Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has elevated his play in recent weeks. After solidifying his place in the starting line-up, Hardaway Jr. has become a reliable scorer to the surprise of many in Dallas. He was originally seen as the “throw in” bad contract that allowed the Mavericks to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, but now Hardaway Jr. looks like a very important piece in the Mavericks playoff hopes.
Tim Hardaway Jr. Breaking Out
Team Impact
Hardaway Jr. is the de facto starter at shooting guard in Dallas. Seth Curry had the spot to start out the season, but after his injury, Hardaway Jr. stepped up in a big way.
He rounds out a starting line up that contains Luka Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith, Porzingis, and Dwight Powell. With Doncic in the fold, Hardaway Jr. rarely has any ball-handling duties. Due to this, he hovers the perimeter and has seen a sharp improvement in his three-point shot.
When it comes down to it, Doncic is the star with Porzingis, although somewhat struggling, playing second fiddle. Hardaway Jr. has found his niche in being a third-option scorer but has recently been more reliable offensively than Porzingis. A strong example of this is the Mavericks’ most recent game versus the Sacramento Kings. The Mavericks lost, but Hardaway Jr. showed off his importance. Doncic and Porzingis were both struggling with their shooting, but Hardaway Jr. led a near improbable comeback with a 29-point effort that included splashing nine three-point attempts.
Statistics
Hardaway Jr. has averaged just over 13 points per game this season. His shooting splits are just above 43 percent in general, and slightly over 38 percent from three. These are major improvements from his original slow start.
Over the last 10 games, however, he has really stepped up to the plate. He has averaged 17 points per game along with two rebounds and two assists. His shooting splits were also borderline elite, with an overall field goal percentage of over 54 percent and nearly 48 percent from three. That level of shooting isn’t sustainable for most players, but he has clearly shown that he heard the criticism and he was quick to silence it. Besides the aforementioned Kings game, Hardaway Jr. also had performances of 26 points versus the Phoenix Suns and 31 points versus the Houston Rockets. His recent statistics show how integral he’s been on one of the league’s hottest teams.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks Future Outlook
The Mavericks have a tough slate of games in the next week including the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors. They’re going to need Hardaway Jr.’s scoring punch to at least split all of those games.
It’s no secret that Porzingis is still looking for his groove after his major injury. He’s still averaging 16 points per game, but ultimately the Mavericks need that third option as Doncic can’t always be asked to win on his own.
For now, however, Hardaway Jr. looks to be a solution. He’s a starter and his name is likely no longer on the trade block. At this rate, he can prove to be a major piece on one of the league’s better teams.
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