Dirk Nowitzki came back from his break to help lead the Mavericks to a win. However, Jason Kidd will be out for at least a week with a strained calf. Age is abounding in Dallas. So, how can the team possibly have everybody healthy at the same time, at the end of the season?
Well, I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. Stop caring about the regular season. As long as you’re in the top four in the playoffs, you’re all good. It’s the Laker and Celtic philosophy. You just need to get there. However, how much rest is required when two older players have to be sitting in and out for a certain number of games because they are injured?
Plus, Dirk isn’t 100%, he’s just good enough to go in the game. When you read his quotes about his first game back, you see that he’s really hurting:
“Moving better, got a couple of one-dribble, two-dribble-and-up pull-ups, which basically was nonexistent before I left. It’s coming back. My legs are getting stronger, my base is getting stronger, so I just got to keep on working.”
I think he needs to keep working on it, too, but I do not believe that that is going to be enough. Plus, when Jason Kidd isn’t in the game, there is not an extra facilitator and shooter. Kidd is not a spring chicken, but he made critical passes and shots last season. He cannot continue to do that if he is hobbled this year.
So, how long do you hold Kidd out? Longer than a week. You have to balance your time with him in with the amount of time you have left in the season. You want the whole team to be healthy and ready all at the same time for the playoffs.
