Ready for the good news and then the bad news? Most of the Dallas Mavs roster is completely rested and cured of any annoying injuries they had to deal with before the break.
However, the Mavs will be without a few significant players in their fight for the NBA 2020 crown. Guard Jalen Brunson did not go to Orlando with the team, confirmed coach Rick Carlisle on Thursday after practice. He stayed in Dallas to finish the rehabilitation on the surgically repaired shoulder.
The 23-year-old will not be available in Orlando at all, although the Mavs will advance to the final. The team expects Brunson to be ready for the start of the 2020-2021 season, which is expected to begin in December.
The Mavs will also be without Dwight Powell (torn ACL), Courtney Lee (calf injury), Willie Cauley-Stein (chose to be present at the birth of her son) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
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The Mavs 6 practice in the “bubble” was a scrum, which Carlisle described as “very competitive”. The teams were not divided by beginners and non-beginners.
Coming soon, the MAVs have a day off and their first scrimmage on the horizon. Carlisle explained in detail what the three Dallas scenes will look like:
July 23 at 6:00 pm CT: Mavs vs. Lakers, 10-minute quarters, probably no shows.
July 26, 3:00 pm CT: Mavs vs. Pacers, will be broadcast, regulatory game
July 28, 7:30 pm CT: Mavs vs. 76ers, will be broadcast, regulatory game
The Dallas Mavericks have 14 days before their first official game (against The Rockets at 20:00 CT) of the NBA’s restart in Orlando. The Mavs made the most of their time as “bubbles” at the Walt Disney World Resort, speeding up gym exercises and playing golf, fishing and pulling their free time galore.
