Mavs' Matthews dismayed by early-season performance: 'I suck right now'
Wesley Matthews was adamant from the start that he'd be ready for his first opening night as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, despite having ruptured his Achilles in his last game as a Portland Trail Blazer less than eight months prior.
True to his word, Matthews was in uniform for the season opener on Oct. 28. But rarely does a player return from an Achilles tear with his physical capabilities wholly intact, and Matthews - for all his self-appointed (if deserved) warrior-like titles - has so far been no exception. In his brief time in Dallas, he's hardly looked like the player he was in Portland - the player the Mavs paid $70 million for in the offseason.
Through 18 games, he's averaging 11.1 points while shooting a putrid 34.2 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from 3-point range. In his five seasons with the Blazers, he averaged 15.4 points, and shot 43.8 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from long range. Matthews didn't equivocate when asked to assess his performance.
"I suck right now," he told ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "Point blank, period, I suck right now on the offensive end as far as shooting the ball, as far as what I can do, as far as making shots and what everybody knows I can do. I've got to find it on this road trip and sustain it."
Despite his struggles, and those of Chandler Parsons - who is also working his way back into game shape following offseason knee surgery - Dallas has surprisingly remained afloat, sitting at 11-9 and tied for fourth in the Western Conference. Matthews, though, knows how much better the team would be if he was performing the way he has in the past.
"I'm just tired of hurting the team, tired of missing shots," he said. "I put everything I have into this game. I have since I started playing. I put everything I had into getting back and being ready. I'm just trying to keep the doubt out. I never second-guess myself. I've never been the one to be hesitant or lack confidence."
That attitude has helped Matthews transform himself from undrafted afterthought to max NBA player, and it should continue to serve him well as he continues to tackle perhaps the most onerous challenge of his career. For as long as he continues to struggle offensively, Matthews knows he can find other ways to contribute.
"I've got to keep busting my ass on the defensive end," he said. "If I'm going through hell on offense, then the other person has to be, too."