Game 40: Denver Nuggets (23-15) vs. Dallas Mavericks (22-17) | 8:30pm CST

[KillerLeft]

Curious to understand what you're meaning by this.  What are we hoping he learned (I have some thoughts, just curious what yours are)?

I think it was fairly obvious, once the team got to the finals, and somewhat in the OKC series, that a higher level of sophistication and nuance was needed in the team's offensive design vs. teams of that caliber. Spam spread pick and roll until teams start switching to take the roller away? Check. They had one and only one adjustment to that in their bag - involve a defender in the screening that Luka and/or Kyrie can (hopefully) beat 1-on-1, get that defender switched onto them, and then play iso ball. That clearly wasn't enough, and was less effective and more depressing the deeper they got into the playoffs. 

The team's off-season roster moves seem to reflect an understanding of that. They added Marshall and Thompson, both of whom can shoot, pass AND handle. It's crystal clear that Kidd has put everyone on notice, even guys like Kleber, Hardy, PJW and the centers, that flooring the ball has not only ceased to be prohibited for them, but is now required. That's all a good start. The offensive schemes have looked more ball-movement forward at times this season, but the reality is that the team has had so little time on the court together (and with several new pieces, learning a newish offense) that we're not really seeing that stuff anymore. Can't run all that dribble hand-off stuff with Lively if the guys he has practiced it with aren't out there, for example. 

What I mean is: when the time comes, will Kidd have it in him to create open looks for the right guys, and is he preparing them on that stuff NOW? Need the team to get healthy relatively soon or we (the fans, media, ownership and even the GM) might still not know if he's up to that when the season ends.