Mavericks ‘escape’ a few days from the pandemic during the All-Star break

After more than three months of adhering to the NBA’s strict covid-19 protocol, the Dallas Mavericks players are ready to relax.

Your annual mid-season break will work like no other.

As much as the Mavericks want to decompress physically and mentally, they know from experience that they cannot relax their covid-19 precautions.

“It’s not a simple set of circumstances,” coach Rick Carlisle said.

“But with everything that has happened in the last 11 months, from social justice to covid and power outages and climate issues, as we have not seen before, I think a break is welcome.”

From leaving the American Airlines Center after Wednesday’s victory over Oklahoma City, until they are due to return to Dallas about two days before next Wednesday’s game against the Spurs, the Mavericks will experience their greatest individual freedom since showing up for the field. training at the end of November. .

Kristaps Porzingis, for example, planned to vacation for a couple of days, “to be outside in the sun and relax,” she said, as she continued to work on her basic conditioning and strength to finish an injury-plagued first half.

Tim Hardaway Jr., meanwhile, wanted to spend time with family after the NBA tightened restrictions on COVID-19 in January and limited players from interacting with other people outside of their homes and teams.

“Just try to make sure you don’t get in trouble, keep yourself out of compromising situations,” Hardaway said.

The Mavericks know the dangers of what could happen if they are not cautious.

Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber all tested positive for COVID-19 in early January and 37 games combined were lost.