Is Kidd really the best head coach for this team?

[fifteenth]

I think they're all really smart re basketball. They're just in a competition against a bunch of other smart people. There are different kinds of smart, though. Some coaches don't seem to be relationship smart. Or at least, they aren't great at dealing with all the different personality types.

But, hey, join the club.

Avery is a good example. He's basketball smart. He's even people smart, when you look at how loved he was during his playing career. But he got to a point in coaching (based on reporting from some folks with inside knowledge), where the little general couldn't take feedback from others any longer. Again, according to some insiders, he seemed to feel threatened by Del Harris and ended up losing a valuable resource. As his coaching career progressed, he got worse in this regard. He got outcoached by Pat Riley and Don Nelson and didn't seem to learn from that.

Sorry. Long ramble on a simple point. Fans seem to think coaches are stupid and players are lazy bums. Neither is true of course. They're just competing against a collection of other "best in the business" folks.

[SkenfromLMF]

I think the defensive adjustments combined with 3 high level defenders in DJJ/Gafford/Lively seeing higher minutes has really boosted the net yield for this team. Give Kidd some credit. I still believe we are WEAK when it comes to BLOOB and SLOOB sets. It seems as if we are just happy to get the ball in play rather than attacking the defense and trying to score. This is especially true of BLOOB sets, you want to either score OR force the defense into a compromised alignment from guarding the set play and then attack with a quick hitter as the D tries to recover (the old most dangerous man is the in-bounder concept). Carlisle is the absolute best at this. Kidd is a much better defensive coach, but the net favors Rick over the long term.

[KillerLeft]

Seems like he's doing okay lately.

Crazy how coaches get smarter when their teams win more, eh?

Doesn't seem like you followed the conversation very closely.

[MFFL]

According to Stein, an offseason extension for Kidd seems likely.

[DallasMaverick]

From ESPN:

"J's done a great job," Harrison said of Kidd. "I honestly think he's the best coach to lead this team. I think having the two stars that we have, close your eyes and pick whoever you want, you're not going to find a better fit."

[KillerLeft]

I still despise the offense, but the way the team is currently defending has me slowly coming around on Kidd.

[Scott41theMavs]

I think we have an answer to our question. That quote from Nico makes me cry. Choking this series away and ***still*** having Kidd as our coach is the apocalypse scenario.

[LukaMVP]

I want the mavs to win this series but there would be a positive side of a hypothetic first round exit if it should result in a kidd departure. bald head has no clue how to deal with PG and beard when they are hot.

[KillerLeft]

I want the mavs to win this series but there would be a positive side of a hypothetic first round exit if it should result in a kidd departure. bald head has no clue how to deal with PG and beard when they are hot.

He won’t lose his job, unfortunately. I’m 99% sure the strong end to the regular season has him safe for at least another year.

[Luka77]

Do you guys think if we had Rick right now that the Mavs would be struggling to score?

I have yet to see an adjustment that Kidd has made that makes you go, that really helped win the game/series.

[KillerLeft]

Do you guys think if we had Rick right now that the Mavs would be struggling to score?

I have yet to see an adjustment that Kidd has made that makes you go, that really helped win the game/series.

Interesting question. 

If you gave Carlisle this, exact roster and a week of practice, the offense would be better, no doubt in my mind. Unlike most here (I'm assuming), I also believe the defense would be this good, too, and base that opinion on his old Indiana and Detroit teams. 

However, if I'm being honest, what I can't reconcile is the extent to which Kidd has had a hand in remaking the roster. Was Donnie bad? Was it Donnie/Cuban? Or, should Carlisle shoulder some of the blame for the "safe" personalities the Mavs always opted to employ at the expense of athletic ability and edge? Would Harrison (and Lindsay, and Finley, and whomever) have built this team into what it is with Carlisle at the helm? Would Carlisle have even allowed people like Lindsay and Finley to be heard? 

I don't feel informed enough to answer all of the above. 

In a strictly hypothetical "here's the team, which coach do you want to go to war with the Clippers?" scenario, give me Carlisle without even having to consider.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Do you guys think if we had Rick right now that the Mavs would be struggling to score?

I have yet to see an adjustment that Kidd has made that makes you go, that really helped win the game/series.

All you have to do is look what Rick has done with the Pacers. They led the NBA in scoring at 123 ppg, and he has them on the verge of going to the conference semis. RC is a much better coach than Kidd, but I guess it was time for him to move on.

[Jym]

All you have to do is look what Rick has done with the Pacers. They led the NBA in scoring at 123 ppg, and he has them on the verge of going to the conference semis. RC is a much better coach than Kidd, but I guess it was time for him to move on.

