The Dallas Mavericks, failed pursuit of DeAndre Jordan and all, have spent nearly the entire season in position to make the playoffs, but after losing seven of eight games heading into Sunday night’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Mavs found themselves in an important spring battle, and head coach Rick Carlisle trusted 29-year-old Tunisian rookie Salah Mejri to play 32 minutes at center. The 7’2 Mejri delivered, with 13 points, 14 rebounds and a whopping six blocks.
It’s the kind of out-of-nowhere change in the rotation that one occasionally sees in the playoffs, and it only added to the postseason atmosphere in Dallas. The Mavs, for all their offensive strength with Dirk Nowitzki (who scored 40 points on Sunday), are one of the worst teams in the NBA in terms of rebounding and rim protection. Their normal starting center, Zaza Pachulia, is a great screener and help defender, but has no vertical game to speak of.
Mejri’s injection into the lineup changed the complexion of the team, but there’s no guarantee it will stick — after all, he already had a 17-point, nine-rebound game back in January. Mejri knows it, and he’s campaigning hard for more playing time, according to Tim McMahon of ESPN:
“I don’t need my confidence; I need the coach’s confidence,” said Mejri, who was plus-30 in the critical win over Portland. “I know what I can do. I know I can help this team. I can do things that no one else on this team can do, like blocking shots, bringing energy to the game. The coach has to believe in me, has to give me some more minutes. I know he does believe in me, but we have a lot of big men here that are all more experienced for me, so I don’t blame him. I’m on the bench and ready whenever he calls my name.”
Coach Rick Carlisle praised Mejri but made no promises on the 29-year-old rookie’s role moving forward. “Salah’s kept himself ready,” Carlisle said. “The stars aligned for a difference-making performance. Are there any guarantees? Hell no.”
Carlisle is one of the very best coaches in the NBA, so it’s not our place to say he needs to commit to more playing time for Mejri. Still, you can’t teach height or length, and Mejri has more of it than any other Maverick — save Shaqtin’ A Fool all-timer, JaVale McGee, who put up a DNP on Sunday and whose place in the rotation is just as tenuous as his grip on the rhythm of an NBA game. Against teams who are stout on the inside, the big Tunisian could be a major asset, but Carlisle will be the last word on who gets the run.
(Via ESPN)
