Mavs have a leadership problem | Cuban and Harlabob argue on Twitter

[KillerLeft]

Great points @"vfromlmf".

There are many ways to lead a team. Some players are vocal. Some lead by example. Sometimes it is coming from the best players. Sometimes teams have a glue guy that provides the leadership. Best example. The Warriors. Curry is the best player. Draymond is the leader.

As mentioned. The Mavs have a few guys that lead by example. Powell´s work ethic. DFS hustle. They have players that are important for the team chemistry. THJ´s is probably a top 3 hug guy in the league. Talking about in game leadership KP is probably the most vocal guy. He tries to lead the defense and directs his teammates.

What they lack is accountability. On both ends but especially on defense. When a Warriors player misses a rotation Draymond is going to chew him out. When the Celtics mess up Smart is going to do the same. Doesn´t matter if it is a rookie or the star player.
I don´t see that kind of player on the Mavs roster. And even worse. I don´t see any of it from coming from the coaching staff.

It´s obviously not an easy topic. Different players require different treatment. Some can deal with. Other´s don´t. Remember Butler with the Wolves. He was a terrible teammate and needed to go to give Towns and Wiggins the freedom to develop. Turns out that the only thing he did was chewing them out for their lazy defense and work ethic. And he was right. Butler´s Heat team went to the finals and Wiggins finally learned his lesson, was traded and played the best basketball of his career next to Draymond. Towns on the other hand is still putting up numbers and playing lazy defense on a bad Wolves team.

The lack of accountability is concerning. Especially when it comes to Luka. If Curry would play with a similar attitude Draymond would eat him alife. But the Mavs have no one on the roster or staff that can do the same. But that is where it starts. If the best player and face of the team isn´t trying that sends a message to his teammates. Two options to fix this. Luka himself matures, steps up and grows into the leadership role. Someone else holds him accountable.

Absolutely. Perfectly said. 

Can't blame the 22-year-old for not policing himself, imho. After all, he has risen to global icon status just by doing everything that comes naturally to him, right? 

The blame for this, if it is the important problem we're starting to think, is on the organization. 

I've written this at least 20 times in this forum: giving Luka the keys to the franchise as a means to avoid being Cleveland/Lebron is the absolute best way to ensure this will all end up just like Cleveland/Lebron. Give him the kind of structure Miami has - that type of professionalism and organizational synergy - and he'll eventually find the perfect way to fit into the franchise role you have in mind for him. Instead, what they're doing is the same thing they did with Dirk. "Hey, we've got Luka, so it really doesn't matter what else we get right or wrong. We're blessed!" That's my interpretation of their approach, anyway.

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I think this is correct.....but I fear that the second option isn't really an option right now, as in I am not sure Luka is willing to submit to another player or coach in this manner right now. I think RC knew he couldn't be that for Luka or he would get himself fired. I feel like Kidd has been pussy-footing around Luka his whole time here until last night. First time I have seen some teeth from Kidd toward Luka. Let's see what happens.

I think you're right about the above. 

And I know you're not saying otherwise, but imho, there's simply no point in trying to avoid confrontation with anyone not doing what they need to do in order for the team to be successful, even a global phenom. If he leaves, he leaves. 

The problem is that people want to keep their jobs in the meantime.