Game 50: Dallas Mavericks (19-29) @ Houston Rockets (29-17)

[KillerLeft]

Didn't bother me at all. Looks like Kidd doesn't suffer fools gladly. Flagg handling the ball is a necessity. How does he improve? By handling the ball. This Mavs team is not a championship team, when they're closer to that, it will be important that Flagg is the best he can be. I'm sure it's tiring for Kidd to be asked the same inane questions over and over.

Setting aside that your paraphrasing of the criticism doesn't do it justice and simply focusing on what Kidd said and why, it DOES bother me. That was a completely unprofessional way to lose his cool, and after such an innocuous question that it seems pretty clear he was either reacting to some other stress he brought with him into the press conference or just had a chip on his shoulder about whomever was asking. Either way, it bothers me. So stupid to throw language like that around needlessly and casually, and all from a "role model." The position of Head Coach of an NBA team comes with a visibility that extends beyond the basketball court, and I think the idea that we don't expect more from him speaks to where we are as a society.

[KillerLeft]

To dig further into what this outburst signaled, at least for me: I don't think Kidd is on board with losing, like at all. So, IF that is in fact the organization's aim at the moment (and I go back and forth on whether or not I believe it is), it sure doesn't seem like he's thrilled about it. In a way, that's an obvious statement because I imagine will to win is hard-wired into every coach's DNA, but this press conference smacked of mounting frustration to me.

Things might get much uglier around the team before they get better, and maybe they need to get much uglier, not sure.

[david75090]

Setting aside that your paraphrasing of the criticism doesn't do it justice and simply focusing on what Kidd said and why, it DOES bother me. That was a completely unprofessional way to lose his cool, and after such an innocuous question that it seems pretty clear he was either reacting to some other stress he brought with him into the press conference or just had a chip on his shoulder about whomever was asking. Either way, it bothers me. So stupid to throw language like that around needlessly and casually, and all from a "role model." The position of Head Coach of an NBA team comes with a visibility that extends beyond the basketball court, and I think the idea that we don't expect more from him speaks to where we are as a society.

Yeah, we're worried about the language of NBA coaches. We're offended. "Role model". Right. What do you think, Mr. President? He doesn't give an eff. Seriously, coaches get hot under the collar all the time. Lose their cool. It happens. Nothing to see here folks. Time to move on.

[KillerLeft]

Yeah, we're worried about the language of NBA coaches. We're offended. "Role model". Right. What do you think, Mr. President? He doesn't give an eff. Seriously, coaches get hot under the collar all the time. Lose their cool. It happens. Nothing to see here folks. Time to move on.

You can make fun of me if you want, but I'm not wrong. Certain levels of success in our society should come hand in hand with better behavior than this. I believe that very strongly, and it's an opinion that has come from quite a bit of experience. 

I agree that coaching is a profession rife with frustrations (though not unique ones, really), but how a person handles those goes a long way towards revealing their character. To be fair, this doesn't happen with Kidd often, but it's not a good look, to me.

[WillE]

You can make fun of me if you want, but I'm not wrong. Certain levels of success in our society should come hand in hand with better behavior than this. I believe that very strongly, and it's an opinion that has come from quite a bit of experience. 

I agree that coaching is a profession rife with frustrations (though not unique ones, really), but how a person handles those goes a long way towards revealing their character. To be fair, this doesn't happen with Kidd often, but it's not a good look, to me.

I agree. Role models should lead by example.

Kidd did all right with what he said, but not how.

I'm sure he'd agree to that, and it's sure not easy to always keep your composure with those media quastions. But as long as you're in public, there will never be a justification to use such language.

[KillerLeft]

Kidd did all right with what he said, but not how.

Yeah, agreed. What a great, succinct way to make the point.

[david75090]

You can make fun of me if you want, but I'm not wrong. Certain levels of success in our society should come hand in hand with better behavior than this. I believe that very strongly, and it's an opinion that has come from quite a bit of experience. 

I agree that coaching is a profession rife with frustrations (though not unique ones, really), but how a person handles those goes a long way towards revealing their character. To be fair, this doesn't happen with Kidd often, but it's not a good look, to me.

The woman who owns the Mavs gives millions to, and supports, the guy who runs our country, who likes to use the exact kind of language, gives the finger and belittles reporters, but yeah, the Mavs coach needs to set an example. The buck stops quite a bit above the NBA. Would I like a better example to be set? Sure.

[mvossman]

The woman who owns the Mavs gives millions to, and supports, the guy who runs our country, who likes to use the exact kind of language, gives the finger and belittles reporters, but yeah, the Mavs coach needs to set an example. The buck stops quite a bit above the NBA. Would I like a better example to be set? Sure.

Not supposed to be any politics on here, but the argument Trump does it so why shouldn't Kidd is a terrible argument, especially if you are not impressed with how Trump does it as you seem to imply.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Not supposed to be any politics on here, but the argument Trump does it so why shouldn't Kidd is a terrible argument, especially if you are not impressed with how Trump does it as you seem to imply.

I can't stand him, that's all imma say.

[david75090]

Not supposed to be any politics on here, but the argument Trump does it so why shouldn't Kidd is a terrible argument, especially if you are not impressed with how Trump does it as you seem to imply.

No, we're not supposed to talk politics around here. At the same time, the woman who owns the Mavs gave $350M to a particular political campaign. It was prominent in the news. Our coach Kidd, works for the same woman. She seems to have no problem with the behavior of the guy she supports with her millions, so why would she have a problem with another guy she pays millions? Goose/gander. To me, the tone is set higher up than a coach treating a reporter exactly like a president treats a reporter. Yeah, I don't like Kidd bullying a reporter with his language, nor anyone else bullying with their language and behavior. It's become normalized in our society.

[Winter]

No, we're not supposed to talk politics around here. At the same time, the woman who owns the Mavs gave $350M to a particular political campaign. It was prominent in the news. Our coach Kidd, works for the same woman. She seems to have no problem with the behavior of the guy she supports with her millions, so why would she have a problem with another guy she pays millions? Goose/gander. To me, the tone is set higher up than a coach treating a reporter exactly like a president treats a reporter. Yeah, I don't like Kidd bullying a reporter with his language, nor anyone else bullying with their language and behavior. It's become normalized in our society.

The specific nature of this probably can't be addressed here, but I don't think the commentary is out of line, even if it's just about "tone".

As fans, we now live with a basketball team where the owners have a significant investment in the political world that is entirely is contrary to the political stance of the NBA. That's worth thinking about.

[mvossman]

No, we're not supposed to talk politics around here. At the same time, the woman who owns the Mavs gave $350M to a particular political campaign. It was prominent in the news. Our coach Kidd, works for the same woman. She seems to have no problem with the behavior of the guy she supports with her millions, so why would she have a problem with another guy she pays millions? Goose/gander. To me, the tone is set higher up than a coach treating a reporter exactly like a president treats a reporter. Yeah, I don't like Kidd bullying a reporter with his language, nor anyone else bullying with their language and behavior. It's become normalized in our society.

It only becomes normalized when people allow it to be.  I will continue to respect class even if we don't see a lot of it higher up.