Tim Hardaway Jr. wasn’t born until 1992, so it’s true that Jason Kidd is dating himself by referencing a 1989 film to jokingly suggest a cure for Hardaway’s filmmaking crisis.
In (beginning italics) Major League, (end italics) voodoo outfielder Pedro Cerrano sought extra punching power by requesting the sacrifice of a live chicken. Instead, catcher Jake Taylor hands Cerrano a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
“A whole chicken, like you said.”
No one in the Mavericks organization views Hardaway’s month-long struggles as a laughing matter, but sometimes a little dark humor helps break the ice.
In 14 games since Jan. 31, Hardaway has averaged 10.2 points on 34.2 percent shooting from the field and 31.2 percent on 3-point attempts. His decline is even more pronounced in the last eight games: 8.5 points on average, 32.5% shooting and 27.7% at 3 points.
“Maybe we were watching (begin italics) the Major League, (end italics) get some Kentucky Fried Chicken and put it in his locker,” Kidd joked after Sunday’s home loss to Philadelphia, in which Hardaway shot 1 for 8. “No, we’re confident Timmy will be fine. The beauty of sport is that you have to fail to succeed.
Trust. That’s the word Kidd uses most often when asked about Hardaway, who in six seasons as Maverick has had and has always overcome other crises.
The problem is that the Mavericks (34-27) have lost four of their last five games and have fallen to eighth in the West heading into Tuesday’s home game against Indiana.
Even though Hardaway is playing fewer minutes since the acquisitions of PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, there is a strong correlation between the Mavericks’ team success and Hardaway’s individually.
In games in which Hardaway scores 15 or more points this season, Dallas is 22-11. When he scores at least 20 points, Dallas is 11-4.
In Dallas’ 33 wins he played in, Hardaway averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 42.8% shooting from the field and 38.6% from 3-point range.
Hardaway’s averages in the 25 Mavericks losses he played in: 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 39.3% shooting, 31.3% 3-point shooting.
It probably doesn’t help that Hardaway is a pacey shooter who, for the season, averaged 13.75 attempts per game. Over the last 14 games, he has attempted an average of 10.6 shots; in the last eight games, 9.6 shots.
“I try to make a conscious effort to pick my spots, but I also try to stay aggressive at the same time,” Hardaway said. “We’ve got a few new guys now, so they’ve thrived and we’ve won, so I’m not really trying to do too aggressively, but at the same time, I’m picking my spots there.”
Hardaway made the comments after the Mavericks shooting in Boston last Friday. The Mavericks then lost to the Celtics by 28 and came home and fell to the Sixers, so Dallas can no longer be said to be winning or thriving.
Hardaway’s words, however, illustrate the tightrope players sometimes have to walk after trade deadline deals alter the roster.
Although Hardaway’s shooting numbers began to decline before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, he’s now trying to get back into the rhythm that had him shooting 37 percent on 3-pointers before that 14-game slump.
As Kidd said after Philadelphia’s loss, all of the Mavericks except Luka Doncic — who was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for February on Monday — and Kyrie Irving must make offensive sacrifices of a one way or another.
The numbers indicate that no one sacrifices more than Hardaway, who turns 32 on March 16. To his credit, however, he speaks enthusiastically about the new additions and their impact.
“It took me a while personally, but they came in and became a big positive light for our team,” he said. “They do exactly what the coaches tell them to do. They are sponges. They want to win.
“They’re coming from organizations where they haven’t really won that much, respectfully, and they’re coming here now, learning new trends, learning how to play together as a team. But also to have individual success. Once they realize that winning gives everyone success and everything comes, it’s a beautiful thing.
After the acquisitions, the Mavericks went 3-0 before the All-Star break. At 2-4 since the break, Dallas is No. 5 in the NBA in offensive rating, but is last among 30 teams in defensive rating.
A week ago, Kidd said Washington and Gafford were making a smooth transition into Dallas’ offensive and defensive systems. But lately, Dallas has been looking like a disaster.
“The true testament of a great team is how they adapt to roles,” Irving said. “You don’t let your emotions get the better of you because you want to be there.
“There are so many little extra moments in the game where we could all be better. It starts with me and then we just have to have that fluidity of communication and understand that we’re not out of the game.
“We have one of the most powerful offenses in the world. Not just me and Luka, but the pieces that we have on this team, and we just have to trust and believe in it.
There’s that word again: trust.
“Continue to stay positive,” Doncic said of Hardaway’s slump. “We all know he’s going to be himself again.”
Hardaway is one of the hardest-working Mavericks, so the problem certainly isn’t the lack of practice repetition.
Repetition in games, however, will be harder to come by as Kidd gradually gives Dante Exum increased playing time on the second unit.
“Understand, we’ve all been in a bad situation shooting a ball or playing basketball — or sometimes it’s in life that we might be in a crisis,” Kidd said.
“And so being able to find out who is really on your side, to try to help you through this, and that’s what we’re here to do is help him do that. We trust and We need Timmy if we want to win a championship.
