Mavs notebook: defense has adjusted with duct tape, bailing wire

The Mavericks have been winning lately without two of their best defenders in Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Don’t let that fool you that they can prosper simply by letting their offense carry them. That’s a dangerous game that usually catches up with you.

Kleber has been out since Dec. 14 with a right hamstring tear. Finney-Smith has been out since Dec. 21 with a right adductor strain. Neither appears particularly close to returning.

And while the Mavericks have won eight of their last nine games, that doesn’t diminish the importance of those two players and what they bring, particularly at the defensive end of the floor.

“The results are great when you win,” coach Jason Kidd said. “In that winning streak, we had the No. 1 offense, but the 29^th defense.

“But it works. Some would say it works because you’re not 30^th. But results, if you get the W . . . but the defense is always (adapted) to the personnel and you got to be able to adjust to that and that’s what we’re doing right now.”

Kidd said that the alterations made on the defensive end have mostly included more switching, which is designed to lighten the load on everybody at the defensive end.

“We’ve had to make adjustments to the system, probably a little bit more switching just to try to simplify things,” he said. “Until we can get guys back into their normal rotations and spots, we’ve kind of simplified (everything).

“But it changes quarter by quarter to figure out how to get a rebound or get a stop. Sometimes you got to change the pitches. And switching has been one of the pitches that’s been easier to simplify and help each other with.”

Beyond more switching, however, the concepts defensively have remained consistent. And, as always, defense is more about effort than schemes.

“We stick to our rules pretty much,” said Frank Ntilikina. “We know Dorian, Josh (Green) and Maxi are three great defenders. We all have to give 10 percent more in order to give us a chance. But the game plan stays the same. We still have our principles. And we have to cover for everybody and it comes down to effort.

“Everybody gives energy and everybody gives effort.”

Reminiscent of Barea? The New Orleans Pelicans were without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram on Saturday, but they did have Jose Alvarado.

Also known as “Grand Theft Alvarado.”

The 6-0 point guard has a knack for steals and is a general pest on defense.

And he reminds Kidd of somebody he played with a decade or so ago.

“He’s definitely on the scouting report because he’ll come out of the stands,” Kidd said of Alvarado’s quickness. “You got to locate him. The beauty of his game is he’s been doing this since college. At Georgia Tech, he’s done this when he’s on the baseline and he comes from behind to get the steal or deflection.

“But what he has really done is taken his energy and his passion – it kind of reminds me of J.J. a little bit – of just playing hard and doing the things he’s capable of doing and not going outside his box to help his team win. And they thrive on his energy.”

And when Alvarado picked Christian Wood’s pocket midway through the third quarter, the Mavericks’ lead was down to 78-67 after being as much as 23 points.

Said Pelicans coach Willie Green of Alvarado: “He brings a level of toughness, grit, energy, joy to the game – all things that we stand for as a program. We’re super proud of what Jose is doing. He’s definitely come into our program and impacted everybody in a positive way.”

Briefly: The Mavericks came back strong after their blowout loss to Boston, and the Pelicans expected nothing less. Green had this to say about Luka Dončić pregame: “It’s special to watch his ability on the basketball floor to make shots, to make his teammates better. Then, at the same time, he’s durable. You can see he’s banged up at times, but he’s gutting it out. I don’t get bored watching the great players play.” . . . Speaking of Luka, he had a remarkable pass in the first quarter that he made no-look style to the right corner when he got caught up in the air with nowhere to go. He pushed it with his right hand, although hands aren’t supposed to twist in directions that he needed to deliver the pass. It was an ooh-and-ahh moment for the crowd . . . The Mavericks were set to hop their plane for the quick flight to Oklahoma City after the game and they face a quick turnaround. After the 7 p.m. tipoff Saturday, they play the Thunder at 6 p.m. in OKC.

Twitter: @ESefko