Dallas’ approach this season feels like history is repeating itself, as it did in Kidd’s seasons as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Kidd made a quick impact to change the team, but then it was another average season. His passive and aggressive communication style reveals his lack of adaptability in game management…
In front of a nationally televised audience, the Dallas Mavericks ceded a 20-plus-point lead to the Lakers, a loss that had the media and fans questioning how far their new roster might go. The Mavericks coach took the microphone and began to describe the main reason for the loss. He believed that the problem was scoring and the team stopped moving forward.
Let the time go back to April 23, 2011, when the coach of the Mavericks was Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks just lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. With just over a minute left in the third quarter, the Mavericks took a 67-44 lead. Although relative to today’s fast-paced game, the Mavericks’ scoring is actually not high, but they still abruptly lost their 23-point lead.
Former Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said: “This is a game you shouldn’t lose. Even though unexpected things happen sometimes, when they happen, we have to stick to the end, continue to play, continue to the next game. This is what we can do right now.”
Pundits and fans across the country thought the Portland Trail Blazers would be the winning side, but the Mavericks responded by fueling their Game 4 loss, bouncing back in Games 5 and 6, and In the end won the title of champion.
For a long time, many coaches have used the post-match press conference as a window to vent their pressure. Rick Carlisle posted his thoughts that night. His outspokenness not only conveys his thoughts to the outside world, but also speaks to the spirit of the players.
Instead of dwelling on it, Rick Carlisle answered the question head-on when faced with defeat, helping the team to win Game 5 and beyond.
Fast forward to the present, and following being systematically dismantled by the Los Angeles Lakers early in the game, another Dallas Mavericks head coach took a very different approach.
When asked why he didn’t call a timeout, Jason Kidd told reporters: “I’m not the savior here, and I also think the players made the right choice. I didn’t play on the court, I was just a bystander like all the spectators. We have to mature as a team. We have to grow if we want to win titles.”
Kidd’s theory isn’t weird, he just wants his players to figure it out on the fly. The regular season in his eyes is just an extended preseason, and the playoffs are the most important. Even though the regular season isn’t a real battleground, such an attitude can slowly lead to failure.
Dallas’ approach this season feels like history is repeating itself, as it did in Kidd’s seasons as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Kidd made a quick impact to change the team, but then it was another average season. His passive and aggressive communication style reveals his lack of control in game management.
We all know Kidd probably won’t be leaving anytime soon, with the 2022 Western Conference Finals cementing his place. However, as with all relationships, the date the wanted end and the actual end date are rarely the same. To some, it might be time for Kidd to go, but the Mavericks faithful will have to live with it for at least another year, and possibly longer.
When Kidd publicly portrayed his role as a bystander, it represented abdication of his head coaching responsibilities.
His assertion that because he is not on the field he cannot influence the outcome of a game or share in success or failure is somewhat puzzling in public. It also isolates Kidd from the team’s competition, and instead of taking the blame, he just wants to leave room for unwinding. Although he always repeats “We have to get better,” he rarely answers questions directly regarding the way he makes decisions.
Kidd’s reluctance to call timeouts to stop opponents has become well-known, and watching a huge lead disappear is like putting a child on constant endurance training on a bicycle. It’s an unacceptable practice. A good coach will call a timeout during the regular season to stop the opponent’s offense, and they will make personnel adjustments to give their team a chance to rebuild their confidence.
When Kidd was asked regarding some of the turnovers in the second half of the game, he replied, “I’m glad it happened in the season and not in the playoffs.” It is equivalent to throwing the problem to Luka Doncic who came up to handle the ball and new addition Kyrie Irving. What’s worth noting here is that the Mavericks had only one option for the last offense of the season, a Doncic high screen step-back before the trade, and an impromptu performance by Doncic and Irving following the trade.
Since the tacit understanding between the pair has not been established, why not design a good tactic to involve the other three players? Kidd relies on his All-Star backcourt to solve problems on the fly, and sidesteps how a head coach can use their experience and creativity to guide a team that pushes the team over the edge every time.