12-11-2021, 11:07 AM
Interview with Isaac Harris
Shedder was a Mavericks assistant coach for 15 years.
How is this season’s team different from those of the past few years?
They’re taking more twos, and not getting the same quality threes that they did before. They have capable shooters who aren’t hitting. They have a good drive and kick game, and he loves what KP is giving them. Luka just needs to get healthy. He’s been playing more or less continuously for two seasons and a summer.
Basically, this is the the same team as it has been for several years. Adding Bullock and Sterling didn’t fundamentally change the roster.
How do coaches address shooting slumps?
When good shooters are missing good shots, there isn’t much the coaching staff can do. Ragging on the players doesn’t help. These Mavs are getting good looks, mostly off penetration, and they have good shooters, so they should start making them.
To the extent that there are structural problems with shooting mechanics, those can’t be addressed in-season, except for the very simplest things. Normal fans don’t appreciate the extreme lack of instructional practice time in the season. Most practice time is devoted to preparing for the next game. All the coaches can do in-season is try to help the good shooters get good looks.
Is the new ball causing the shooting problems?
Doubt it. A brand-new ball (as in fresh out of the box) can be a little difficult, but they’re playing with broken-in balls. The refs identify game-worthy balls before the game. The Cuban-Bob debate was entertaining, but don’t think there’s much to it.
Is TNT right about Luka’s conditioning being a big deal?
They’re not listing the good reasons that Luka isn’t in peak shape. He has been playing for thirteen months. There is a huge load on him. He has been hurt. He can’t do cardio and ramp up his conditioning when he is hurt. He has to be able to play 36-38 minutes every game.
Guys don’t come in at peak condition. They get there during the season. We’re not even into January, yet. Luka can get into shape very quickly. Doesn’t know what people want from Luka — he doesn’t have an Adonis kind of body, and he may never look ripped.
The Mavs would probably like it if Luka would drop a few pounds, but they really don’t want him to lose a lot of weight. Skinny Luka wouldn’t help them. Luka is a hard worker and a pro, the training and conditioning staff in Dallas is excellent, and Mike is sure that nothing is being missed as far as Luka’s conditioning. Yes, he could stand to lose a few, but TNT is overhyping it, cuz that’s what they do.
Are there benchmarks during the season to assess the necessity of big changes?
You go into the season with a certain idea about your rotations, but that can change as the games progress. You try to take several-game samples, but that can be interrupted when guys are out, or there is a particular matchup that you want to do whatever you have to do to win.
Having a set rotation (subject to situational tweaks) is a good thing. Professional athletes usually perform better when they know what minutes they are going to get and when they’re going to get then. But it’s way too early to make a final decision on rotations now. You have to get 40-50 games into the season for that.
Kidd is still trying to figure out who to play and when, based on who can help the team. For example, you don’t play Josh Green just because some of the guys who were drafted at the same time as he was are getting minutes — they were drafted into situations where it made more sense for them to play. At any rate, you have to get closer to the playoffs before deciding on the final ten-man rotation.
Why play two bigs?
Depends on what you’re looking for with a particular combo. KP-Maxi gives you two stretch fives. KP and one of the others gives you a designated rim threat, and KP can play the four. The non-shooting bigs are in for rim presence and rebounding. Sometimes you might want to go small with DFS and Maxi, or DFS and KP. Shedd says there may be a certain stigma associated with being a center, and he’s not sure KP wants to be considered in that light. KP gives you more than the other centers do — he’s called the unicorn for a reason.
How did KP get assigned a decoy role in the playoffs?
That was just where he was most effective — in the corners. Luka needed shooters in the corners for his PNR game. That might have resulted in limiting KP some, but that was the best offense for the team at the time, and KP didn’t have the legs he does now. They’re using him a little differently this season, with more elbow passes, getting him to the line, and such. He’s not having an all-star year, exactly, but he seems to be enjoying it more.
How does the trade deadline affect morale?
The coaching staff never spent much time talking about what players were available, or what Mavs they might be willing to let go. That’s the front office’s job. From a coaching perspective, big in-season moves aren’t ideal. They have a substantial impact on chemistry, and you have to try to rebuild that with little to no practice time. You don’t do an in-season trade lightly — it’s a huge thing for any organization. You can get better players and still end up with a worse locker room.
Shedd imagines the Mavs are continuing to implement Donnie’s strategy, as far as internal trade communication. There are probably calls going on all the time, but for the most part, no one knew what the Mavs were doing until Woj announced it.
How important is the coach-player relationship?
Very important. It’s not necessary for the coaches to hang out with the players or be buddies with them. But the players, from the point guard down to the deep bench, have to trust that the coach has their best interests at heart. Guys still want to be coached, but not just as a mechanism for building the coach’s resume. A good coach-player relationship, especially for one of the lead players, takes work. Compromise is involved on both sides. Imagines that Kidd and Luka probably have a good rapport.
Any thoughts on Jason Kidd?
Doubt if there is a more competitive person anywhere. His basketball IQ is next level. Very big on clamping down on defense in the last six minutes.
Did Kidd or Luka ever yell at you?
Definitely. Shedd used to be the designated ref at practices, and Kidd and Luka were not shy about letting him know it when they didn’t like the way he was calling the “game.”
