World News – USA – Mavs-Lakers Briefs

As we’re luckily nearing the flipping of the calendar, it hurts to think about 2020, which certainly makes the tightest list for the worst year ever.

It hurts even more when the hits keep coming back, like at Christmas.

At the Mavericks in Los Angeles, where the legend of Kobe Bryant stays strong 11 months after his tragic death, there was more bad news on Friday with the death of legendary coach K.. C.. . Jones.

He played and trained for the Boston Celtics, won a dozen – yes, 12 – championship rings in his career, and was the first coach Rick Carlisle had in the NBA.

« A very sad day for many of us, » Carlisle said ahead of the Mavericks Lakers game Christmas Eve. “I played for him in Boston for three years. Wonderful man. Wonderful basketball man. I’ve lost the number of championships he’s won as a player and a coach.

“I hooked up with a lot of people from our 86 team game today to talk about it. He will be missed very much. ”

« He was a man of few words, and when he spoke his words always had meaning, » he said. “And one thing I’ve learned from him that I’m trying to bring into play myself is how to measure the amount of conversation you’re having. Make sure the things you say are relevant and meaningful. And taking care of people. He was the guy you always knew cared about the guys he trained. Just a very special person. ”

Remember, 2020 began with the deaths of NBA commissioners David Stern and Bryant in January. And that was before the coronavirus crisis trumped everything.

Christmas was a good time to look back, particularly on Bryant, when the Mavericks played the first of two games at Bryant’s house, Staples Center.

« My memories (of Kobe), a lot of them are difficult because in certain instances he would get big hits and break your heart, » said Carlisle. “But he was a great competitor and he had a lot of respect for those who competed at his level and occasionally beyond it. ”

For example, Carlisle said 2011 when the Mavericks swept the Lakers in the playoffs on their way to the championship was an eye-opening experience for him regarding Bryant.

« He was very gracious and only personally when I met him in the years that followed, he always had a firm handshake, how is the family – just a respectful guy, » said Carlisle. “And I have the greatest respect for him. In the months since the tragedy as the father of a 16-year-old daughter, the pictures of him and his daughters and Gigi in particular, they really sink in when you’re a girl like me. ”

Porzingis « Weeks » Away: Carlisle said the 7-3 center Kristaps Porzingis stepped up its activities on the trip but the schedule for returning from his right knee surgery in October remains uncertain.

« He’s always making progress, » said Carlisle. « At this point, I’m confident it’s weeks, not months. But that’s all I’ll tell you. ”

This is in line with statements made during training camp that it would be at least January before Porzingis was ready to get back on the ground.

« He’s had two days playing, » said Carlisle. “He played two on two on half the pitch and yesterday he played four on four for about 30 minutes, which was great. And he did well.

“But he still has a long way to go. And we have to try to get him enough exercise reps at a time when the schedule is likely to make it harder to find a good practice time. But he’s doing better. ”

Carlisle added that the Mavericks’ obvious physical issues with the Lakers during the 138-115 LA Christmas win won’t simply go away when a player returns.

« He (Porzingis) will help us a lot, no question about it, » he said. “But we have to get tougher. ”

What really matters: The Mavericks are like everyone else. You have learned what is important in 2020.

Carlisle said he had become very aware of what he thinks is the most valuable asset we have.

« We have all learned a lot about our world and the fragility of life, » he said. « There is so much going on in the world. If you follow the financial side, somehow the stock market continues to do well. Cryptocurrency is becoming an important part of our financial culture.

“But if you think about it, the most important currency we have is time. And we have to use it as best we can. ”

In the case of the Mavericks, this means making the most of it with a young team that, thanks to Luka Dončić’s size, brings with it tons of hope.

« One of the things that is daunting is that we are trying to get to a championship level team at some point, the steps you have to go through to get there, » said Carlisle. “For us Wednesday (losing to Phoenix) was another of those steps, some mistakes in some areas that are fundamental. We have tried to address these and move forward. We look forward to this challenge today. ”

You have to wait for the next challenge, which is at 2:30 p.m.. m. on Tuesday against the Clippers.

But the good news is the Mavericks understand that this season they are kicking off some of the toughest games of the first three months of planning.

« Our opening schedule is obviously challenging as these three games have to start on the street (and 11 of their first 16 on the street), » he said. “We have to keep reminding ourselves to stay in the present, focus on every single game, involve each other, play together and do the right things. This process will lead us to the success we want to experience. ”

In short: The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 35-0 in the second chance. They are the first team to score more than 35 second chance points since at least 1997 and their opponent stinks . . . It was also the most second chance points the Lakers have scored since November. 12, 1996 (35 in Houston) . . . The Mavericks’ 27 rebounds were five for the least in a game. They had 22 against Miami in 2017.

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Kristaps Porziņģis, Dallas Mavericks, Rick Carlisle, Luka Dončić, NBA, Los Angeles Lakers