Mavs sign Justin Holiday to add depth to their backcourt

DENVER — To deal with the lack of depth in the backcourt, the Dallas Mavericks signed defenseman Justin Holiday to deal on Wednesday.

Holiday played this season with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Houston Rockets on February 9.

Explaining why the Mavs fit him, the 180-pound 6-6 Holiday said, “First of all, they have a really good team. A team that puts the ball in the basket, a team that has a chance to win and do something special, and I want to be a part of that. I think what I do on the court complements what this team does.

“Of course I can throw the ball. I think the most important thing I can do to help them is just playing defense. I protect from one to four.”

And defense—or lack of it—has been a stumbling block around the Mavs’ neck this season.

“I’m a veteran so I know what to do, I know what other teams are going to do, I know what the players are going to do,” Holiday said. “So I just think I can come in and help the team as much as I can, hopefully do something special because this team is an amazing team.”

Holiday also likes the idea of ​​playing alongside Mavs star guard Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

“The two-headed snake that we have,” Holiday said, “it will be very difficult for teams to beat us.”

Holiday, 33, is a ten-year veteran who comes from a family of basketball players. In fact, one of his brothers, Jrue, plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, and another brother, Aaron, plays for the Hawks.

“I think when you talk about Justin, you’re only looking at his ability, his length, his ability to shoot and be a pro,” coach Jason Kidd said. “You look at his family and the success they’ve had in this league so we’re very excited to have him on board.”

Holiday is also excited to be on board the Mavs.

“Obviously I know what to do with other teams,” Holiday said. “But once I play with them and see what they like, I’m just going to do little things to try and help these two guys (Doncic and Irving).

“But then again, this team is very, very exciting. I know I’m going to see a lot of amazing things with these two guys on this team.”

Holiday has averaged 4.5 points and 14.7 minutes in 28 games for the Hawks this season. And for some reason, he’s only played 11 minutes since January 1st.

“We were talking this morning and he said he could give us whatever we need,” Kidd said. “It’s just the person that he is.”

Now I play with my 11^th Franchise Holiday said he didn’t know Doncic, but had previously dated Irving.

“Me and (Irving) were both at Harrison Barnes’ wedding,” Holiday said. “So I talked and we spent some time together.

“But other than that, if I saw him, I was guarding him on the other team. But I know him better than Luca.

SHORT NBA SEASON?: With so many players, especially those of All-Star level, missing a lot of games this season, the age-old question resurfaced on Wednesday whether the 82-game season should be shortened, possibly reducing players’ chances of getting injured.

“I don’t think the league will ever do that,” Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “In an 82-game season, there is too much historical significance.

“I’ve been in a few lockouts and a few shortened seasons with Covid in a bubble.”

Malone, however, is a realist.

“I think if you want the best possible player availability, shortening the season could be in the best interest of everyone involved,” he said. “But it’s also a big loss of money, TV games, money. Let’s not forget that this is a business, so let’s wait and see how the NBA reacts to this. This.”

Coach Jason Kidd has also heard talk of a possible reduction in the number of games played by NBA teams.

“There will always be talk,” Kidd said. “But with the finances of today’s games, if you roll back (the games), that means you’ll probably have to roll back finances.

“So I don’t think NBA players or staff will go for it, but who knows. Let’s see.”

Malone credits NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for trying to strike a balance between what is needed for players, fans and the league.

“That’s one thing he really prioritizes – player availability, star player availability,” Malone said. “And they did everythingthat they can try to eliminate as many as they can in a row, (and) four games in five nights. But it’s a long season.”

SHORT: Defensemen Kyrie Irving (lower back stiffness) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (right hamstring stiffness), center Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) and forward Davis Bertans (left calf sprain) both missed Wednesday’s game. Coach Jason Kidd said of Irving’s injury: “It happens. It could be because of the crash in that game (against the Minnesota on Monday).” Kidd also said he expects Irving to play in Sunday’s All-Star Game. . .Kidd said his message to his players before the All-Star break was: “Just enjoy the break. This is (against Denver) the 60th game, so we’ll look at 22 (games) after (the All-Star break). So take some rest and then it turns into a sprint. We will start playing a lot more teams in the Western Conference ahead of us or behind us, so just be prepared for this sprint.” By virtue of having the best record in the Western Conference, Nuggets coach Michael Malone and his assistants will be one of two coaching staffs at Sunday’s All-Star Game. . Asked what he’s looking forward to when he plays his fourth All-Star game on Sunday, Luka Doncic replied: “Sunday when I fly to Mexico.” This season, the Mavs played 2-2 against the Nuggets. Will the Nuggets be the best team in the Western Conference after the end of the regular season? “I think there are a lot of great teams out there, but obviously with a guy like (Nuggets center Nikola) Jokic, they’re probably the favorites (to win in the West),” Doncic said. “It is very difficult to play against him. So when you have a guy like Jokic on your team, you are always the favorite.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice