Dallas Mavericks brace themselves for what promises to be busy January

Now that the holiday season is finally over, January will be an even busier month for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavs play 18 games this month. That’s the most they’ll play in any month this season.

They also have five of the 17 sets of back-to-backs they have this season in January. And none of the back-to-backs have both games at American Airlines Center.

“We’ve just got to be focused and be sharp and just take care of your body and be committed to your job,” point guard Deron Williams said. “I think that’s what it’s about when you have months like this. We go on the road a lot.”

For the Mavs, the problem with games coming so fast is that they eat into the amount of practice time at their disposal.

“It’s unlikely we’re going to have much [practice],” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’ll have to get our work in between meetings and film, and in shootarounds.”

The Mavs played Friday in Miami, and then took the three-hour flight back home, where they hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.

On Tuesday the Mavs will entertain the Sacramento Kings, and on Wednesday they play in New Orleans.

Three other back-to-backs occur this month, including Jan. 26 in Los Angeles in Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant’s last game ever against the Mavs. And on Jan. 27, the Mavs face the world champion Golden State Warriors in Oakland.

The Mavs know they’ll have to navigate their way through January’s difficult schedule as best they can.

“It helps being an experienced team and a veteran team,” forward Chandler Parsons said. “Obviously, we know when we’ve got to come in and get our work done, and we know when we need our rest.

“We have good trainers and a coaching staff that understands that. We just got to continue to take care of our bodies and continue to work.”

And continue to make the best of what will be a challenging month.

“This is a good test of a veteran team to be able to concentrate, make mental adjustments and yet still maintain a physical level,” Carlisle said. “Our beginning of the season was very, very busy and this is going to get very busy again.”

Harris hobbling

Guard Devin Harris didn’t play Saturday against New Orleans after straining his back in Friday’s game in Miami.

Carlisle said he didn’t know how long Harris will be sidelined.

“I think he’s doing a little bit better today,” Carlisle said. “I don’t think it’s serious, is what I understand.”

Harris, who went to AAC twice on Saturday for treatments, was originally diagnosed with back spasms.

“That was a bit of awkward play that it happened on,” Carlisle said. “He got hit a little bit and then wrenched himself a little bit too when he got hit. We feel he’ll bust his [rear end] to get back.”

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Dallas Mavericks brace themselves for what promises to be busy January."