Dallas Mavericks: No Need To Overreact To Chandler Parsons’ Struggles
Everybody calm down. Chandler Parsons is not Lamar Odom 2.0.
You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve seen/heard that comparison in the last 48 hours, thanks to Parsons’ 2-for-20 shooting stretch over his last two games. Two bad games, and all of a sudden, the large, flaming meteor is coming down fast on the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s gotten so bad that even Rick Carlisle is getting angry, saying he’s not happy with his team’s competitiveness after getting beaten soundly at home by the Miami Heat on Sunday at home.
Everybody is bracing themselves for the zombie apocalypse, and everybody’s ready to give Khloe Kardashian off to Parsons and repeat 2012 all over again.
Let me refer you to this tweet.
In the words of the great @AaronRodgers12 "RELAX"
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 6, 2014
Please, people. Refer to LeBron James‘ advice from the advice of Aaron Rodgers. For those worrying about the Dallas Mavericks, relax. Please, for the love of everything that is good in the world, relax.
And please relax about Parsons.
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Now, there are things not to relax about, much like the Mavericks’ collapses in the third quarter, perimeter defense and the inability to rebound on some nights.
Those are each going to be season-long projects. It’s uncertain if they’ll even be fixed by the time we get to April. But when it comes to Dallas’ big-time free agent acquisition, he’ll get it together.
Yes, Parsons hasn’t shot the ball well the last couple of games, mainly because he’s been dealing with flu-like symptoms. After the Portland game this past Thursday, there were no complaints about Parsons.
Now, after two games, people are ready to send him to the bench and for him to be the Sixth Man. Relax.
This is where we know basketball has become a game where the mindset is offense rules, and defense is forgotten. Yes, Parsons has missed 18 of his 20 shots in two games. But for everything he doesn’t do, he’s shown he can do things that go overlooked on the stat sheet.
Against the Utah Jazz, he had two steals and held Gordon Hayward to 3-of-9 shooting for 12 points. This was a couple of days after Hayward scored 21 points and hit the game-winner over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Against the Miami Heat, yeah, he didn’t play great either offensively. But what about three blocks and two steals at the other end? It goes overlooked because Dallas got blown out at home, and Luol Deng played better than Parsons that night.
The NBA: Where overreactions happen.
It can’t be helped. One game goes wrong, and it’s the end of the world. Look at the Memphis Grizzlies. Last week, most were thinking they were the best team in the NBA.
One loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, now people wonder if the Grizzlies have enough offensive firepower to contend.
Look at the Cavaliers. Five games in with their new Big Three, and people are wondering if LeBron James and Kyrie Irving can actually play together, while Kevin Love grabs rebounds and chills by the 3-point line.
Even LeBron is telling you to relax. If he is, then everyone should at least relax about the Mavericks.
I get it. Dallas has talent to get to the Western Conference Finals. Hell, even before the year, I picked the Mavericks to get to the conference finals. There’s 75 games left to get it all together. Rick Carlisle is smart. Dirk Nowitzki is great. Tyson Chandler is also great, and playing like an All-Star right now.
Monta Ellis still have it all, and always will.
All that matters is how you play when you get to April. The Mavericks will get to April, and Chandler Parsons won’t be playing like this all year. He’s getting great looks. This offense is designed for him to get a lot of open looks. Right now, his shot isn’t falling.
Give him time, and that shot starts falling, the next overreaction will be the Mavericks are winning the championship. But Dallas has a lot to figure out before it starts thinking of getting there. Parsons, right now, has to be the first priority. And all will be fine.
R-E-L-A-X.