Mavs 99, Kings 111

[mavsluvr]

I don't think people focus on the correct things when thinking about who plays when, personally. 

While it's true that Green probably wasn't playing as well as people seem to believe he was, he also wasn't playing badly. 

But, what I don't think people consider is that the players on the floor determine what the team can attempt, because some of the players know/understand/can do more things than others. People act like these are video game players - like they're simply a collection of ratings (jump 95, speed 76, etc). The reality is that they're out there trying to play a system, some of them at multiple positions, with multiple sets of rules and responsibilities. I would imagine most of the work needed at the NBA level to make one a viable rotation player happens between the ears. 

Point being: Green handling the limited portion of the system he knows is a good sign, for sure, but it's very possible that other players were needed in order to access the rest of what Carlisle believed the team needed to attempt in order to be successful. The fact that they ultimately were not successful does not mean that Green knows those things.

Personally, my takeaway from almost every Green opportunity is that he seems more comfortable than he did in the previous one. I take that as a good sign. It's a process, and I imagine it takes time.

Excellent observations.