I was always such a big Rick defender but he really broke my trust when he played Boban at center next to Porzingis for huge major minutes in the playoffs 
incomprehensibly dumb.

[Scott41theMavs]

All you have to do is look what Rick has done with the Pacers. They led the NBA in scoring at 123 ppg, and he has them on the verge of going to the conference semis. RC is a much better coach than Kidd, but I guess it was time for him to move on.

Remember, he was the one who chose to quit. 

Pretty sure the relationship with Luka was toast, which would seem to bode poorly for the long term vista.

[dirkfansince1998]

I was always such a big Rick defender but he really broke my trust when he played Boban at center next to Porzingis for huge major minutes in the playoffs 
incomprehensibly dumb.

Looking back at the series the Mavs were completly outmatched talent wise. Boban was a gimmick that worked well to counter the Clippers small ball and allowed them to steal a game because Lue wasn't prepared for it. I think he overplayed Boban in the following games but I think the Mavs overperformed in the series. Just like in 13/14 when they almost beat the Spurs.

[dirkfansince1998]

RC is one of the top three X's and O's guys in the league. By far the best when it comes to offense. But as others have pointed out there clearly was some kind of disconnect between him and Luka. I think Luka (just like most players in the modern NBA) prefers a "players coach". Same for Kyrie. Apparently both love to play for Kidd. There is a league wide trend of superstar players taking control of the coaching role. Kyrie and Durant with the Nets. LBJ in LA. Most recently Giannis and Lillard with the Bucks.
RC, Pop and Spoelstra are the last of their kind. Players aren't interested in guys that force them to play a certain way, out of position or with a lower usage. Prefer to play for someone like Doc Rivers over a good X's and O's.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

Remember, he was the one who chose to quit. 

Pretty sure the relationship with Luka was toast, which would seem to bode poorly for the long term vista.

Yeah, I forgot about that. He and Luka would have words on the sideline sometimes, especially when Luka didn't want to be taken out of the game or question a play call. Kidd lets him have his way.

[omahen]

RC is one of the top three X's and O's guys in the league. By far the best when it comes to offense. But as others have pointed out there clearly was some kind of disconnect between him and Luka. I think Luka (just like most players in the modern NBA) prefers a "players coach". Same for Kyrie. Apparently both love to play for Kidd. There is a league wide trend of superstar players taking control of the coaching role. Kyrie and Durant with the Nets. LBJ in LA. Most recently Giannis and Lillard with the Bucks.
RC, Pop and Spoelstra are the last of their kind. Players aren't interested in guys that force them to play a certain way, out of position or with a lower usage. Prefer to play for someone like Doc Rivers over a good X's and O's.

What was reported was, that Luka didn't like RC as a person, specifically the way he treated some of the players. One incident involving Mejri was specifically mentioned. It was also specifically mentioned that RC was letting Luka "do what he wants", but that didn't help him make Luka feel better about him. Water under the bridge. Sometimes two persons don't work together and best thing is to move on, just as they did. Doesn't mean RC is a bad coach or Luka can't be coached.

Luka is emotional and there was more than one instance he disagreed with Kidds moves in last couple of seasons. Some out of timeout plays in crunch time last season, not calling a review on some plays,.. I don't think Lukas emotional in game reaction should be taken as his general attitude towards a specific person or coach. He is just passionate which sometimes gets the best of him. It is also why he is so good. 

I think Luka would have zero problem with a good coach following whatever he would instruct. A talent which some coaches have and some don't is of course also how you present your case to players so they accept it. Its not just Xs and Os, its also psychology.

[ballsrchr]

What was reported was, that Luka didn't like RC as a person, specifically the way he treated some of the players. One incident involving Mejri was specifically mentioned. It was also specifically mentioned that RC was letting Luka "do what he wants", but that didn't help him make Luka feel better about him. Water under the bridge. Sometimes two persons don't work together and best thing is to move on, just as they did. Doesn't mean RC is a bad coach or Luka can't be coached.

Luka is emotional and there was more than one instance he disagreed with Kidds moves in last couple of seasons. Some out of timeout plays in crunch time last season, not calling a review on some plays,.. I don't think Lukas emotional in game reaction should be taken as his general attitude towards a specific person or coach. He is just passionate which sometimes gets the best of him. It is also why he is so good. 

I think Luka would have zero problem with a good coach following whatever he would instruct. A talent which some coaches have and some don't is of course also how you present your case to players so they accept it. Its not just Xs and Os, its also psychology.

This is exactly what I've always thought and said based on what I saw when RC was here, and now with Kidd.  I've said that as Luka matures he "can" be one of the best who ever played.  Luka wants/needs a coach(es) who will help him mature and become complete.