(12-16-2022, 02:14 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: I think him missing the last week of the regular season was a blessing in disguise. Two weeks to rest and recover before the first playoff game. It´s not like Maxi usually misses long stretches of the season. He just has nagging back or achilles issues.It worked out last year, sure, but back issues aren't predictable and the older you get, and more you have them the more temperamental they are. There's a reason predictions of Porter Jr only playing 5 good years in the NBA were out there and why he dropped so far in his draft.
Load management is the catch phrase in this case. But the Mavs aren´t in a position where they can afford to sit their best defender. For a contender Maxi would be the cherry on top piece that becomes a key part of the rotation in the playoffs. Like Iggy in GS. For the Mavs he is a part of their top five rotation and usually closes games.
This is also not mentioning returning from knee and hamstring injuries.