José Juan Barea is more than seven thousand kilometers away from Dallas, but from Madrid he is following his eternal Mavericks very closely.
So close that even in the middle of his preparation to make his debut in the ACB League in Spain on Wednesday, with Movistar Estudiantes, he has already made a few calls before the series of six losses in a row that his former team has in the season regular in the NBA.
“The mavericks I’m after. This will be my team forever, so I follow them “, confessed Barea Spokesman a few hours before the Mavericks fell one point, 109-108, to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Starguard Mayaguez acknowledged that “things are bad now” in the Texan team and spoke with some members of the team, including the star of the franchise, the Slovenian Luka Doncic.
“I talked to some players and gave them my advice here. Luka is the one I’ve talked to the most. I gave him some tips and a few little things to keep him positive. I also talked to one of the coaches and one of the coaches “, explained Barea.
“I am in a bad mood right now. But there are things that happen. We’ve been there before and they need to find a way to stay together and get out of that bad series, “added Canastero, 36.
The Mavericks have not won since January 22, when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 122-117, with Doncic’s double-double of 36 points and 11 assists.
Since then, they have lost to Houston, Denver, Utah (twice) and Phoenix (twice). Their record is 8-13 and they are fourth in the Southwest Division and 13th in the Conference.
Doncic publicly expressed his frustration, suggesting that the team no longer cares about losses. On Monday, Doncic missed the victory shot over the horn against the Suns and his anger was monumental. On Wednesday, they visit the Atlanta Hawks.
In Barea’s vision, what Mavericks lacks is rhythm and chemistry.
“Last year we came to a point where we had a good pace, so you have to look for that. If not, it will be a long season. They don’t have the rhythm and chemistry that we had last year, that everything went smoothly and everything became easier for us. This year, when they play, I see that it is difficult for them. And I don’t think they’ve found that rhythm yet, “he said.
Mavericks eliminated Barea services before the start of the 2020-2021 season, but guaranteed him the contract of over two million that he had previously signed.
Barea played 14 seasons in the NBA, including 11 with Dallas and three with Minnesota.
On Wednesday, he will make his debut in Spain, where he hopes to show his best level to try to get a new contract in the NBA even if he is far from Dallas.