04-27-2021, 09:04 AM
(04-27-2021, 08:13 AM)michaeltex Wrote: Excellent write up, as always!
Look, I'm not an NBA coach, and it's been a while since I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, but this is getting to be a running theme. Play a lesser team and try to use the game to rest some of the starters with "injury" scratches. Then getting an "L" for some kind of messy, uncoordinated, inefficient effort. I'm not saying KP, et.al., aren't hurt to the point they couldn't contribute. But I wonder why, when you are playing for playoff positioning and record means everything, you wouldn't play everybody you possibly could and take what should be an easy "W" and spread the minutes across a deeper rotation. Now you've put MORE pressure on the B2B at GSW.
Huge disappointment to work hard enough to climb out of the play-in mess only to lose both of these and fall back into it.
This is the reason I am not optimistic that the "easy" stretch of the schedule will result in the Mavs flying up the table, and rather hope that they will be able to avoid falling back into the cannon fodder last two seeds.
The traditional approach to lighter stretches/games in the season slog is for good teams to boost their standings by imposing their will on inferior teams. The Mavs are instead using them as an opportunity to steal some rest for their players in a crowded season.
The strategy has been easy to see in such games. The Mavericks pare the roster down against a particular losing side to the point that the team should still have enough talent to win, but has little margin for error. On paper, I can see where they're coming from. However, it is a tactic that has not worked out for them in practice. Time after time, the coach(es) have shaken their heads in frustration after this type of game, saying that the squad should have been able to win, but didn't execute. In retrospect, this team has clearly shown that they are in fact NOT able to win putting forth a half-assed effort.
The coaches and training staff have to balance the health and stamina of the players with the short-term and long-term demands of the schedule. I admit these are difficult choices. With the benefit of hindsight, it looks like they have cut the margin of error too close if they were really expecting to win those games, and are now having to defend what looks like a decision to squander a bunch of opportunities. No wonder Rick doesn't want to answer any questions. (Not blaming only him. The decision to strategically rest players generally involves higher level personnel, as well as the coaches and trainers.)