(01-08-2022, 12:08 AM)cow Wrote:
I complained about this all the way back to the original DFS: Jae Crowder. Carlisle just wants to reduce players errors and keep their roles very simplistic. He never allowed players to challenge themselves and test their limits. Hardly a surprise we won the title with a team full of veterans that didn´t need to test out their limits. They already knew them.
What we have seen with the Mavs this season is growing pains. Kidd allows players to express themselves more and with that come errors, but also (in some cases and best cases) improvement and more confidence over time. DFS is one example. Green/Ntilikina are others.
Green is still a bit hesitant, but he looks so much more confident driving the ball and I don´t get DoJo Bricklayer vibes on his lay-ups/finishes anymore. Same with Ntilikina who hit 1-2 pull-up jumpers off the dribble, where you usually just bet whether it´s a front rim or an outright airball.
I just hope they continue this strategy, when the team is back at full strength.
Also like to point out that Carlisle´s record is three games behind the Pacers rookie head coach from last year. Everybody said the kid was a mess, but the Pacers went 34-38 and right now it looks like Carlisle won´t win 34 games against an 82 game schedule.