3 fire takeaways from Mavericks preseason dress rehearsal win over Jazz

Takeaway from Dallas Mavericks preseason dress rehearsal vs Jazz: 2. THJ is aggressive

The Mavs missed Tim Hardaway Jr. during their run to the conference finals. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in January, which required surgery. The 30-year-old wing has been a full-go during training camp, and it is clear that THJ wants to prove he is still one of the top 100 players in the league.

He was aggressive whenever he was on the floor on Friday night. Hardaway Jr. was attacking downhill in the first half where he took eight free throws.

The 6’5 wing got red hot from 3-point range in the second half to finish with 20 points on five of seven shooting from the field, including four triples. He made just six of his ten free throws, but it was fantastic to see Hardaway Jr. being aggressive and sinking his shots.

Tim Hardaway Jr. struggled with his shot before the season-ending injury last year, but he looks more than ready to start the 2022-23 campaign. He had eight points in 15 minutes in his first preseason action, and THJ further proved that he is eager to get things going.

The Dallas Mavericks will need Hardaway’s scoring off their bench after the departure of Jalen Brunson. Can he average 15 points per game on efficient shooting this season? It is something to watch closely, but early signs point to him being healthy and ready to produce.