Kidd still optimistic about Mavs' playoff chances despite dropping below .500
For the first time since mid-December, the Dallas Mavericks are a sub-.500 squad.
Head coach Jason Kidd isn't too concerned with their recent slide, however.
"How do we measure success?" Kidd asked after Monday's 104-88 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to The Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend. "Some would say by your record, but I think at the end of the day, if we can get healthy, we feel that we can do a lot in the playoffs."
At 34-35, the Mavericks are down to eighth in a volatile Western Conference and within the play-in range. They're only a half-game clear, though, of the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Oklahoma City Thunder immediately behind them, who could knock Kidd's side out of the postseason picture entirely in just a two-game swing.
That potential outcome likely isn't what the team's front office envisioned when it pulled off a blockbuster trade in February for Kyrie Irving in order to finally complement Luka Doncic with a long-awaited co-star. However, Irving and Doncic have now missed multiple games with foot and thigh injuries, respectively, as the Mavericks have lost three straight and nine of their last 12.
Kidd believes Dallas is still positioned to make a playoff run if they can get their entire cast on the court again.
"Just understand, our health. This is what we have," Kidd said Monday. "This is the cards we're dealt, just like anybody in this league. ... Understand, we were getting better. It's just a matter of if we can be healthy in time to make a stretch run. And if we're not, that's just the season.
"No one's dying."