2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[Scott41theMavs]

It wasn't the opponent that made the basketball watchable, it was the WAY they played, the way they passed, the way they worked, the way they competed. 


I don't have ANY conclusion about the causation link with Luka and how the Mavs have played this season. NONE. I will say it one more time for those that are failing at reading comprehension: I do NOT have a conclusion about whether Luka is part of the cause of the Mavs sucking when he plays this season. He might be, he might not be. Probability says he is at least a significant part, but we cannot be certain. 


What's my point with all this? To share the freaking data for discussion and rumination, but apparently that makes me some enemy and "hater." 

I have NEVER said the team is better off with Luka. I have NEVER said the Mavs should trade Luka. 


But it is a FACT that the Mavs have SUCKED at basketball overall with Luka playing this year. And that is incredibly concerning. Maybe we can glean some tentative causes carefully, maybe we cannot. But when you suck at basketball as a team when your best player plays you have MAJOR ISSUES. But I think most folks would prefer to stick their heads in the sand and pretend everything is fine with Luka. 

And I do NOT know causes in all this: But if Luka gets credit for making the team GREAT, then he should be equally culpable at getting blame when the team SUCKS. It cuts both ways. He is the superstar, he is the face of the franchise. For better or worse things start and end with him. Just as it did with Dirk.


So where am I going in all this? The Mavs have some major work to do to figure out how to be successful in outscoring their opponents when Luka plays (it is their single most important task ahead of them and it is the reason we might see major roster changes). He is going to be the one they lean on in the playoffs (if they get there), so they need to figure out winning with him on the court. They need to figure out how much of the issue is with Luka, how much is the roster, how much is the scheme, how much is coaching, how much is random noise, etc.

I think it's on the coaching and scheme. Kidd has seen a lot during Luka's absence and has adjusted well. He needs to figure out how to integrate the rest of the team with Luka and vice versa, and get Luka on board with it.