By james art 
All-Star Break is a great time for NBA players to recharge the mental battery and rest some joints that may be ill.
But it does not always leave a good residue.
Kiri Irving was long enough and part of enough holidays for all stars that he knows that the first game of the vacation can be difficult for the eyes.
“You will see some examples of good and not so good basketball,” he said.
And there were few in the victory of Mavericks 111-103 over New Orleans on Friday.
The first half, which was competitive, but not particularly sharp on both sides, gave way to a fun and well -played second half, and this is what Irving can happen.
“I just told my boys before the match, the first half, don’t think too much of that,” he said. “We’re coming out of the All-Star break. Just get up and descend, blow a little carbon out of your lungs. See that the ball goes to the rim several times, and in the second half it will be settled, which I think we did. “
And it was a nice thing. Starting stretching with the loss of the team with the worst record in the Western Conference would not be a good tone.
Mavericks won for the fifth time in six games, returned to this lifting, and maybe a victory changing the season in Boston at the end of a 10-day trip.
The NBA plays for maintaining the rest of the road. Mavericks left only 25 games left and try to avoid the games for teams sown seventh to 10th At the end of the regular season of 82 games.
“The time of the season,” Irving said. “It means something. We are trying to get a playoff, which matters. So we have something to play for. I’m not trying to add too much pressure. We want to have fun, but we know where we are in the season. “
Here are our others from the victory on Friday:
Dad was no joke: PJ Washington became a dad for the fourth time during the All-Star break, after which he celebrated with a 20-point first half against Pelicans, which was almost the only reason why Mavericks managed to keep the lead for most of the first 24 minutes. “I am amazing, I have a chance to actually get it into the world, you can say,” Washington told the newborn. “So I just could appreciate this moment with my family meant the world to me. My fourth son, all the boys. Just a blessing. “As Washington was of Maericks. He returned to his role or in the center or in the center, unlike his natural position with a little progress. With all the injuries that Mapesties had in the center (Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis, Dwight Powell), no longer wants to be classified as a center. The lining to make him play more in the paint. We play together, we feel that we can beat anyone with any composition. The group we had there tonight.
How exactly did the males do it? They won five of six and did so as Liveli, and Powell was missing all these games, Guffer plays only in two, and Davis only participated in a quarter of two and a half. How? “The word: a team,” said coach Jason Kid. “We rely on each other, not just Kai or (Max) Christie or PJ, we rely on everyone to play their role and everyone plays their role at a high level. We are probably not the biggest team right now. We need everyone to bounce the ball. “Indeed, Irving is the engine.” He is very patient and understands when to go and what the team needs, “Kid said.” He has chosen his seats. He wants his teammates to be aggressive and insert. When he enters. In an area like this, it is fun to watch. “We have many bodies that still play. Call Nico (Harrison, GM) and these guys. We were signed for some reason. We show the test every time. “
It wasn’t all pink: Mavericks will never stop for victory, but the elephant in the room remains their internal physics. The Pelicans beat the males in the paint 56-36. The points of the second chance were 16-11 in favor of New Orleans. Put yourself on the 22-10 advantage in quick breakdown points and this is something like an attachment head about how they won Mavericks. The hitting of 16 triphoners does not hurt. They are now 16-5 this season when they hit 15 or more threes. But the lag, as they did in points in the paint, would probably cost them against a more talented team.
X: @esefko