Kidd isn’t letting Luka Doncic off the hook and expects a significant change upon his return

The Dallas Mavericks have now won seven of their last eight games as they sit in fifth place in the Western Conference at 12-8. Behind this hot winning streak were excellent performances from PJ Washington, Kyrie Irving and several others who have had to step up in the absence of Luka Doncic over the last five games.

Doncic is out with a wrist sprain he suffered against the New Orleans Pelicans nearly two weeks ago, and it looks like his return is on track. He was listed as questionable for the Mavs’ game against the Utah Jazz last night and has ramped up his activities ahead of his return to the court.

With the Mavs playing so well without Doncic, head coach Jason Kidd will have to figure out how to keep that winning streak going even after his return.

This shouldn’t be too much of a challenge as Doncic is a top player in the NBA when fully healthy and Kidd continues to have confidence in Doncic despite the issues that slowed him down earlier in the season.

“We’ve done this before,” Kidd said on Nov. 29 about adjusting once Doncic returns. “Usually you take a step back to wait for him. We have to keep increasing the pace. He’ll find a way to make it work. We’re looking forward to hopefully having him back soon.”

In the last five games (without Doncic), Dallas ranked seventh in the NBA with an offensive rating of 116.3. Her ability to play quickly, advance the ball in transition, move the ball and attack the defensive screen has played a big role in that, and Kidd wants to keep it that way.

They don’t want to “wait” for Doncic. Kidd wants his team to continue playing fast, and he expects Doncic to be able to make that change.

From October 23 through November 16 (the first 13 games of the season in which Doncic played in all games), the Mavs were 11th in the NBA in pace and had an offensive rating of 114.0 in those three weeks. Dallas had lost five of their last seven games before Doncic missed a game because of his knee bruise, and their slow pace was hurting them. With Doncic in the lineup, Dallas obviously plays a little slower due to his style of play, but Kidd doesn’t want to settle for what has helped them win so many games lately.

Kidd made it a point to find a way to play faster and start games stronger early in the season, and while they managed to make those changes, that trend will have to continue once Doncic returns. He seems to want Doncic to find a way to play the style that has helped them win all of these games lately, and he’s proven he can play fast when he’s fully healthy.

Doncic’s next chance to return to the floor is tonight on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers. If Doncic doesn’t return in that game, he could return in the Mavs’ final NBA Cup game in the group stage on Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center.