Chandler Parsons was the big offseason acquisition in Dallas, and was the recipient of a three-year deal worth $46 million that the Rockets later called “untradeable,” and refused to match.
After just one game, Houston looks like it made a wise decision.
Parsons seemed to be pressing early before becoming tentative late, and finished with just five points on 2-of-10 shooting in almost 34 minutes of action. He also missed a wide-open look at what would have been the game-winning shot.
From Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News:“It was just one of those games,” Parsons said. “It sucks to play that way in the first one, but it’s only one of 82 games. It’s going to take some time getting used to playing with everybody. It was one of those nights where I couldn’t get anything to fall. I just gotta be better.
“I took good shots. I missed a couple cheapies at the rim and a couple wide-open threes. I ‘ll take those every game.”
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, who apologized for being critical of Parsons’ weight during training camp, was nothing but supportive after this one.
It’s going to take some time for Parsons to get used to his new role playing alongside completely new teammates, and it’s possible that opening night jitters, along with playing against the defending champs on national television simply had him on edge more than usual.
And the good news for Mavericks fans is that even with Parsons playing far below expectations, they had a chance to win on the road in the closing seconds against one of the league’s top teams.