One of the NBA’s most unathletic teams just got decidedly more immobile.
Gulp.
Can’t sugarcoat this one, the Mavs are losing a ton with the departure of Chandler Parsons to season-ending knee surgery. He’s not only a 19-point scorer and a 41-percent 3-point shooter, he’s also a savvy ball-handler as a 6-foot-9 small forward.
He’s dangerous because he can hit the outside shot, but also put the ball on the floor and get to the basket and finish with athleticism and creativity around the rim.
In other words, he’s a handful to replace.
But such is life in the NBA and Wednesday night in Portland the Mavs begin their 12-game stretch to the regular-season finish line without Parsons. So, what will head coach Rick Carlisle do?
If Deron Williams can play like he did Sunday against the Blazers, filling the void will be much easier. Making a concerted effort to be more aggressive in Parsons’ absence, the point guard turned back the clock to his All-Star years in a 31-point, 16-rebound performance overshadowed only by Dirk Nowitzki’s 40-point outburst.
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Williams hasn’t been that aggressive – much less that good – all season. Can he continue it for 12 games, or more?
The Mavs are 6-3 without Parsons, but replacing a starter and Nowitzki’s backup at power forward will be a headache. Against a bigger center I think we’ll see more of Zaza Pachulia and against more mobile ones maybe more of Salah Mejri, who was fantastic Sunday with six blocked shots.
More minutes for David Lee. More minutes for Charlie Villanueva. And more grasping at straws for Carlisle.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
