Undefeated at home at this prosperous start to the season, the Mavs however had a big scare against the modest Hornets on Sunday evening. If Dallas ended up winning (124-118), the Texan franchise can thank its “role players”, who took over from the two superstars, Luka Doncic (23 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) and Kyrie Irving ( 18 points, 10 assists), a bit at half mast.
“I’m going to say it now but I’ll keep saying it all season: Jaden [Hardy], [Derek] Lively and Josh Green, those three guys, are going to be super important to us.”asserts Grant Williams on the Mavs website. “They have to continue to improve every day, make the right reads and bring the energy that they bring. They inspire us. They do a great job adapting to the roles they are given. There will be matches where Josh will play 30 minutes, and Jaden five. But the next one, the latter will be entitled to 34 minutes. Their attitude, their approach, that will be the real barometer of this team. »
A former member of Team Ignite
Author of 14 points in 15 minutes, including a fierce dunk over the head of Nick Richards from the baseline, Jaden Hardy well and truly embodied this energy coming off the bench, while the Mavericks had been trailing since the middle of the first quarter. Already decisive at the end of the match against the Bulls, the former member of Team Ignite perfectly brought the spark that was needed to the Mavs who had been asleep for a long time against the Hornets.
“When I hear my name, I am ready to give everything”, confirms Hardy, who missed the first week of the regular season. “I just try to bring my energy when I go on the pitch, to give a spark to the team and propel it. This is what happened tonight. »
“We struggled offensively but we never gave up! »
Just like Derek Lively II who finished with a double-double at 15 points and 14 rebounds, with a hyper efficient 7/9 shooting, Hardy had understood the instructions of Jason Kidd who wanted to set the pace and try to attack the Hornets before until their defense is put in place.
“We talked about it before the match and the players understood the message. They applied it to the letter on the ground”Coach Kidd was satisfied. “We missed some shots, but it happens. It’s a victory that isn’t pretty but it goes in the win column. This group is growing before our eyes. We struggled offensively but we never gave up! In the second half they could have easily given in and started thinking about the game [suivant] in Orlando. But this group is to be congratulated. »
In his second NBA season, after a rather interesting rookie campaign with an average of 9 points at 43% on shots including 40% at 3-points, Hardy confirmed that he could be an important element of the Mavs rotation with his qualities of scoring. By accepting his role fully. Just like Lively and Green…
“I always want to thank these guys because I’ve been in this role and I know how difficult it can be,” concludes Williams. “They bring a lot of energy every day and they make sure the ultimate goal is to win. They will really benefit in the end. »
| Jaden Hardy | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 48 | 15 | 43.8 | 40.4 | 82.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 8.8 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 3 | 13 | 36.8 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 7.0 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 1 | 10 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 |
| Total | 51 | 15 | 43.5 | 41.0 | 82.7 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 8.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
