The Dallas Mavericks’ season and Jose Barea’s life have flowed into the same river this week.
The Mavericks — in huge trouble after their loss to Sacramento on Sunday — had not inspired confidence that they could take care of inferior opponents. However, they were able to push through their injuries and roster limitations to fend off Denver and — in a late rally — the New York Knicks. Those victories on Monday and Wednesday certainly provided a measure of calm in the push for one of the Western Conference’s last two playoff spots, behind solidly-established Memphis and Portland (likely fifth and sixth in one order or another by season’s end).
The Mavericks definitely took a step forward by beating bad teams; that’s not something Rick Carlisle’s club could take for granted. That said, Dallas had to be able to beat at least a few teams with superior records if it wanted to become a better-than-even-money bet to make the playoffs. Friday night’s visit to Auburn Hills, Michigan, for a date with the Detroit Pistons demanded a new birth for the Mavs.
Enter Jose Barea, who — earlier on Friday — welcomed the birth of his daughter, Paulina.
If the Mavericks needed a nativity not just of flesh, but in spirit, Barea gave it to them. The veteran’s 29-point tour de force marked the perfect way to honor his newborn child. On a powerful metaphorical level, the difference-making effort in a 98-89 victory might have awakened something in Dallas that can carry this team to the new life afforded by a postseason spot.
First, let’s offer a few notes on the significance of this result:
Dallas carved out a one-game lead over the Houston Rockets for a playoff spot and — in a matter of secondary importance — established a tie with the Utah Jazz for seventh. The Mavericks host Houston next week, so if they can enter that game with a one-game lead in the standings, a win would put them very close to the finish line. A loss to the Pistons would have created a more cloudy environment; this win is a leverage-shifting event.
As for Detroit, the Pistons are joining the rest of the East’s last few playoff pursuers in absorbing every last ounce of pressure. The Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and soon-to-be-eliminated Washington Wizards have all sagged and faltered in the late-season stretch run. The Pistons had a chance to give themselves a cushion heading into Saturday night’s huge game in Chicago, but now a loss to the Bulls would create an almost-level playing field with the Bulls and Pacers heading into the final 11 days of the season.
As for the nature of this result: In a word, it rates as a surprise.
Not only was Dallas short-handed coming into The Palace; the Pistons were wrapping up their mammoth nine-game homestand. Beyond that point alone, the Pistons were also playing this game with two full days of rest, and after having played just one game over the previous five days. That game came against an Oklahoma City team which was resting its stars.
The Pistons should have been fresh as a daisy; more specifically, they were in position to use their bench, which coach Stan Van Gundy said had been playing well in recent weeks.
Not only did Dallas get 29 from Barea on a night of unexpected plot twists; the Mavericks’ bench outscored the Pistons’ bench by a 23-6 count. Detroit’s reserves managed this shooting line: 2-12 from the field, 2-7 on threes, and not one free throw attempt, all in 48 combined minutes.
Speaking of free throws: Andre Drummond, shooting under 37 percent from the foul line this season, had to be removed by Van Gundy midway through the fourth quarter. Carlisle wisely employed the Hack-A-Drummond tactic, and with Drummond going 2 for 10 from the stripe, SVG felt he had little choice. Dallas’s offense surged when Drummond was not providing rim protection for Detroit, and the architecture of a nine-point win for the visitors had been fully constructed.
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Beating Denver and the Knicks put an end to bad losses, but on Friday night the Dallas Mavericks gave birth to a quality win. Jose Barea and his team walk the earth with sunshine in their steps today… while Detroit faces a very grim and urgent business trip to Chicago on a Saturday night in April.
