Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle is using Boston Celtics swingman Gordon Hayward’s struggles last year and success this season as an example of the process that Mavs star Kristaps Porzingis is going through.
Porzingis missed all of last season recovering from his ACL tear, so naturally, the Mavs big man is struggling with his shot to begin the 2019-20 campaign:
Rick Carlisle refers to Gordon Hayward’s struggles last year and success now as an example of the process that Kristaps Porzingis is going through. “I’m not saying it’s going to take that long for KP, but what I am saying is we’ve all got to manage expectations for this.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 8, 2019
Last season, Hayward averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Celtics while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 83.4 percent from the free-throw line. He didn’t have the year he thought he was going to have, but we have to remember Hayward was coming back from that gruesome ankle injury he suffered in 2017-18 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night.
Hayward is playing like an All-Star so far this season. Eventually, Carlisle and the Mavs are expecting Porzingis to play like an All-Star as well.
Through the Mavs' first seven games, Porzingis is putting up 19.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. KP is shooting 41.2 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from the 3-point line. Those are shooting splits Porzingis can't be happy with.
The good news is the Mavs are 5-2 on the season and Porzingis has plenty of time to find his rhythm.
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