MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

The problem with this is that the conceptualization that the three stars on the team aren't going to start and finish games is profoundly wishful thinking in today's NBA. I agree that they're going to stagger those guys throughout the rest of the game, but there's zero conceivable way they ever play less than around 12 mpg together. That's simply not how it works. Which is not to say it's going to work.

I recognize the concept you are utilizing, which is that the star players will have to be catered to, because they are top players. And that each of Luka, Kyrie, Klay will expect to get the highest profile minutes. In general, I think that's an accurate way to see lineups.

But do YOU honestly think that 3-at-a-time will be an advantageous lineup for the Mavs? I don't. So then what happens?

One Path is that the stars will all be intractable, and insist on getting their preferred minutes, no matter what.

Path Two is that the players themselves will see what's what, and set aside their whims for what's better.

I think they will want what leads to more wins. 

I see TWO paths to get there ...

1  They MIGHT have all 3 start each half together and play a few minutes (only) as a trio. Then someone sits. When they get to crunch time, Kidd prioritizes getting stops, and making it really hard for the opponent to score, as their path to closing out games -- which mean the lineups that get those minutes have to be defensively proficient. That's one formula that might naturally result in only a few minutes of all 3 at a time.

2  The path that makes more sense to me is that they use the Sixth Man carrot. The Sixth Man gets recognition and awards and might be a tool to get one of them to give up starting, because a starter is ineligible for those awards.

Ultimately, either way, I have some faith that all of the 3 will bow to "what it takes to win." Which means that, if I am correct that playing all 3 together will not be a good lineup, they will all 3 get on board with doing something better.

If you think their egos are too big for that, I understand why you think that, but I have faith. And fwiw I also have faith in Kidd and his ability to get the team to follow his lead, along with his desire to have a team that has a lock-down defense in crunch time. That's his formula imo. That was how his title team worked.