluggish start on offense to the 2020-21 season. Reserve guard Tim Hardaway Jr. entered shooting 32.7% on 3-pointers, but he scored 30 points and made an astounding 8-of-10 (80.0%) from long range in Houston. Meanwhile, expected MVP candidate Luka Doncic scored a game-high 33 points (with three 3-pointers) after entering Monday averaging 24.4 points per game on just 16.1% shooting from behind the arc.

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The Rockets weren’t thrilled with their defensive performance, but the postgame reaction was much more about the shots they didn’t make on offense than the shots they allowed on defense.

“We reverted back to isolation basketball,” said head coach Stephen Silas. “We were way too stagnant. Didn’t move the ball enough to put pressure on [the Dallas defense]. The amount of our five-out possessions were minimal, and it’s got to be fixed.”

“We didn’t get the shots we wanted,” concluded Harden.

Monday’s loss snapped a two-game winning streak by the Rockets, who will resume play on Wednesday night in Indiana.

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