The Dallas Mavericks will remain hobbled.
Andrew Bogut hasn’t played since Jan. 29 with a right hamstring injury, while Deron Williams hasn’t taken the court since Jan. 25 as he tends to a left big toe sprain. It doesn’t sound like either of them will play before the NBA’s All-Star break, per the Star-Telegram‘s Dwain Price:
Rick Carlisle said he's not sure if Deron Williams (toe) and Andrew Bogut (hip) will be able to play before the All-Star break.
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) February 8, 2017
Dallas has only five games to go before its All-Star sabbatical begins, at which time Bogut and Williams will have another nine days or so to get right. So this isn’t a huge deal.
It is, however, ill-timed.
The Mavericks, while 12 games under .500, are just 3.5 games off the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot. Williams was part of a frenetic offensive starting five that was blitzing opponents prior to injury, according to NBA.com. Yogi Ferrell has performed admirable in his absence, but there is something to having Williams over Devin Harris—or Ferrell himself—down the stretch of games.
Bogut simply makes for nice defensive depth, something the Mavericks need now that they’re playing Dirk Nowitzi at center so much. All the non-Dirk lineups to defend like crazy, and Bogut is a big part of that. His trade value also won’t get any better while watching from the bench.
For the sake of the Mavericks’ still-dwindling playoff chances, it’s imperative Bogut and Williams get right by the next side of the All-Star break at the absolute latest.
