Rockets vs. Mavs: Parsons getting back to old self.
Midway through the third quarter against Boston on Monday, Chandler Parsons wheeled into the paint, got around his man and converted a layup that looked like so many moves he’s made before. As in, before this season. The quickness and athleticism Parsons owns has been slow to return since his knee surgery last May. That was expected.
Not that that’s any comfort to him or the Mavericks, who play the Rockets on Sunday at Toyota Center.
“It’s not easy,” owner Mark Cuban said. “No one said it was going to be easy. And it’s not frustrating anybody more than him.”
The Mavericks knew they weren’t going to get a 100-percent healthy Parsons for perhaps a year after his knee surgery, Cuban said. But they hope 80 percent or 90 percent is good enough to help them have a successful season.
In 35 games this season — he’s only missed eight games, which is remarkable given the surgery he had — Parsons has averaged 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He’s shooting .346 from 3-point range.
Those are all way below his career norms.
However, in the last nine games, his numbers are 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He’s shooting 11 for 30 (.367).
Those might not seem like big jumps. But in this long process, it’s progress.
“It’s been a crazy time so far,” Parsons said. “It’s been an up-and-down season so far. I’ve never felt soreness or a step slow. I’ve never played basketball not feeling like myself. So it’s definitely taken some time.
“I’m playing way before the doctors said so, which is a good thing. It would be miserable if I wasn’t playing yet. I’m just going to continue to work and I’ll be back [to normal] soon.”
That’s the hope, anyway. But the fact is that the Mavericks understand this was a major surgery and it might be next season before Parsons is at his best.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be flashes the rest of this season. Parsons should continue to improve his conditioning and rhythm, which will do nothing but help him and the team.
“He’s an important guy for us,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s an element we need on our team to be at our best.”
“We’ve been a little bit inconsistent, but I feel like we’ve beaten the teams that we should have beaten,” Parsons said. “We just have to try and find a way to be more consistent, and continue to get better and better and play our best basketball and our healthiest basketball down the stretch.”
Parsons also said he’s been putting in extra work on his shot with a pretty good shooting buddy, Dirk Nowitzki.
“I’m trying to get it up in the air and not shoot it so flat,” he said.
Notable: The Mavericks are 8-12 when they play against teams that are .500 or better. And they are 1-8 against the six divisional leaders.
The lone win was against Golden State when the Warriors visited Dallas and MVP Stephen Curry didn’t play.
Their next crack at a division leader is Friday when Oklahoma City visits AAC.