Mavericks' frustrating NBA Cup failure sparks a much-needed shakeup

The Dallas Mavericks didn't advance to the NBA Cup Knockout Stage after a 1-3 performance in Group Play, meaning they don't play again until Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets. This six-day break, coming off a pivotal stretch in which they won four of five games, will work wonders for the Mavericks, especially Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. They are in desperate need of some time off, and they can finally take a load off their feet this week.

Dallas losing three of their four NBA Cup games may have been frustrating for fans who were hoping that they'd be competing in the Knockout Stage, but it's probably better that they were granted this extra time in the gym this week.

The injury bug has hit the Mavericks again this season, as multiple key role players have missed significant time. From Anthony Davis to missing 14 games in a row due to a calf strain to Lively II playing just seven games due to multiple injuries and more, Dallas hasn't been whole.

However, this break they get due to struggling in the NBA Cup Group Play is bound to get them closer to this goal. The story of the season in Dallas has been filled with speculation about what they'll look like once they get fully healthy, and this break over the next few days has the chance to serve as a mini-training camp.

Dallas finally catches a break at an optimal time

"We have a lot of practice time here, which you normally don't get at this part of the season," Jason Kidd said on Saturday night when asked about the time off. "So, try to take advantage of practice and rest until Friday."

Before the season began, Dallas spent five days in Vancouver to kick off training camp, and the Mavs now get a similar amount of time to prepare for an important stretch of hoops despite it being the middle of the regular season. They're starting to put together some wins at the right time, and Gafford and Washington should get much closer to being 100 percent healthy over the next few days.

Washington played on Saturday night against the Houston Rockets, but this came after missing four straight games due to a right ankle sprain. He landed on a basketball minutes before tip-off against the LA Clippers on November 29, and the upcoming time off will give him plenty of time to rest and get fully healthy.

"Sleep, a lot of it," Washington said on Saturday when asked about his plans for this extended break. "Get healthy. I can't wait."

Washington has been one of the Mavericks' defensive anchors and leaders this season, and he should be more than ready for this weekend's game against Brooklyn. He spent significant time over the summer strengthening his ankles, and his minor four-game setback laid the foundation for a strong comeback as we saw against the Rockets (14 points, seven rebounds, and five steals).

On the other hand, Gafford is currently nursing a right ankle injury that has been bothering him since the beginning of training camp, and this has caused him to miss 10 games this season. Even when he's been on the floor, he hasn't been the same, and this small break is exactly what he needed to get healthy and back to being a major difference-maker.

He has been in and out of the lineup all season, and he badly needed this break after what happened in the middle of last week.

Gafford re-injured his ankle on Wednesday against the Miami Heat, and Dallas desperately needs him to get back to his old self if they want to turn their season around and become a playoff team. They're on the right track, as they are just a half-game out of the Play-In Tournament despite starting the year 5-15, and Gafford returning to being a top rim protector and finisher will help them continue to climb.

While some fans may be disappointed that the Mavericks won't be competing for an NBA Cup championship, it definitely worked out in their favor that they won't be playing these extra games. They need to get healthy more than they need to win a meaningless in-season tournament, and this next week will serve as an ideal time to build more chemistry and rehab their bumps and bruises.