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6_uLdH...B6Ae_E4DjQ
Shedder was a Mavericks assistant coach for 15 years.
How is this season’s team different from those of the past few years?
They’re taking more twos, and not getting the same quality threes that they did before. They have capable shooters who aren’t hitting. They have a good drive and kick game, and he loves what KP is giving them. Luka just needs to get healthy. He’s been playing more or less continuously for two seasons and a summer.
Basically, this is the the same team as it has been for several years. Adding Bullock and Sterling didn’t fundamentally change the roster.
How do coaches address shooting slumps?
When good shooters are missing good shots, there isn’t much the coaching staff can do. Ragging on the players doesn’t help. These Mavs are getting good looks, mostly off penetration, and they have good shooters, so they should start making them.
To the extent that there are structural problems with shooting mechanics, those can’t be addressed in-season, except for the very simplest things. Normal fans don’t appreciate the extreme lack of instructional practice time in the season. Most practice time is devoted to preparing for the next game. All the coaches can do in-season is try to help the good shooters get good looks.
Is the new ball causing the shooting problems?
Doubt it. A brand-new ball (as in fresh out of the box) can be a little difficult, but they’re playing with broken-in balls. The refs identify game-worthy balls before the game. The Cuban-Bob debate was entertaining, but don’t think there’s much to it.
Is TNT right about Luka’s conditioning being a big deal?
They’re not listing the good reasons that Luka isn’t in peak shape. He has been playing for thirteen months. There is a huge load on him. He has been hurt. He can’t do cardio and ramp up his conditioning when he is hurt. He has to be able to play 36-38 minutes every game.
Guys don’t come in at peak condition. They get there during the season. We’re not even into January, yet. Luka can get into shape very quickly. Doesn’t know what people want from Luka — he doesn’t have an Adonis kind of body, and he may never look ripped.
The Mavs would probably like it if Luka would drop a few pounds, but they really don’t want him to lose a lot of weight. Skinny Luka wouldn’t help them. Luka is a hard worker and a pro, the training and conditioning staff in Dallas is excellent, and Mike is sure that nothing is being missed as far as Luka’s conditioning. Yes, he could stand to lose a few, but TNT is overhyping it, cuz that’s what they do.
Are there benchmarks during the season to assess the necessity of big changes?
You go into the season with a certain idea about your rotations, but that can change as the games progress. You try to take several-game samples, but that can be interrupted when guys are out, or there is a particular matchup that you want to do whatever you have to do to win.
Having a set rotation (subject to situational tweaks) is a good thing. Professional athletes usually perform better when they know what minutes they are going to get and when they’re going to get then. But it’s way too early to make a final decision on rotations now. You have to get 40-50 games into the season for that.
Kidd is still trying to figure out who to play and when, based on who can help the team. For example, you don’t play Josh Green just because some of the guys who were drafted at the same time as he was are getting minutes — they were drafted into situations where it made more sense for them to play. At any rate, you have to get closer to the playoffs before deciding on the final ten-man rotation.
Why play two bigs?
Depends on what you’re looking for with a particular combo. KP-Maxi gives you two stretch fives. KP and one of the others gives you a designated rim threat, and KP can play the four. The non-shooting bigs are in for rim presence and rebounding. Sometimes you might want to go small with DFS and Maxi, or DFS and KP. Shedd says there may be a certain stigma associated with being a center, and he’s not sure KP wants to be considered in that light. KP gives you more than the other centers do — he’s called the unicorn for a reason.
How did KP get assigned a decoy role in the playoffs?
That was just where he was most effective — in the corners. Luka needed shooters in the corners for his PNR game. That might have resulted in limiting KP some, but that was the best offense for the team at the time, and KP didn’t have the legs he does now. They’re using him a little differently this season, with more elbow passes, getting him to the line, and such. He’s not having an all-star year, exactly, but he seems to be enjoying it more.
How does the trade deadline affect morale?
The coaching staff never spent much time talking about what players were available, or what Mavs they might be willing to let go. That’s the front office’s job. From a coaching perspective, big in-season moves aren’t ideal. They have a substantial impact on chemistry, and you have to try to rebuild that with little to no practice time. You don’t do an in-season trade lightly — it’s a huge thing for any organization. You can get better players and still end up with a worse locker room.
Shedd imagines the Mavs are continuing to implement Donnie’s strategy, as far as internal trade communication. There are probably calls going on all the time, but for the most part, no one knew what the Mavs were doing until Woj announced it.
How important is the coach-player relationship?
Very important. It’s not necessary for the coaches to hang out with the players or be buddies with them. But the players, from the point guard down to the deep bench, have to trust that the coach has their best interests at heart. Guys still want to be coached, but not just as a mechanism for building the coach’s resume. A good coach-player relationship, especially for one of the lead players, takes work. Compromise is involved on both sides. Imagines that Kidd and Luka probably have a good rapport.
Any thoughts on Jason Kidd?
Doubt if there is a more competitive person anywhere. His basketball IQ is next level. Very big on clamping down on defense in the last six minutes.
Did Kidd or Luka ever yell at you?
Definitely. Shedd used to be the designated ref at practices, and Kidd and Luka were not shy about letting him know it when they didn’t like the way he was calling the “game.”
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6_uLdH...B6Ae_E4DjQ
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