DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - TNT's Kenny "The Jet" Smith joined 105.3 The Fan Monday to talk about the Mavericks' chances of contending when the league re-boots in Orlando later this month.
"They have a great opportunity. I don't look at this as a continuation (of the season). When you're off three or four months ... Luka, Porzingis ... they've had a chance to really digest how to play together," Smith said. "This is like their next year. So whatever they were going to be at the start of next year is how they are going to look in this bubble. You're going to see a different team, possibly. A different energy, a different confidence in those two guys. So they have an opportunity to really shine through this time."
Dallas was in 7th place in the western conference when the league halted play on March 11. They sit just 1.5 games behind the Thunder and the Rockets in the standings with eight games to be played in the Disney World bubble to determine their final playoff seeding.
Meanwhile, the Mavs are gaining confidence as they returned to their practice facility last week following the long layoff.
"The tone in our gym is very positive, great energy,'' coach Rick Carlisle said via a DFW media Zoom call following the team's first workout. "The guys have worked extremely hard."
